The Public Authority for Civil Information

What The Public Authority for Civil Information does

The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) is Kuwait's statutory government authority for civil registration and national identity, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Hawalli. It is the sole entity mandated to issue, renew, and manage the unified civil ID card for all Kuwaiti citizens, GCC nationals, and non-Kuwaiti residents, and to maintain the national unified data bank of vital and civil information (births, deaths, marriages, divorces, addresses). PACI serves a population of approximately 4.4 million residents through six physical branches across Kuwait, the Sahel unified government app, the Hawyti digital ID mobile app, the Kuwait Finder geospatial app, a telephone service center (1889988), SMS, and self-service kiosks.

PACI's product portfolio centers on the Smart Civil ID Card (with embedded electronic signature certificates), the Hawyti mobile ID app for digital identity verification, and a growing suite of digital certificates (security registration, nationality, name, address, employment, blood type, civil number merge) delivered through the Sahel app. Supporting infrastructure includes an Electronic Signature Service for legally binding digital transactions, a Statistical Services System publishing demographic data, and GIS services for property and address management. The technology stack is built on smart card cryptography, electronic signature infrastructure, GIS platforms, and integration with the national KNET payment system and GCC-wide identity frameworks.

Revenue is generated through transactional fees: 5 KD for civil ID renewals, 20 KD for lost/damaged card replacement, 1 KD per certificate page, 20 KD late-registration fines, and 50 fils per SMS notification. As a government authority, financials are not publicly disclosed. PACI's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer (citizens and residents) plus B2G (establishments and property registrations), with no external sales motion — services are publicly mandated and accessed through self-service digital channels or branch offices.

Name

The Public Authority for Civil Information

Legal name

Public Authority for Civil Information

Website

https://services.paci.gov.kw

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PACI is Kuwait's statutory civil information authority, issuing and managing the unified national civil ID card for all citizens, GCC nationals, and residents via the Sahel and Hawyti apps, smart cards, and six branches. It monetizes through transaction fees for ID renewals, certificates, and electronic signatures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Identity and Civil Registration Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Public Administration (92)

akta.pro primary industry

Identity & Access Security Services (IAM, PAM, Zero Trust) (BPAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Civil registration services
• Identity management
• Smart card issuance
• Digital government services
• Population registry

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawalli

HQ country

Kuwait

HQ region

Middle East

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Civil ID Card Fees: Fees for issuance, renewal, and replacement of civil ID cards for Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti residents. Includes 5 KD for renewals, 20 KD for replacement of lost/damaged cards, and various processing fees.
2. Certificate Issuance Fees: Fees for issuing various certificates including address certificates, real estate certificates, building unit statements, and other official documents. Standard fee is 1 KD per certificate.
3. Establishment and Building Registration: Fees for registering establishments, companies, and buildings in the civil information system, including updates to entity data and property management.
4. Late Registration Fines: Financial penalties of 20 KD for late registration or renewal of civil ID cards beyond permitted grace periods.
5. SMS Notification Fees: 50 fils per SMS notification sent for various service updates and verifications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PACI is Kuwait's statutory authority for civil registration and identity management. It issues and renews smart Civil ID cards for citizens and residents, maintains the unified national civil number database, and provides electronic signature, address certificates, and demographic statistical services. Service delivery is digital-first via the Sahel unified government app, Hawyti mobile ID app, Kuwait Finder app, the official portal, telephone (1889988), SMS, and a network of branch offices.

Product overview

The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) operates a multi-channel digital services platform centered around its mobile applications and web portal. The core product portfolio consists of three main mobile applications: the Sahel unified government app serving as the primary channel for civil ID services including renewal, certificates, and registrations; the Hawyti Kuwait Mobile ID providing certified digital identity and electronic signature capabilities; and the Kuwait Finder app for geographic/location services. Supporting these are the physical Smart Civil ID Card with embedded digital certificates, the Electronic Signature Service downloadable to smart cards, and a Statistical Services System providing demographic data. PACI's digital services also include various certificate services (security registration, nationality, name, address, blood type, and employment statements), GIS services, online payment processing, and utility tools like image-to-PDF conversion, all accessible through the Sahel app and official website.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sahel App (تطبيق سهل): Unified government application for accessing civil ID services and certificates
• Howaity/Kuwait Mobile ID (تطبيق هويتي)
• Kuwait Finder (كويت فايندر)

Products and services

• Sahel App (تطبيق سهل) Unified government mobile application serving as the primary digital channel for civil ID services in Kuwait, offering card renewal, certificate requests, blood type updates, civil number merging, address changes, and various civil registration services to individuals and entities.
• Hawyti - Kuwait Mobile ID (تطبيق هويتي) Mobile application providing a certified digital civil card for identity verification, electronic attestation, and electronic signature for government agencies and private sector entities. Available on Android and iOS.
• Kuwait Finder (تطبيق كويت فايندر) Mobile application for locating addresses and buildings within Kuwait, supporting geographic navigation related to civil registration and property identification.
• Smart Civil ID Card (البطاقة الذكية) Physical smart card with embedded digital certificate capabilities, providing Kuwaiti citizens and residents with a unified identity document accepted by government agencies and private sector organizations for authentication and electronic signatures.
• Electronic Signature Service (التوقيع الإلكتروني) Digital signature service downloadable to smart civil ID cards, enabling users to conduct electronic transactions, sign digital documents with encryption capability, and send authenticated emails with legal validity across government and private sector entities.
• Statistical Services System (نظام الخدمات الإحصائية) Interactive statistical system displaying demographic data and statistics, providing comprehensive population-related data and figures for government planning and public use.
• Geographic Information Systems Services (خدمات نظم المعلومات الجغرافية) GIS-based services for geographic information, mapping, and geospatial applications related to civil registration and property identification across Kuwait.

Quantifiable outcome

• Four digital channels available for civil ID renewal reducing need for in-person visits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Thales Digital Identity & Security: Major provider of digital identity, biometric, and secure document solutions globally, including national ID cards, e-passports, and digital identity platforms. Comparable to PACI's identity and smart card technology capabilities.
• IDEMIA: Global leader in digital identity and biometric solutions, providing the underlying technology stack for many national ID programs including smart cards and identity verification. Comparable to PACI as a significant force in the national civil ID space, though operating as a commercial vendor rather than a government authority.

Regional players

• Signicat: Leading digital identity provider in the Nordics and Europe offering identity verification, electronic signatures, and trust services. Comparable to PACI's electronic signature and digital identity verification services, though operating in different geographies.
• Saudi Digital Authority (SDA): Saudi government entity overseeing national digital transformation, including identity and government platforms. Comparable to PACI in digital government ambitions and identity infrastructure, though operating at a much larger national scale.
• Ministry of Interior (UAE) - Smart Services: UAE's smart government services platform providing civil ID, residency, and government documentation services. Comparable to PACI as a Gulf-region government digital services platform, though integrated into a broader ministry rather than a standalone authority.

Direct peers

• National Identity Management Commission (Nigeria - NIMC): Nigeria's national identity authority managing NIN enrollment and digital identity services. Comparable to PACI as a government entity providing civil registration, biometric ID, and digital identity verification services.
• Unique Identification Authority of India (Aadhaar/UIDAI): India's national identity authority issuing Aadhaar numbers to over a billion residents. Comparable to PACI as a government entity providing unique identity numbers, digital authentication, and e-KYC services at population scale.
• General Directorate of Population and Civil Status (Turkey): Turkey's national civil registry authority directly comparable to PACI, managing the MERNIS national population registry, civil ID issuance, and digital government services for all Turkish citizens and residents.
• Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (UAE ICP): The UAE's federal identity authority is a direct functional peer, also a government entity mandated to manage civil identity, issue national ID cards, and provide digital identity and residency services to citizens and residents of the UAE.
• National Information Center (Saudi Arabia): Saudi Arabia's national digital identity and government services operator, providing Absher platform and national ID services. Directly comparable to PACI as a Gulf-region government entity managing civil identity and digital government services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pacikwt
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pacikwt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacikwt

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Public Authority for Civil Information