Kuwait's PACI Launches 4 New Digital Certificates on Sahel App, Eliminating In-Person Visits

The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) in Kuwait has launched four new digital certificates through the unified government Sahel application, marking another significant step in the nation's digital transformation initiative. The move eliminates the need for citizens and residents to visit government offices in person for these essential documents.

The newly available digital certificates include:

• Statements of previous nationality
• Statements of previous name
• Statements of previous address
• "To Whom It May Concern" documents in English

These additions represent an expansion of PACI's commitment to modernizing government service delivery and reducing bureaucratic friction for the public.

The Sahel application serves as Kuwait's unified government platform, designed to consolidate services from multiple government agencies into a single, user-friendly interface. By integrating these new certificate services, PACI continues its strategy of moving administrative processes from physical offices to digital channels.

The platform enables faster access to critical documents while reducing the administrative burden on government staff and eliminating the need for citizens to take time off work or navigate complex appointment systems. This aligns with Kuwait's broader e-government strategy aimed at improving efficiency and citizen satisfaction.

The Sahel application provides an integrated platform offering multiple functionalities beyond certificate issuance. Users can access official documents, check service status and expiry dates, apply for government services, receive notifications from agencies, book appointments through the META central platform, and stay informed about government announcements.

Available on both iOS and Android devices, the free application has become central to Kuwait's digital government infrastructure. The platform aims to simplify government processes, reduce paperwork, save time and costs for users, and promote transparency through digital transformation.

This certificate expansion follows other recent digital initiatives by Kuwait's government. In early 2026, the Ministry of Interior launched an online passport update service through Sahel, allowing expatriates to modify their passport information electronically without visiting service centers. Additionally, civil ID payments have been fully digitized, enabling residents to complete transactions through PACI e-Services and the Sahel app.

These coordinated efforts demonstrate Kuwait's commitment to reducing in-person government interactions and streamlining administrative procedures across multiple agencies.

The digital certificate services offer several advantages: immediate access without scheduling appointments, reduced travel time, lower administrative costs, and the ability to obtain documents at any time through a mobile device. For residents managing multiple government interactions, the consolidated Sahel platform reduces the complexity of navigating different agencies and their individual systems.

While the Sahel app has received praise for its ambitious scope and government commitment to digitalization, user reviews indicate ongoing technical refinements are needed. Some users have reported compatibility issues across different devices and occasional inconsistencies in file format requirements. PACI continues to update the platform to address these technical challenges and improve overall user experience.

The addition of these four certificates represents incremental progress in Kuwait's larger digital government vision. As more services migrate to digital platforms, the government aims to reduce the number of in-person visits citizens require, lower operational costs, and create a more efficient administrative system. The Sahel app's continued expansion suggests additional services will likely be added in coming months as PACI and other government agencies identify candidates for digitalization.