Kuwait Tightens Rules on Delivery Riders, Warns of 2-Month Impound

If you’ve ever watched a delivery motorcycle weave through traffic on the Gulf Road or jump a red light near a busy roundabout, you already know what this meeting was about.

The Ministry of Interior has sat down with order delivery companies operating in Kuwait to address exactly that problem, and the message was blunt: get your drivers under control, or face the consequences.

What actually happened at the meeting

The gathering was held under directives from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah. It brought together senior traffic leadership with the companies whose fleets of cars and motorcycles have become a familiar sight on Kuwait’s roads over the past few years, as online food and grocery ordering has grown.

The focus was squarely on delivery vehicle and motorcycle drivers specifically. Officials stressed that these companies carry responsibility for the behaviour of the people driving under their brand, not just the Ministry.

That’s a notable shift in tone. Rather than treating each violation as an individual matter, the Ministry is pushing the companies themselves to train and monitor their drivers, presumably because a single rider racking up violations reflects on the firm employing them.

So what happens if a rider breaks the rules?

The Ministry was clear that oversight on the roads will continue, and that the law will be enforced against anyone caught violating traffic rules. For delivery riders and drivers, that penalty includes having the motorcycle or vehicle impounded for two months.

Two months is a long stretch for someone who depends on that bike or car to earn a living. If you work in delivery, or you know someone who does, this is worth taking seriously. A single serious violation could mean two months without a way to work, assuming the company doesn’t have a spare vehicle to lend.

If your vehicle does end up impounded, here’s exactly how to get it back once the period is up or if you believe there’s been a mistake.

Why this matters for everyone on the road

Delivery riders share the same roads as everyone else, often at higher speeds and higher volumes than private drivers, simply because of how many deliveries they make in a day. Safer driving among this group benefits every road user in Kuwait, not just the riders themselves.

It also follows a broader pattern of traffic enforcement tightening up lately. Kuwait has recently cracked down on parking violations with vehicle clamping, and this latest move fits into that same push for order on the roads.

For delivery companies, this likely means more internal training sessions, clearer rules for riders, and possibly closer monitoring of driving behaviour through the apps riders already use to track their orders.

For expat workers in the delivery sector, many of whom are the ones riding these motorcycles daily, it’s worth asking your employer directly what rules they’re putting in place and what support you’ll get if your bike is impounded through no fault of your own.

For regular drivers and pedestrians, the hope is fewer near-misses with delivery riders cutting through traffic to make their next drop on time.

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