KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs announced Tuesday that it has launched a new service for issuing parking permits for seniors through the government app (Sahel).

In a post on its official social media account on X, the ministry said this service aims to simplify and speed up the issuance of parking permits. It also allows direct communication with users via the app, enabling them to track the status of their permit applications until they are fully processed. To qualify for this service, applicants must be Kuwaiti nationals aged 65 or older and must obtain approval from a designated medical committee. Beneficiaries need to provide a copy of their Awlawiya Card, a copy of their civil ID, and a medical report approved by the medical committee.

The Awlawiya card provides elderly individuals, aged 65 and above, with priority service in all state institutions and facilitates their government transactions. A sub category of the card is designated for low-income seniors who meet conditions specified by the government and exempts them from paying for transportation services, vehicle registration fees, and other public service fees. It also exempts assistive devices and specially equipped vehicles for the elderly from customs duties. According to government officials, 34,787 people are registered for an Awlawiya card in Kuwait and 6,279 have a seniors parking permit.

The ministry noted that holders of the traffic permits are allowed to park in designated senior citizen areas provided by the state and official entities. It also emphasized that using these spaces without a proper permit is prohibited under Law No 18 of 2016.

Facilitating the issuance of senior traffic permits is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to simplify government procedures for seniors and ensure they receive quality services that enhance their daily lives, said the statement.