Indian-origin LuLu Group chairman gets Kuwait's first 15-year Golden Residency permit

Kerala-born Indian businessman and LuLu Group International Chairman Yousuf Ali Moussally has become the first recipient of Kuwait's newly introduced 15-year Golden Residency, marking the rollout of the country's long-term residency programme aimed at strengthening the investment environment and attracting quality investments.

The Golden Residency was presented by Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, under the country's newly approved Golden Residency framework.

According to the Kuwait Ministry of Interior, the initiative is part of the government's strategy to support the national economy, strengthen the investment ecosystem and reinforce Kuwait's position as an attractive economic hub in line with its future development plans.


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The ministry said the Golden Residency programme has been developed under a comprehensive framework with clear regulations and standards aligned with best practices.

It added that the Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), developed an integrated residency framework that balances simplified procedures with legal and regulatory safeguards.

According to the ministry, the initiative reflects the government's commitment to strengthening partnerships with the investment sector, enhancing investor confidence and enabling investors to operate in a stable business environment. It also said authorities will continue updating regulations and procedures to keep pace with economic and development requirements.

Who is eligible for the Golden Residency?

Kuwait operationalised the 15-year Investor Residency programme after notifying the eligibility criteria earlier this year.

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Under the rules, eligible applicants include owners, partners, directors and senior management of qualifying investment entities, along with their spouses, children and parents.

Applicants must have a clean criminal record and hold a passport with at least six months' validity.

To qualify, the investment entity must be a company or branch of a foreign company established in Kuwait for direct investment purposes. It must hold a valid investment licence issued by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), comply with Kuwaitisation requirements, have a minimum investment value of KWD 5 million, and maintain at least KWD 1 million in paid-up capital deposited in a Kuwait-based bank account.

Kuwait introduced the long-term Investor Residency Permit to strengthen its appeal as an investment destination by offering eligible foreign investors residency of up to 15 years.

Although the permit was introduced in 2013, the residency period was extended to 15 years in January 2026. The programme became operational after the government notified the eligibility rules, forming part of Kuwait's broader efforts to attract long-term investment and diversify its economy.