Latest news with #PublicAuthorityforHousingWelfare
Kuwait Times
11-07-2025
- General
- Kuwait Times
Long waits for government housing persist despite major projects
Slow construction, distant locations, high costs leave many Kuwaitis frustrated By Durnaz Dashti KUWAIT: It's been eight years since Abbas Mohammed, a 40-year-old Kuwaiti, first applied for government housing. Like all Kuwaiti citizens, Mohammed is entitled to government housing or a plot of land after marriage as stipulated in the country's laws. While it's a privilege many around the world can only dream of, the process isn't as easy as it seems. 'I have been waiting on the waiting list since 2017 and have not been issued land,' he said. Mohammed was informed by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) that he would be waiting for 10 years to obtain the land. While some people with strong connections have been able to shorten that period, Mohammed hasn't been successful. 'I can't do anything about it because I don't have wasta.' Without his forever home, Mohammed is now living in his father's house, a temporary arrangement which has become the norm as housing waitlists grow in Kuwait. But Mohammed remains optimistic. He says building new areas is a part of Kuwait's journey toward progress, regardless of location. 'I know that (my new home) will be in a faraway place, most probably in Mutlaa, but I don't mind as I see it as Kuwait developing further.' Kuwaitis make up 30 percent of the 4.85 million people living in Kuwait. The population growth, combined with the fact that most development is concentrated in the metropolitan area of Kuwait, has led to a surge in demand for government housing. 'Lifetime home' applications increased to approximately 97,671 as of October 2024, according to data issued by the PAHW. Some have been on the list since 1985. 'Significant progress' The Kuwaiti government has attempted to address this issue through several initiatives. On Thursday, Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare reported what it called 'significant progress' in major housing development projects during June, including advances in infrastructure and construction in key areas like South Saad Al-Abdullah and South Sabah Al-Ahmad. Over 3,300 affordable homes are currently under construction, while thousands more are in preparation stages. The authority has also digitized many services to speed up building permit processes, issuing over 32,000 certificates by June. But the housing demand continues to outpace the rate of city development. Most recently, Kuwait's top ministers met to reinforce oversight and coordination of housing projects, under direct instructions from HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The discussion, led by ministers Abdullatif Al-Meshari, Noura Al-Mashaan, and Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, focused on removing delays, enhancing collaboration among departments and expediting the rollout of housing infrastructure. The committee underlined the urgency of delivering on citizens' housing needs while upholding construction quality and adhering to timelines. Slow construction Receiving a plot of land from the government doesn't mean the end of the wait. A 73-year-old Kuwaiti man, who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled applying for housing back in 1992. Although he received a land allocation after six years, during which he rented an apartment, he couldn't complete construction until 2017. The delay was largely due to persistent shortages in building materials and a slow construction process. He also noted that the government provides a housing loan of up to KD 70,000 but disburses it in stages. The installments, between KD 2,000 and KD 3,000 each, are tied to phases of construction, such as drafting the house sketch, completing tilling, in addition to tens of other processes. Government officials carry out field inspections at every stage before releasing the money. While helpful, this incremental funding can slow down the overall timeline of building a home. As prices of material and labor increase, the funds may not be sufficient for each stage of building. 'It took me a long time to complete the construction because the staggered funds weren't enough to cover everything I wanted to build, especially using good-quality materials and labor,' he told Kuwait Times. Growing impatient Another issue facing those waiting for housing is the location of new areas under development. Currently, most residential neighborhoods with housing for Kuwaitis are close to the country's urban center. But new areas such as Sabah Al-Ahmad City and Al-Mutlaa City are 30 minutes to an hour away by car. 'Since the new areas that are being developed are distant, many families are building a third floor for their kids so that we are not living somewhere so far away and also paying high rent in Kuwait,' Khalid Al-Kandari, a family man, said. With most people residing in metropolitan areas, rental housing units are becoming increasingly scarce. As a result, many are forced to pay high rent for small living spaces, simply to secure a place to stay. 'Growing up as a city kid, I find it unreasonable that many Kuwaitis have to pay a huge chunk of their salary monthly just for apartments in the city,' Al-Kandari said. Due to the time constraints, he is beginning to grow impatient. 'At this rate the house would be ready when my child turns 18!' The long wait and rising cost of living make it increasingly difficult for citizens to afford these temporary housing arrangements. Despite government efforts, many Kuwaitis have little hope that they will be allocated a home any time soon.
Kuwait Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait reports notable progress on housing projects in key areas
KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare announced significant progress in various housing care projects during June, with key sectors showing steady advancements in construction and services delivered to citizens. Omar Al-Ruwaih, Deputy General Manager for Public Relations and Development and the Authority's spokesperson, said the 'South Saad Al-Abdullah' project saw remarkable progress in its main road contracts, achieving 39.05 percent completion by the end of June — surpassing the contractual target by 22.63 percent. He added that three contracts related to infrastructure work covering approximately 23,551 plots are still in the preparatory phase, with monitoring ongoing to start implementation soon. Regarding the Affordable Housing project, two contracts have moved into actual construction, targeting the building of 3,345 homes. The first contract reached 8.51 percent completion, while the second reached 5.54 percent. Meanwhile, four other contracts, covering 6,455 homes, remain in preparatory stages. Al-Ruwaih also highlighted steady progress in the 'South Sabah Al-Ahmad' project, where four contracts are under way. The main road contract achieved 54.37 percent completion by June. The first infrastructure contract, involving 7,623 plots, reached 10.69 percent, the second contract covering 6,189 plots hit 19.22 percent, and the third contract related to 6,568 plots reached 6.69 percent. In addition, the authority is closely following up on the construction of 217 public buildings across six housing projects, including 92 buildings in Al-Mutlaa city, 74 in the Affordable Housing project, and 31 in South Abdullah Al-Mubarak, along with one building each in Saad Al-Abdullah, Jaber Al-Ahmad and South Khaitan. By the end of June, 32,341 'For Whom It May Concern' certificates, necessary for building permits, were issued to citizens — an increase of 38 certificates compared to May 2025. During June, the Authority signed six new contracts. These included two contracts to complete public service buildings in Al-Mutlaa's neighborhoods N5, N8, N11, and N12, a contract for building the second phase of the Youth Center in Saad Al-Abdullah city, and a contract for surface asphalt works in Al-Mutlaa city. Consultancy contracts were also signed to supervise and manage infrastructure and public building projects in Al-Mutlaa's neighborhoods N4 and N2. Al-Ruwaih stressed that the authority continues to develop and digitize its services in line with the Cabinet's directives, with 30 services now fully available through the 'Sahel' app. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
PAHW signs investment contract for commercial complex and health club
Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Mishari is pictured with other officials during the signing of the contract for the Qairawan area.- KUNA KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) signed on Wednesday the investment opportunity contract (Q1) for the development of a commercial complex and a health club in the Al-Qairawan area, covering an area of approximately 12,500 square meters. The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari, alongside senior officials from PAHW. Minister Al-Meshari stated in a press release following the signing that the project reflects PAHW's strategic efforts to boost private sector participation in developing service projects. He emphasized the authority's keenness to strengthen partnerships with the private sector to achieve sustainable urban development in line with the state's directives, while diversifying PAHW's revenue sources. Acting Deputy Director General for Investment Affairs and Private Sector Projects at PAHW, Anwar Al-Hulaila, said the project comprises three key components: a commercial complex, a health club, and parking facilities. He added that the commercial complex will cover approximately 4,900 square meters, the health club about 2,000 square meters, and parking spaces will occupy 5,600 square meters distributed between the two sites. Al-Hulaila noted that the project's expected revenues are estimated at around KD 12.3 million (approximately $40.5 million) over a 20-year investment period. He reaffirmed PAHW's commitment to providing high-quality services that meet citizens' aspirations and improve the quality of life within residential communities. — KUNA
Kuwait Times
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Contentious housing article repealed; MoI warns against fraud
KUWAIT: An Amiri decree-law issued Sunday annulled article 29 of law no. 47 of 1993, commonly known as the 'He Who Sold His House' law, as part of broader efforts to promote justice, equality and fair housing distribution. The article had allowed a specific group of citizens — those who received Kuwait Credit Bank housing loans between April 15, 1992 and Feb 15, 2015, and later sold their homes and repaid their loans — to once again benefit from rental or usufruct-based housing assistance. However, this excluded others who sold their homes outside the specified period or sold ready-built housing units allocated by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, leading to unequal treatment. The explanatory memorandum accompanying the decree-law highlighted the negative consequences of Article 29, including its contradiction of the state's goal of equitable housing distribution. It stressed that the continued implementation of the article was inconsistent with national efforts to prioritize citizens still awaiting housing aid. The law will take effect upon publication in the official gazette, and its repeal is intended to address legislative gaps and ensure support reaches those with the most urgent need. Meanwhile, the interior ministry warned on Sunday of 'fraudulent' messages posing as official demands from the interior ministry to obtain confidential financial information. The ministry denied in a statement cited by KUNA 'any link to fraudulent means and forged documents sent under its name demanding financial information'. The ministry affirmed that it never requests such information or data. The ministry also called on the public to ignore such messages or calls and urged that no one should provide sensitive information over the phone or through messages or any other means. Local media reported that fraudsters have made audio or video calls to citizens and residents, posing as officers from the interior ministry, and demanded confidential information from them. Such callers threatened to take action against those who fail to supply the requested information, including a copy of both faces of bank cards, which allowed these thieves to withdraw money from the victims. The interior ministry advised the public not to pay heed to such gangs. Separately, the Public Authority of Manpower said on Sunday that it has issued citations to 33 local establishments in June for asking their employees to work outdoors, adding that the establishments corrected the violations immediately. The authority has banned companies from asking their employees to work under the sun between 11 am until 4 pm between June 1 and Aug 31. Kuwait has been implementing this practice for the past several years because of the scorching heat of the summer, when temperatures soar above 50 degrees Celsius.
Arab Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Court: Husband's Absence No Obstacle to Wife's Property Rights
KUWAIT CITY, June 29: The Administrative Court has ruled in favor of a Kuwaiti woman, granting her the right to initiate procedures for issuing a title deed in equal shares with her husband, without requiring his presence or signature. The ruling follows the husband's arbitrary refusal to complete the registration process, despite all legal and procedural requirements being fulfilled. The title deed must be issued with a mortgage in favor of the Kuwait Credit Bank. The case was filed by the woman's legal representative, lawyer Hawra Al-Habib, who explained that her client is the wife of the first defendant and mother of their four children. Together, they had applied to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (the second defendant) for a residential plot, which was duly allocated to them. All formalities had been completed, including municipal clearances, notary records, and the connection of electricity services. However, the husband refused to proceed with the title deed issuance without providing a valid reason, effectively obstructing his wife's legal right. The court concluded that the husband's actions constituted an abuse of rights, unjustly depriving the plaintiff of her entitlement to co-ownership of the government-allocated property. Based on these findings, the court ruled that the woman is legally entitled to proceed with the issuance of the title deed independently, under applicable legal procedures.
