Kuwait has changed the rules governing notarization and powers of attorney through Decree-Law No. 147 of 2025, published in Kuwait Al-Youm on 2 November 2025. This marks the first major reform to Kuwait’s notarization framework since 2020, which aligns with the country’s wider efforts toward digital transformation, regulatory clarity and improved legal safeguards.
We provide an overview of what the Decree introduces, how it operates in practice and why it matters for individuals, companies and foreign entities working with or within Kuwait.
The decree amends Article 9 of the 2020 Notarization Law by easing the strict requirement of physical presence before the notary. Notarization can now be completed:
The executive regulations will clarify when in-person attendance remains necessary and when remote notarization is sufficient.
This development lays the groundwork for a fully digital notarization system particularly useful for foreign parties, entities with overseas stakeholders and individuals who cannot attend in person.
The most significant amendment comes through the introduction of Article 5 (bis), which establishes a maximum notarization validity period for powers of attorney.
The expiration of the notarization does not invalidate the agency relationship between the parties themselves. Contractual authority may continue internally, but third parties, especially governmental bodies, will rely on the notarization’s validity period.
The five-year limit does not apply to:
This aligns with the separate regulatory framework under Law 13/2016, which is outside the scope of this article.
The decree provides clear transitional rules:
These remain valid for two years from the law’s effective date (2 November 2025), or until the POA ends for any reason whichever comes first. This period serves as a grace period for parties to update or reissue their POAs. It does not operate as a renewal.
These remain valid until the following dates, whichever comes earliest:
The legislative memorandum highlights several goals:
Through the introduction of digital notarization, capped validity periods and transitional mechanisms, Kuwait aims to modernize its notarization framework while strengthening legal certainty.
For companies, practitioners and foreign entities, the key takeaway is to review all existing POAs, identify those affected by the two-year transition, and begin aligning documentation with the new five-year notarization cycle.
Rouse Dubai oversees work for clients in Kuwait and the wider Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Rouse is taking steps to ensure that the POAs in our care comply with the new requirements. Should you have any concerns or questions regarding these changes, or would like to receive more information/updates from Kuwait or MENA jurisdictions, please feel free to contact Rouse Dubai
