- Kuwait is expanding its integrated surveillance network, connecting cameras at government and commercial facilities to central Ministry of Interior security systems.
- AI-enabled smart patrol cameras can use facial recognition to identify wanted individuals and vehicles and send alerts directly to an operations room.
- New surveillance rules set out where cameras can be installed, how footage must be protected and retained, and where surveillance is prohibited to protect privacy.
The Ministry’s Human Resources and Security Systems Sector is connecting surveillance systems to a central security network, with the aim of strengthening crime prevention, identifying wanted individuals and supporting faster police responses.
Colonel Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Director of the Quality Management Department at the General Directorate of Security Systems, said smart cameras are being deployed as part of a wider development of Kuwait’s security infrastructure.
The technology has already helped security personnel locate wanted individuals, according to Al-Rabeeah, who said the cameras serve both as a crime prevention measure and an investigative tool.
Smart cameras are also being deployed on security patrols, with facial recognition capabilities allowing systems to identify wanted individuals.
First Lieutenant Engineer Afrah Al-Foudari of the Quality Management Department said that when a wanted person or vehicle is detected, an alert is sent immediately to the operations room so that security personnel can take the necessary action.
The smart patrols are also being used during security campaigns and inspection operations.
Government facilities and major commercial locations have already been connected to the Ministry’s central security network. Work is now underway to extend the system to hospitals, mosques and other places of worship.
The Ministry’s longer-term objective is full integration between cameras at covered facilities and its security systems.
The expansion is taking place alongside new rules governing the installation and use of security cameras.
Decree-Law No. 76 of 2026 covers 39 classifications of establishments, including government buildings, commercial complexes, hotels, exchange companies, jewellery stores and fuel stations.
Cameras are required at locations including entrances, exits, parking areas, elevators and staircases, while their use is prohibited in areas where it would violate personal privacy, including restrooms, changing rooms, massage rooms and women’s salons and clubs.
Facilities must also display signs informing people that surveillance cameras are in operation and comply with technical standards established by the Ministry of Interior.
The Ministry is also updating surveillance equipment every five years, with newer systems incorporating AI and other advanced technologies.
