Kuwait's Ninth 'Ya Hala' Raffle Draw Rescheduled To April 5

Kuwait’s newly established Supervisory Committee for Raffles and Promotions, led by Dr. Nasser Al-Maraghi, has officially commenced operations, aiming to eliminate irregularities in commercial raffles. The committee, formed under Ministerial Resolution No. 27 (2025) on March 24, is focused on enforcing strict oversight to ensure fair and transparent promotional draws.

Strengthening Transparency in Commercial Raffles

Dr. Al-Maraghi emphasized that past concerns over raffle manipulations will no longer be tolerated. “The previous situation that raised suspicions of manipulation will not be permitted to continue,” he asserted. The Ministry of Commerce is committed to safeguarding Kuwait’s economic reputation by implementing robust verification measures and enhancing public confidence in its regulatory framework.

Postponement of Kuwait Shopping Festival’s Ninth Raffle

In its first major decision, the committee has collaborated with Kuwait Shopping Festival "Ya Hala" organizers to postpone the ninth raffle. This move allows for the integration of new procedural safeguards before the raffle system proceeds further. The ninth draw will now be combined with the tenth raffle, scheduled for April 5.

“This postponement ensures we can properly establish and test all new mechanisms before proceeding,” Dr. Al-Maraghi stated. “Our focus is on creating absolute transparency and credibility for all future promotional draws while addressing previous vulnerabilities.”

Future Reforms and Oversight Enhancements

The committee is actively developing a comprehensive framework to ensure compliance with raffle regulations. Key improvements include:

• Enhanced Verification Processes: Strict scrutiny of raffle entries and winners.
• Greater Transparency Measures: Publicly accessible results and auditing mechanisms.
• Consumer Protection Policies: Ensuring fair participation for all entrants.

These reforms align with the Ministry of Commerce’s broader objective to strengthen consumer trust and uphold ethical business practices in Kuwait.