Kuwait revises nursing pay structure with monthly allowances of up to KD 1,510

Kuwait has approved a major overhaul of financial incentives for nursing and midwifery professionals, introducing revised monthly allowances of up to KD 1,510 for senior Kuwaiti healthcare specialists and a structured package of benefits for foreign nursing staff.

Kuwait’s Minister of Health Ahmed Al-Awadhi signed Ministerial Resolution No. 206 of 2026, which establishes a new allowance framework covering nursing and midwifery personnel across different professional grades.

The revised system takes into account factors including job title, professional experience, academic qualifications, career progression, work conditions, shifts, supervision responsibilities and training.

Allowances for foreign nurses

Non-Kuwaiti nursing professionals, who make up a significant part of Kuwait’s healthcare workforce, will be eligible for a range of allowances based on their professional grade.

The package includes work nature allowances, job-level bonuses, cost-of-living support, shift and on-call allowances, supervision incentives and training-related benefits.

For foreign nursing services technicians, senior technicians in Category A can receive a work nature allowance of up to KD 130, alongside a job-level bonus of around KSh 25,000, a cost-of-living allowance of approximately KSh 20,900 and an on-call allowance of about KSh 41,800.

Standard nursing services technicians will receive a work nature allowance of up to KD 110.

The revised framework also provides academic bonuses for foreign nurses holding recognised qualifications directly related to nursing practice. Eligible professionals with a PhD can receive a monthly academic allowance of around KSh 20,900, while those with a relevant master’s degree can receive approximately KSh 10,450.

Kuwaiti nurses to receive higher allowances

Kuwaiti nationals working in nursing and midwifery positions will receive higher monthly allowance packages, ranging from KD 1,040 for assistant nurses and assistant midwives to KD 1,510 for head nursing and head midwifery specialists.

Senior nursing and senior midwifery specialists will receive KD 1,430 per month, while nursing and midwifery specialists will receive KD 1,350.

Senior nurses and senior midwives will receive KD 1,170, while nurses and midwives will receive KD 1,110. Kuwaiti graduates with specialised university qualifications in nursing-related fields will also be eligible for professional bonuses ranging from KD 100 to KD 500, depending on their seniority.

Academic bonuses for Kuwaiti nursing and midwifery personnel will be set at KD 150 per month for a PhD and KD 75 for a master’s degree.

At the top end of the revised scale, the KD 1,510 monthly allowance for head nursing and head midwifery specialists is equivalent to roughly KSh 634,200 based on the conversion cited in the original report.

Kuwait seeks to improve retention and career progression

The Ministry of Health said the revised allowance structure is aimed at recognising professional expertise, encouraging specialisation and improving staff retention across Kuwait’s healthcare institutions.

The ministry also said the changes are intended to improve the quality of healthcare by creating stronger financial incentives and clearer career progression for nursing and midwifery professionals.

The resolution formally introduces technically graded joint job titles for midwifery personnel, providing a more defined career pathway within the profession.

By linking compensation more closely to qualifications, experience, professional grade and responsibilities, Kuwait’s health authorities are seeking to make nursing a more attractive long-term career while retaining skilled personnel within the country’s healthcare system.