Interview: Abdulatif Hamed Hamad Al Mishari, Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, on urban expansion and sustainability measures
How is Kuwait’s housing sector adapting to the growing demand for affordable housing?
ABDULATIF HAMED HAMAD AL MISHARI: Kuwait’s housing sector is undergoing a significant shift to respond more effectively to rising demand for affordable housing. The core of this approach is to move away from a fully government-led delivery model towards a framework based on public-private partnerships (PPPs). Supported by Law No. 118/2023, governing residential city developers, and the forthcoming Mortgage Law, the objective is not to replace traditional housing but to expand available options guided by technical, economic and demographic studies. This framework increases supply by encouraging private sector participation across the development cycle, from land preparation and infrastructure to construction and financing. By enabling private developers to deliver complete residential cities, it improves efficiency and shortens delivery timelines, helping to address the backlog of over 105,000 families.
To what extent are the development of new residential cities addressing Kuwait’s urban expansion challenges and meeting the needs of young families?
AL MISHARI: Large-scale residential cities are central to managing urban growth and meeting the needs of a young and expanding population. They are planned as integrated, self-sustaining communities rather than standalone housing projects, easing pressure on existing urban areas and creating new economic and social centres. For young families, this model provides a complete living environment, with schools, health care facilities, mosques and commercial services included. These developments are expected to deliver around 242,000 housing units for more than 2m residents. By delivering housing on such a large scale, these projects reduce long waiting lists and shorten the time needed for families to secure their homes. The inclusion of diverse housing types also ensures that different financial capacities and lifestyle needs are addressed.
Where do you see the most significant opportunities for PPPs in Kuwait’s housing and urban development sector?
AL MISHARI: PPPs underpin the current development strategy and offer substantial opportunities for private investment. The most significant areas are primary and secondary infrastructure and large mixed-use communities. Private partners finance and deliver infrastructure such as roads, utilities, sanitation systems and telecommunications networks within project boundaries, which creates opportunities for local and international firms. Mixed-use developments also allow investment in commercial and service assets that generate long-term income. The Public Authority for Housing Welfare has already delivered non-residential projects through PPPs, including industrial zones, commercial centres, investment housing, traditional markets, hotels, schools, gyms and public parks.
In what ways is the government integrating smart city technologies and sustainability practices into new housing developments?
AL MISHARI: Smart technologies and sustainability measures are central to the housing strategy and align with Kuwait Vision 2035. The aim is to develop cities that are resilient, efficient and capable of supporting long-term quality of life. South Saad Al Abdullah serves as the main reference project, incorporating advanced systems for public security, traffic management, smart mobility, communications and energy efficiency. These include intelligent surveillance, adaptive traffic controls, integrated public transport, high-capacity digital networks and centralised operations platforms. Strong emphasis is also placed on environmental management through district cooling systems, smart water and waste monitoring, air quality sensors and automated greenery management. Additional features include electric vehicle charging, smart homes, digital public services, free Wi-Fi zones and data-driven citizen engagement.
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