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ARTICLE · 28 SEPTEMBER 2026

Economic Courts And Merger Control: Kuwait’s Latest Reforms Explained

GLA & Company
GLA & Company
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GLA & Company

GLA & Company

GLA & Company is a regional MENA-based law firm with locations in UAE, KSA, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait,...

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Kuwait's new Decree-Law No. 88 of 2026 establishes a specialized three-tier economic court system to handle commercial disputes with enhanced speed and expertise. The legislation introduces mandatory pre-litigation mediation, electronic proceedings, and dedicated enforcement mechanisms while significantly expanding jurisdiction over 17 categories of economic disputes including banking, competition law, and merger control.

KuwaitLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Asad Ahmad
Asad Ahmad
Liana Rashid
Liana Rashid

On 8 September 2026, Kuwait issued Decree-Law No. 88 of 2026 on the Establishment of Economic Courts, marking a significant milestone for the country’s commercial justice system. Published in the Kuwait Official Gazette on 13 September 2026 and set to take effect on 1 October 2027, the law creates a dedicated judicial framework for resolving economic and commercial disputes with speed, specialization, and technological sophistication.

For businesses operating in or connected to Kuwait, this legislation represents a fundamental shift in how commercial disputes will be handled. Below, we examine the Decision’s key features and implications.

A Specialized Three-Tier Court Structure

The law establishes dedicated economic divisions at all three levels of the Kuwaiti judiciary:

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