Deceptive Practices Protection
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Kuwaiti national legislation, Amiri decrees, and ministerial decisions.
Kuwaiti National Law
What is this right?
Kuwait law prohibits businesses from deceiving or misleading consumers:
- False advertising — making misleading claims about a product's quality, origin, price, or features is illegal.
- Bait-and-switch tactics — advertising a product at a low price to lure customers and then pushing a more expensive alternative is prohibited.
- Sellers cannot hide fees or charges — the total price must be clearly displayed before purchase.
- Counterfeit or imitation products must not be sold as genuine branded goods.
- Penalties include fines up to KWD 10,000 and potential imprisonment for serious or repeated offences.
When does it apply?
- You were misled by advertising into buying a product that did not match its description.
- You were charged hidden fees that were not disclosed before purchase.
- You bought a product that turned out to be counterfeit.
What should you do?
- Document the misleading claim — take photos of ads, packaging, or online listings.
- File a complaint with the MOCI Consumer Protection Department.
- If you suffered financial loss, you can also file a civil lawsuit for damages.
- For counterfeit goods, report to the MOCI anti-fraud division.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not delete screenshots or evidence of misleading advertisements — you will need them for your complaint.
- Do not confront the seller aggressively — use the legal complaint process instead.
- Do not buy from unlicensed or unverified sellers — they are harder to hold accountable.
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