Foreign Investments Quadruple

Ali Ibrahim: Sheikh Dr. Meshal Al-Jaber, Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority (DIPA), announced that the fiscal year 2025/2026 witnessed growth in the volume of foreign direct investments in Kuwait, with direct investment flows quadrupling. This serves as a message to the investor community that Kuwait is open, competitive, and ready for the future.

According to DIPA’s report, the past fiscal year saw continued growth in direct investment in Kuwait. The country attracted new investments worth KD 948.037 million through 17 investment entities, raising the total cumulative approved investments since 2015 to KD 2.92 billion.

Cumulative investment spending rose to KD 1.24 billion by December 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 14%, while maintaining 76% of total spending within the local economy. This contributes to strengthening supply chains and supporting small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) ecosystems.

For further details:

- Through 17 new entities, total cumulative investments rose to KD 2.92 billion.

- Foreign investments in Kuwait quadrupled to KD 948 million.

Ali Ibrahim: DIPA announced that the fiscal year 2025/2026 saw continued growth in direct investment in Kuwait, attracting new investments worth KD 948.037 million through 17 investment entities. This raised the total cumulative approved investments since 2015 to KD 2.920 billion.

Sheikh Dr. Meshal Al-Jaber, Director General of DIPA, stated in the Authority’s annual report for the past fiscal year that the growth achieved this year—marked by a fourfold increase in direct investment flows to KD 948.03 million—sends a clear message to the investor community that Kuwait is open, competitive, and ready for the future. He emphasized that the results achieved are measured not only by the volume of capital attracted but also by the quality of investments, technology and knowledge transfer, and the opportunities created for Kuwaiti national talent.

Sheikh Dr. Meshal Al-Jaber added that DIPA continues, in collaboration with its partners, to build an investment ecosystem that supports innovation, enhances economic resilience, and accelerates the realization of Kuwait Vision 2035.

The Authority noted that licensed investments have contributed to supporting the national economy by creating job opportunities, developing human capital, transferring and localizing technology, strengthening the local content, participating in development projects, and engaging in corporate social responsibility initiatives, all of which support the targets of Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

DIPA reaffirmed its continued achievement of tangible results benefiting investors and the Kuwaiti economy, through measurable outputs that reflect the actual impact of investments.

It noted that cumulative investment spending rose to KD 1.24 billion by December 2024, an increase of approximately 14% year-on-year, while maintaining a share of 76% of total spending within the local economy. This contributes to strengthening supply chains and supporting small and medium-sized enterprise frameworks, alongside enhancing the effective and sustainable integration of international investors into the national economy.

The list of new investment entities attracted by Kuwait during the past fiscal year included: SR Systems Solutions Kuwait Ltd. from the United Kingdom, with a capital of KD 660,850; Franklin Templeton Global Investors Ltd. from the United Kingdom, with a capital of KD 843,052; Goldman Sachs International from the United Kingdom, with investments of KD 5.083 million; BSR Holding and DAVC Ltd. from the United Kingdom, with investments of KD 178.370 million.

Investments originating from China included: Kuwait Wantian Technology, with investments of KD 1.127 million; Panjin Newtide Energy Technology Ltd., with KD 3.93 million; Jiye Energy Services, with KD 2.329 million; Jiye New Energy Regeneration and Recycling Technology Ltd., with KD 12.247 million; Panjin Oujia Petroleum Equipment and Machinery Ltd., with KD 925,000; Fujian Profinais Chongming Xingtai Construction Company Ltd., with KD 2.176 million; and China Communications Construction Company Ltd., with investments of KD 602.5 million.

Regarding investments from the United States, they included: Visa Kuwait, with investments of KD 1.814 million; and Regent Aerospace Corporation, with KD 2 million. From India, Lulu Logistics arrived with investments of KD 20.35 million. From Jersey, PricewaterhouseCoopers Kuwait Holding Ltd. came with KD 21.33 million. From Turkey, Kozo Toplu Konut Anonim Şirketi arrived with a value of KD 20 million. From the Cayman Islands, Kita Express Wholesale and Retail Trade came with investments of KD 72.32 million.

Data from the Direct Investment Promotion Authority showed the sectoral distribution of investments. The construction and infrastructure sector accounted for 31.09% of investments, totaling KD 907.927 million, followed by information and communications technology at 22.91%, totaling KD 668.959 million. The oil and gas sector held 18.67%, valued at KD 545.256 million, while energy and electricity accounted for 9.73%, valued at KD 284.146 million. Transport and storage represented 3.17%, valued at KD 92.677 million, and human health accounted for 2.77%, valued at KD 80.79 million.

The consulting sector captured 2.64% of investments, valued at KD 77.17 million, and education and training accounted for 2.56%, valued at KD 74.883 million. Aviation represented 1.87%, valued at KD 54.611 million, and insurance accounted for 1.86%, valued at KD 54.351 million. The environment sector held 1.03%, valued at KD 29.959 million, and agriculture accounted for 0.59%, valued at KD 17.341 million.

33 countries invest in Kuwait, with China leading at KD 903.64 million. The People's Republic of China topped the list of countries investing in Kuwait in terms of cumulative approved direct investments since 2015, with a value of KD 903.64 million, representing 30.95% of the total. The Netherlands followed with investments totaling KD 541.554 million, holding a share of 18.55%, and then the United Kingdom with KD 200.408 million, accounting for 6.86%. Data on the geographic distribution of investments, included in the annual report of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, showed that cumulative investments extended to 33 countries.

4 Free Economic Zones

The annual report of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority revealed progress in the development of the economic zones in Abdali and Al-Awaria, alongside ongoing preparations for the Nuwaysib Free Zone and the Al-Nuaimiyah Economic Zone, in addition to the development of the Salmiya Technology Innovation Center and the availability of strategic commercial land for new investment opportunities.

122 Licensed Investment Entities.. 80 Kuwaiti Companies

The annual report stated that the cumulative number of approved investment entities reached 122, distributed by their legal forms into 80 Kuwaiti companies, accounting for 65.57% of the total, 40 branches of foreign companies at 32.79%, and two representation offices at 1.64%.

Strategy 2025/2030.. Ready for the Future

The Direct Investment Promotion Authority stated that it is entering a new phase of growth through its second medium-term strategy, which aims to consolidate Kuwait’s position as a future-ready economy based on investment, aligned with global capital flows and emerging sectors.

832 Training Programs and 116 Sustainability Initiatives

Data from the Direct Investment Promotion Authority showed that licensed investment entities implemented 832 training programs for capacity building and knowledge transfer, alongside 116 sustainability initiatives supporting 15 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as part of the activities carried out by these entities alongside their capital investments.

3 Strategic Priorities

The Direct Investment Promotion Authority identified three strategic priorities in its work, as follows:

1. Expanding high-impact investments in priority sectors in line with global growth trends.

2. Providing a smooth investment journey for investors, from market entry to expansion.

3. Digital transformation and service integration to enhance efficiency, speed of execution, predictability, and transparency.

Empowering Investment on a Broad Scale

The Direct Investment Promotion Authority stated that the Board of Directors continues to play a pivotal role in consolidating a competitive investment environment in Kuwait by applying good governance principles, setting strategic directions, making timely decisions, and strengthening a more transparent, flexible, and investor-focused regulatory framework.

The Board’s leadership focuses on accelerating high-impact investments, enhancing the clarity of regulatory frameworks, and consolidating Kuwait’s position as a reliable and forward-looking investment destination for long-term global capital.