Kuwait: Information on whether a non-Kuwaiti national was allowed to own and operate a business before the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 January 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KWT10119 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kuwait: Information on whether a non-Kuwaiti national was allowed to own and operate a business before the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, 1 January 1992, KWT10119, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aace1c.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
A representative of the Arab League in Ottawa states that a non-Kuwaiti national was not allowed to own a business in his/her name before the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait (24 Jan. 1992). Foreign nationals who wished to establish businesses had to find Kuwaiti nationals to register the desired businesses in their names in return for a share of the profit. Unofficially, these individuals could reach an agreement with their Kuwaiti "partners" to clarify that the non-Kuwaiti nationals were the real owners of the registered businesses.
A representative of Asia Watch in New York states that a non-Kuwaiti was only able to register and run 14 types of insignificant small businesses such as garages and convenience stores before the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait (24 Jan. 1992). Other types of businesses had to be registered and officially owned by Kuwaitis (Ibid.). To satisfy this requirement, non-Kuwaitis had to "hire" Kuwaiti partners to officially register the desired businesses in their names (Ibid.). Additional and/or corroborating information on the subject is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
Bibliography
Arab League, Ottawa. 24 January 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Asia Watch, New York. 24 January 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
