Kuwait airport bans all photos, videos and live streaming: what Pakistani travellers need to know

Kuwait International Airport has banned all photography, video recording and live streaming in every one of its facilities, under Circular No. 60 of 2026 issued by Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ARY News reported on Friday 6 November. The ban took effect on the day it was issued.

For the tens of thousands of Pakistanis who work in Kuwait and fly through it from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan, the practical rule is simple: keep the phone camera off from the kerb to the aircraft door.

What is banned

The circular, signed by Acting Director General Engineer Saad Al-Otaibi, covers:

• Places: passenger terminals, administrative buildings, technical facilities and any other space used by the aviation authority.
• Things you may not film or photograph: security checkpoints, surveillance cameras, aircraft movements and operational procedures.
• Documents: internal papers, administrative letters and security procedures.
• Live streaming: no streaming from any part of the airport.

The penalty

Under Article Two, anyone who breaks the rule faces immediate prosecution and penalties under Kuwait's civil service law and civil aviation law. Officials described the airport as a strategic and sensitive national facility and said the rule also protects the privacy of staff and passengers.

The circular comes as Kuwait steps up national preparedness amid tension in the region.

What it means for you

• No goodbye videos or TikToks at the gate. A selfie in the terminal is now a breach of the rule.
• Do not film a problem at immigration or check-in, even to complain. Ask for a supervisor or note names and times instead, and contact the Pakistan Embassy in Kuwait or your airline afterwards.
• Vloggers and content creators should stop recording before entering the terminal building.
• Family picking you up: the rule applies to everyone in the airport, not only passengers.

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