KNET: Kuwait's NationalPayment Network Explained

What Is KNET?

KNET (Kuwait Network) is Kuwait's national electronic payment network, established in 1992 and operated by the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). It was one of the first domestic payment networks in the entire GCC region, predating similar schemes in neighbouring countries by decades.

KNET operates primarily as a debit card network, connecting all Kuwaiti bank accounts through a unified domestic infrastructure. Every bank account in Kuwait comes with a KNET-enabled debit card, making it the most universally held payment instrument in the country.

KNET cards are co-badged with Visa or Mastercard, giving cardholders domestic processing within Kuwait and international acceptance abroad. The network is regulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and processes the vast majority of electronic payments in the country.

KNET by the Numbers

How Does KNET Work?

KNET operates as a domestic interbank switch. When a customer pays with their KNET card at a Kuwaiti merchant, the transaction is routed through the KNET network — keeping the transaction data within Kuwait and enabling real-time settlement between Kuwaiti banks.

Which Banks Issue KNET Cards?

All licensed banks in Kuwait are connected to the KNET network and issue KNET-enabled debit cards. The major issuers include:

Because KNET is mandated by the CBK and the Kuwait Banking Association, virtually every Kuwaiti bank account holder has a KNET card — making it the most universally held payment instrument in the country.

KNET for E-Commerce: What You Need to Know

Accepting KNET online requires a payment gateway that is certified by KNET for e-commerce processing. Not all international payment gateways support KNET — this is one of the most common barriers for businesses entering the Kuwaiti market.

Key requirements for KNET online acceptance:

• KNET certification for your payment gateway or acquirer
• 3D Secure (3DS2) support — mandatory for KNET online transactions
• BIN range support for KNET card numbers (different from Visa/Mastercard ranges)
• KWD (Kuwaiti Dinar) settlement capability
• CBK compliance for data handling and transaction reporting

KNET vs. Visa / Mastercard in Kuwait

Accepting KNET with Miles Pay

Miles Pay is fully certified for KNET e-commerce and in-store processing. Our platform handles all the complexity — KNET certification, 3DS2 authentication, BIN routing, and KWD settlement — so you can start accepting KNET with a single API integration.

KNET is included in the Miles Pay unified GCC payment API alongside Mada (Saudi Arabia), Jaywan (UAE), Benefit (Bahrain), and every other regional payment method. One integration, one dashboard, one settlement.

// Miles Pay — charge with KNET support
const charge = await milesPay.charges.create({
  amount: 5000,        // in fils (KWD 5.000)
  currency: 'KWD',
  payment_method: {
    type: 'card',      // KNET routes automatically
    card_token: token,
  },
  three_d_secure: true, // Required for KNET online
  metadata: { order_id: 'ORD-003' },
});