Kuwait's Social Affairs Ministry Bans Smoking Inside Wedding Halls

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Community Development (formerly Social Affairs Ministry) in Kuwait has issued a sweeping new directive banning all forms of smoking inside wedding halls owned or supervised by the ministry.

The measure is formalised under Administrative Circular No. 17 of 2025, issued by Under-Secretary Dr Khaled Al‑Ajmi. 

According to official statements, the ban applies to any tobacco product—including cigarettes, shisha/hookah, and vaping devices—within indoor venues that host marriage-related celebrations and are under the supervision of the ministry.

Dr Al-Ajmi emphasised that the policy aligns with Kuwait’s existing environmental and public-health legislation: specifically, the Environmental Protection Law No. 42 of 2014 (as amended by Law No. 99 of 2015) and the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs Resolution No. 2 of 2015. 

The move reflects a broader trend in Kuwait toward restricting smoking in public and semi-public indoor spaces. Prior regulations had already limited smoking in public sector buildings and designated indoor areas, but this new circular marks one of the first specific bans directed at wedding hall settings. 

The ministry’s directive highlights several key motivations: protecting the health of guests—including children and non-smokers—reducing second-hand smoke exposure in a celebratory setting, and ensuring that wedding halls remain compliant with national environmental and public-safety laws. Wedding halls falling under the ministry’s supervision now must enforce the no-smoking policy and may face legal violations if the rule is ignored. 

For operators of wedding venues, especially those registered under the ministry’s oversight, the new regulation means implementing practical changes: clear signage forbidding smoking, monitoring by venue staff, and segregated outdoor smoking options (if any) outside the hall premises. While the directive explicitly covers halls “owned or supervised” by the ministry, observers suggest that private-sector regulated venues may also come under scrutiny in future enforcement efforts if compliance proves effective in the public-sector sites.