Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice has announced a significant increase in the number of electronic penal orders issued through its newly implemented digital judicial system, highlighting the authorities’ efforts to accelerate legal procedures and address a substantial backlog of traffic-related cases.

In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, 2026, Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait confirmed that 132,842 penal orders had been issued between July 12, when the system became operational, and October 11.

The minister compared this figure with the corresponding period in 2025, when 17,903 penal orders were issued, demonstrating an increase of more than seven times following the introduction of the electronic system.

He also revealed that the average daily number of completed penal orders had increased from approximately 195 to 1,444, reflecting a substantial improvement in the speed of judicial processing.

Importantly, the minister clarified that all penal orders issued during the three-month period concerned accumulated traffic cases from previous years rather than newly recorded traffic violations.

He explained that Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior had electronically referred approximately 683,000 requests for penal orders to the Ministry of Justice, all relating to traffic violations dating from before 2023.

This distinction is essential because the figures should not be interpreted as indicating that hundreds of thousands of new traffic offences were committed during the past three months.

According to the minister, a penal order provides a simplified judicial procedure for resolving certain misdemeanours and violations that may legally be punished by a fine.

The process allows eligible cases to be handled without completing every stage of conventional court proceedings, helping the judicial system manage large numbers of relatively straightforward matters.

However, individuals against whom penal orders are issued retain their legal right to challenge those orders in accordance with the applicable legislation and procedures.

The minister explained that the electronic system covers the entire penal-order process, beginning with the receipt and examination of requests and continuing through the issuance and electronic signing of orders.

The final stage involves notifying the relevant parties through legally approved communication methods, reducing dependence on traditional paperwork and manual administrative procedures.

The system is also intended to reduce delays that could otherwise result in cases becoming time-barred, while supporting more efficient coordination between the relevant government authorities.

Al-Sumait emphasized that the digital platform was developed and implemented by Ministry of Justice personnel, reflecting the growing role of national technical expertise in modernizing Kuwait’s judicial services.

He praised the contributions of misdemeanor judges, penal judgment enforcement personnel, and the technical and administrative teams responsible for operating the system.

The minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to developing electronic litigation, improving procedural efficiency, and accelerating the handling of cases while preserving the legal rights of the individuals concerned.

The announcement reflects Kuwait’s continuing efforts to modernize its justice system through digital technology, particularly in areas where large volumes of older cases require systematic processing.

Source: Kuwait Ministry of Justice