The ‘Kuwait Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Kuwait cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including debit, credit and charge cards during the review-period (2022-26e).
The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2026e-30f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.
The report brings together the analyst’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.
The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2026e-30f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.
The report brings together the analyst’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.
The ‘Kuwait Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Kuwait cards and payments industry, including:
- Current and forecast values for each market in Kuwait cards and payments industry, including debit, credit and charge cards.
- Detailed insights into payment instruments including cards, cash, and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
- Ecommerce market analysis.
- Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Kuwait cards and payments industry.
- Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit and charge cards.
- Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
- The competitive landscape of Kuwait cards and payments industry.
Key Highlights
- WAMD is an instant payment service introduced in December 2024 by KNET, under the supervision of the CBK. The system operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, allowing users to send funds between bank accounts, request payments, and receive transfers using only the recipient’s phone number, without the need for IBANs or account number details. As of May 2025, WAMD has over one million registered accounts.
- Kuwait’s ecommerce market is experiencing healthy growth. This can be attributed to the country’s widespread smartphone penetration and internet connectivity. To capitalize on this growth, companies are introducing digital platforms in the country. For instance, in April 2025, Kuwait Mart launched its online shopping platform, providing customers access to a wide range of products through a digital interface, with features such as home delivery, user-friendly navigation, and integrated payment solutions. Similarly, in September 2025, Dubai-based retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim introduced its HyperMax grocery retail brand in Kuwait, offering multiple stores and a new ecommerce platform that enables customers to order groceries online.
- Cross-boarder payments are gradually gaining traction in the country. For instance, in March 2025, Kuwait International Bank launched the Fast Transfer remittance service via its mobile banking app, in partnership with Visa. The service leverages Visa Direct to enable customers to send international transfers quickly to bank accounts across multiple countries.
Report Scope
- Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in Kuwait along with detailed card segmentation of debit, credit and charge cards available in the country.
- Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including cards, cash, and cheques.
- Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period
- Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes.
- Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
- A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands.
Reasons to Buy
- Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Kuwait cards and payments industry and each market within it.
- Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Kuwait cards and payments industry.
- Assess the competitive dynamics in Kuwait cards and payments industry.
- Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Kuwait.
- Gain insights into key regulations governing Kuwait cards and payments industry.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary2. Macroeconomics, Regulation, and Infrastructure
3. Payment Instruments
4. Card-Based Payments
5. Instant Payments
6. Digital Wallet Payments
7. Ecommerce Payments
8. Appendix
List of Tables
- Key facts, 2025
- Payment instrument transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f
- Payment instrument transaction values ($), 2022-2030f
- Payment instrument transaction volumes (units), 2022-2030f
- Payment cards in circulation by type (units), 2022-2030f
- Volume of payment card transactions (units), 2022-2030f
- Value of payment card transactions (LCU), 2022-2030f
- Value of payment card transactions ($), 2022-2030f
- Debit cards in circulation (units), 2022-2030f
- Debit card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f
- Debit card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f
- Debit card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f
- Debit cards in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e
- Debit card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e
- Debit card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e
- Debit cards in circulation by issuer (units), 2022-26e
- Debit cards transaction value by issuer (LCU), 2022-26e
- Debit cards transaction value by issuer ($), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge cards in circulation (Units), 2022-2030f
- Credit and charge card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f
- Credit and charge card transaction values (units), 2022-2030f
- Credit and charge card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f
- Credit and charge cards in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge cards in circulation by issuer (units), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge cards transaction value by issuer (LCU), 2022-26e
- Credit and charge cards transaction value by issuer ($), 2022-26e
- Credit card in circulation (units), 2022-2030f
- Credit card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f
- Credit card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f
- Credit card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f
- Credit card in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e
- Credit card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e
- Credit card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e
- Charge card in circulation (units), 2022-2030f
- Charge card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f
- Charge card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f
- Charge card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f
- Charge card in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e
- Charge card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e
- Charge card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e
- Card penetration per inhabitant
- Average number of monthly card transactions
- POS terminals per 1,000 inhabitants
- Inflation rate
- GDP growth rate
- Unemployment rate
- Average annual wages
- Total population
- Banked population
- Internet penetration
- Cell phone penetration
- Number of ATMs and ATMs per 1 million inhabitants
- Number of POS terminals and POS terminals per 1 million inhabitants
- Payment istrument transaction volume (paper-based vs electronic payments)
- Payment instruments transaction value
- Payment instruments transaction volume
- Cross-border payment value
- Cross-border payment Volume
- Payment cards number of cards in circulation
- Payment cards card penetration per individual, by card type
- Payment cards value of card transactions
- Payment cards volume of card transactions
- Payments card value physical POS vs. remote
- Payments card volume physical POS vs. remote
- Payments value domestic vs. cross-border
- Payments volume domestic vs. cross-border
- Debit card frequency of payments and average transaction value
- Debit card ATM withdrawals frequency of use and average transaction value
- Debit card schemes transaction value
- Debit card schemes transaction volume
- Debit card schemes market share in terms of transaction value
- Debit card issuers by number of cards
- Debit card issuers by transaction value share
- Credit and charge card frequency of payments and average transaction value
- Credit and charge card ATM withdrawals frequency of use and average transaction value
- Credit and charge card schemes transaction value
- Credit and charge card schemes transaction volume
- Credit and charge card schemes market share in terms of transaction value
- Credit and charge card issuers by number of cards
- Credit and charge card issuers by transaction value share
- E-commerce transaction value
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Central Reserve Bank of Kuwait
- KFH
- NBK
- Commercial Bank of Kuwait
- Gulf Bank
- Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait
- Warba Bank
- Kuwait International Bank
- Boubyan Bank
- Burgan Bank
- Diners Club
- Visa
- American Express
- Mastercard
