VAT · Kuwait

VAT in Kuwait 2026: is there VAT?

Hani · Founder & Tax Data Researcher · ArabTaxCalc

Kuwait has not introduced VAT. Below: what is taxed instead, what is known about a start date, and the rates in the rest of the Gulf.

Short answer

Kuwait does not apply VAT as of October 2026: no VAT law has been issued and there is no official start date. Kuwait has signed the GCC Common VAT Agreement (standard rate 5%) and the draft law is still being prepared; press reports in 2024 said it would not be introduced before 2028.

What taxes apply to spending in Kuwait?

Kuwait has no income tax on individual salaries and no VAT. Most charges on consumption are customs duties on imports.

VAT in the Gulf states 2026

Country	Standard rate
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia	15%
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	5%
🇶🇦 Qatar	Not applied
🇰🇼 Kuwait	Not applied
🇴🇲 Oman	5%
🇧🇭 Bahrain	10%

Frequently asked questions

Is there VAT in Kuwait?

When will Kuwait introduce VAT?

No official date has been announced. Any date you see online is a forecast by advisers, not a government decision. We will update this page as soon as a law or decision is issued.

What will the VAT rate be in Kuwait?

The GCC Common VAT Agreement sets the standard rate at 5%, the rate the UAE started with. Today: Saudi 15%, UAE 5%, Oman 5%, Bahrain 10%.

Do I pay VAT if I buy from abroad while living in Kuwait?

A shop in a country that applies VAT usually charges it only on domestic sales. Exports to another country are usually zero-rated, and you may pay customs duty when the parcel arrives.

Sources

Last checked: 9 October 2026.

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