Islamic Website Design Kuwait: A Practical Guide for Masjids, Charities and Schools (2026)

Why Kuwait is different from other Gulf markets

Most Gulf guides talk about design and prayer times. In Kuwait, the bigger question is what your website may be allowed to ask people to do. Press reports and law-firm commentary over the last two years show how quickly the rules have moved:

• April 2025: fundraising links suspended. The Ministry of Social Affairs reportedly ordered registered charities to suspend electronic fundraising links, including links on official websites and social media (Arab Times, Gulf News). Reports said this followed the discovery of unauthorised websites soliciting donations without a licence (Times Kuwait).
• June 2025: rules for charitable foundations, then reopening. Kuwait Times reported that Ministerial Decision No. 122 of 2025, published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, introduced rules for charitable foundations (known locally as mabarat), including registration, licensing and conditions for dissolution (Kuwait Times). A later Kuwait Times report said that, under the new framework, foundations must register, maintain governance and financial reporting, and obtain prior approval before launching fundraising campaigns. It also reported that donation campaigns were allowed to resume, subject to the ministry’s rules (Kuwait Times). A separate August 2025 regulation covers membership-based charitable organisations, and Kuwait Times reported that it requires them to notify the ministry before any public fundraising (Kuwait Times).
• After reopening: reported conditions on fundraising. Gulf News reported that only ministry-licensed projects that match a charity’s stated objectives may raise funds, that fundraising links may be published only on the charity’s official website, and that charities may not contract advertising agencies, marketing companies or freelance marketers to manage fundraising websites or campaigns. It also reported a ban on hiring celebrities, influencers or preachers without prior written approval (Gulf News).
• Ramadan 2026: a circular for that month. In February 2026, the Ministry of Social Affairs reportedly issued a circular setting controls for donation collection during Ramadan 1447 AH (2026). Gulf News reported that it prohibited all donation collection inside mosques, limited giving to approved digital and banking channels, required funds to go only into ministry-approved bank accounts of registered charities, and required advance approval before accepting any donation from outside Kuwait, in line with the law governing clubs and public benefit associations (Gulf News). Other outlets reported the ban on cash collection and the approved methods, including K-Net, online donations, bank transfers, smartphone apps and SMS (GDN Online, Times Kuwait). These controls were issued for that Ramadan. Do not assume they apply in the same form all year or in future years, and check the position each time.
• September 2026: Decree-Law No. 87 of 2026. Kuwait Times reported on 13 September 2026 that the Minister of Social Affairs had announced Decree-Law No. 87 of 2026 on charitable and humanitarian work, with 96 articles across seven chapters. According to the Minister, it creates a National Center for Charitable and Humanitarian Work and a Kuwaiti Fund for Humanitarian Work, regulates fundraising campaigns (including licensing, collection methods, bank accounts, spending controls and financial disclosure, by electronic and cash means under prescribed controls), and prohibits photographing or publishing images and recordings of beneficiaries for fundraising or promotion except under prescribed rules (Kuwait Times). A law firm’s summary says the decree-law was issued on 13 September 2026 to replace the framework in place since 1959, and that its implementing regulations are due within six months of issuance (Meysan). We did not find the detailed implementing regulations, so how the new law applies to websites in practice is not yet clear to us.

What these rules may mean for your website

The table below is a planning aid based on the reports above. It is not a statement of what the law requires for your organisation.

The last row matters. Reports linked the 2025 suspension to unofficial websites, so a clear, official, well-maintained site is also a trust tool. For design patterns on donation pages, see our guide to Islamic charity website design.

Arabic-first design and right-to-left layout

In Kuwait, Arabic should not be an afterthought. A proper Arabic version means the whole layout mirrors, not only the text.

• Use a true RTL layout: menus, icons, forms and tables flip direction.
• Choose a readable Arabic typeface and test it on small phone screens.
• Give every language its own pages, with a switcher that opens the matching page.
• Show Hijri dates beside Gregorian dates.
• Write the Arabic yourself, or have it edited by a native speaker, instead of relying on machine translation.

Our guides to RTL website design for Islamic institutes and bilingual Islamic website design go deeper.

What a Kuwait masjid website needs

• Prayer and Jumu’ah times on the homepage, in clear text, not an image.
• Ramadan and Eid notices: Taraweeh schedule, Eid prayer times and locations.
• Location and contact: map, written address, and a phone number or WhatsApp that someone answers.
• Imam and classes: short profiles and the lesson timetable.
• Announcements: one page that is updated by a named person.

Collecting donations inside mosques was reportedly banned under the Ramadan 2026 circular, so a masjid website should not be treated as a replacement channel without checking. Ask the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs where relevant, what your masjid may publish.

The same fundamentals apply across the Gulf. Compare our guides for Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Charity, zakat and sadaqah pages

If your organisation is licensed to fundraise, the website should make the legal and practical details easy to find.

• Separate zakat, sadaqah and any project funds, with a plain explanation of each.
• Show who you are and how you are registered, using only details you can document.
• Offer only the payment methods and bank accounts you have confirmed you are approved to use.
• Give donors receipts and publish simple progress reports.
• Be careful with beneficiary photos and personal stories until you have confirmed what the rules allow.

The same compliance thinking applies next door; read how to accept online donations in the UAE for a comparison.

Quran centres, madrasas and Islamic schools

Parents want to see courses, teachers, timings, fees and how to register. Online Quran classes also need a clear trial or enquiry route. We cover these in Islamic school website design and online Quran academy website.

If your school is in Kuwait, check before placing any fundraising on its pages. Gulf News reported that the Ministry of Education banned fundraising inside schools, including collections from students, parents or staff, and charity events without prior authorisation (Gulf News). Ask the relevant authority what applies to your institution.

Pre-launch checklist

• Arabic and English pages are both complete and checked by a native reader.
• Prayer times match the masjid’s own timetable.
• No donation link goes live until you have confirmed it is permitted for your organisation.
• Registered names, numbers and logos are accurate and documented.
• Photos of beneficiaries, students or worshippers are used only with proper permission.
• Contact forms reach the right inbox and show a privacy notice.
• The site loads quickly on mobile data and uses HTTPS.
• Domain, hosting and logins are in the organisation’s name.
• Your social accounts are listed, so supporters can tell the official ones.

Choosing a web designer for a Kuwait project

1. Ask whether they build true RTL layouts and can show examples.
2. Ask who handles Arabic content and proofreading.
3. Ask how they handle donation features where approval may be required.
4. Ask who owns the domain, hosting and logins.
5. Ask what support continues after launch.

DeenWebWorks works only with Islamic organisations and builds WordPress sites that your team can update. We are based in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and work with clients internationally.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current Kuwaiti requirements with the Ministry of Social Affairs or a qualified adviser before publishing any fundraising feature.