Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued a binding decision to regulate restaurant and ready-made food delivery through electronic platforms. The move fixes fees and commissions, bans side agreements and targets monopoly practices in the sector.
The ministry said Ministerial Decision No. 10 of 2026, issued on Sunday, establishes a legal framework for delivery platforms. It described the step as the first of its kind at GCC level for this sector. The decision focuses on consumer protection, support for the national commercial sector and fair competition in the digital economy.
According to the ministry, the decision followed extensive monitoring of the delivery market. The sector was described as technologically advanced and among the region’s most attractive for investment. Studies and field inspections found practices that harmed competition and affected merchants and consumers.
The ministry said these practices included unjustified commission increases, forced exclusivity, unclear fee calculations and technical tools that affected fair visibility of restaurants within applications.
Officials said the framework was developed after three months of coordination with electronic platforms, restaurant owners and delivery companies. The process involved multiple meetings with stakeholders, with consumer rights and market sustainability identified as priorities.
The decision is binding and includes oversight mechanisms and penalties. These include warnings, temporary closure and licence revocation for non-compliance. The ministry said the framework places clear obligations on all parties.
All licensed delivery platforms must amend their licence activity to “Management of Delivery Services via Electronic Platforms”. This must be completed within two months from the regulation’s effective date, in line with international classification No. 532013.
The regulation fixes platform fees and commissions charged to restaurants for three years. The ministry said this aims to stabilise the market and protect small and medium-sized businesses.
Platforms must submit their 2026 fees to the ministry within one month. Each company must adopt a single annual tariff approved by the ministry. Any fees or discounts outside this tariff are prohibited, and all side agreements are cancelled.
The decision bans forced exclusivity, discriminatory algorithms and unjustified preferential treatment. Platforms must issue clear written contracts and annual price lists. Prices cannot be changed during the year and unlisted fees are considered void.
Restaurants are granted the right to obtain their data from platforms free of charge. They are also allowed to work with more than one delivery platform.
The regulations introduce consumer protections. These include full price transparency before order confirmation and no hidden fees. Platforms are responsible for order fulfilment, service quality and delivery safety.
The rules require price matching between applications and physical outlets. Consumers cannot be charged more than the in-store price. The framework also sets complaint-handling procedures, cancellation rules and refund mechanisms with defined responsibilities.