- What
- Up to 100% foreign ownership and up to a 10-year tax holiday for investors.
- Who
- Foreign investors and companies establishing in Kuwait.
- From abroad
- Open to companies from abroad — Applicant must go through KDIPA's 4-step investment licensing procedure (Proposal, Business Plan, Application and Decision, Issue) to obtain a Kuwait investment license All programmes open to founders from abroad →
Checked · October 2026 · kdipa.gov.kw · How we check ↗
In detail
KDIPA is an FDI authority in Kuwait. Kuwait's FDI gateway under Law 116/2013. Up to 100% foreign ownership, up to 10-year tax exemption, customs exemptions and land allocation.
- Amount
- Up to 100% foreign ownership · Up to 10-year tax holiday
- Services
- 100% foreign ownership
- Up to 10-yr tax exemption
- Customs exemptions
- Land & real-estate allocation
- One-Stop Shop
- Status
- Active
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what KDIPA publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“Enabling 100% Foreign Ownership in Businesses”
“Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) established in accordance with Law No. 116 of 2013 regarding the promotion of direct investment in the State of Kuwait”
“Exemption from income tax or any other taxes for a period not exceeding ten years from the date of the actual commencement of operations of the licensed investment entity.”
“with all relevant authorities to facilitate the procedures for doing business in Kuwait through the One Stop Shop”
“The Kuwait Government is making concerted efforts towards facilitating both local and foreign investment in Kuwait.”
“Online Portal”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare government programmes in Kuwait
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| KDIPAUp to 100% foreign ownership and up to a 10-year tax holiday for investors. | not published | No equity | Active |
| CBK Wolooj Innovation HubR&D programme support for fintech innovation projects. | not published | No equity | Active |
| CBK Wolooj Regulatory SandboxRegulatory permission to test fintech products live; no funding provided. | not published | No equity | Active |
| CBK Digital Banking GuidelinesLicensing guidelines for digital banks (since 2022). | not published | Not published | Closed |
| CMA FinTech Unit (Module 19)Regulatory permission to operate as a securities crowdfunding platform or fintech. | not published | No equity | Active |
| Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA)Manages sovereign capital; not a direct-application funder. | not published | Not published | Active |
| Ministry of Commerce & IndustryCompany setup fees. | not published | No equity | Active |
| NTECKWD 100M (~$350M) capital deployed via government-backed VC and projects. | not published | Not published | Active |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does KDIPA offer?
Up to 100% foreign ownership and up to a 10-year tax holiday for investors.
Does KDIPA take equity?
No equity — service or permission.
Can founders from abroad apply?
Open to companies from abroad — Applicant must go through KDIPA's 4-step investment licensing procedure (Proposal, Business Plan, Application and Decision, Issue) to obtain a Kuwait investment license.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · kdipa.gov.kw · LinkedIn · linkedin.com/company/kuwait-direct-investment-pro… · Checked October 2026