'Confusion' in Resolving the Housing Issue

The housing issue is not a minor detail in the actual Kuwaiti context; rather, it resembles a dilemma with no theoretically viable solution under current conditions. However, it is a problem that can be addressed through an approach entirely different from that which prevailed in past decades, thereby repairing the damage caused by electoral political practices that turned the issue into a snowball effect, rolling larger each year to the point where it nearly hindered several development projects.

Here, we must acknowledge certain facts. Initially, old plans benefited both society and the state simultaneously. Citizens receiving such care lived according to prescribed norms, as all houses were built in a uniform style, with no desires deviating from the norm.

This changed when electoral calculations began infiltrating every aspect of the country, from minor infractions to appointments, and ultimately to housing. From this point, injustice began to manifest in various forms. At the same time, there was no governmental vision ensuring justice; instead, unfortunately, the government accommodated decisions made by individual MPs or even electoral blocs, which pressured candidates to secure housing privileges. These demands were imposed on the state, such as requiring the inclusion of married sons in a single household. Once these individuals obtained the right to own their “dream home,” they often sold or rented it out for financial gain. Meanwhile, some harbored a complex regarding palatial residences and larger housing areas, among other factors that created numerous obstacles.

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In contrast, Gulf states, which adopted the idea of housing care from Kuwait, developed it according to societal needs rather than personal desires. They simultaneously built cities and residential complexes based on each citizen’s requirements, effectively solving the problem. Those who wished to build palaces were required to purchase land and cover costs from their own pockets, while those seeking renovation or expansion had to borrow from commercial banks.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other countries, including some Arab nations, did not abandon the core of this care system. Instead, they structured it into tiers for all citizens to ensure broad benefit and prevent the problem from recurring in the future. They also constructed integrated cities equipped with all services and developable infrastructure.

In Kuwait, between 2003 and 2006, when Badr Al-Humaidi served as Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, he devised a brilliant plan. It resonated with then-Prime Minister, the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, as well as other ministers. The plan was rooted in Tony Blair’s strategy for developing the national economy and was welcomed by a significant portion of Kuwaitis. However, when presented to the National Assembly, it was thwarted by petty electoral calculations and the desires of certain parliamentary blocs. None of the opposing MPs proposed any alternative plan, and the situation has remained unchanged to this day.

The problem lies not in paper plans but in implementation and the construction of advanced cities with infrastructure capable of serving residents for decades. Housing provides social and economic stability, and above all, security. Unfortunately, this was not a priority for some of those issuing decisions affecting citizens.

Thus, what we see today can be considered a “patchwork” solution that neither suffices nor alleviates the core issues. Instead, it increases financial burdens on the state and destabilizes the family and living conditions of citizens. Therefore, the solution remains in returning to previous studies and developing them, while also providing suitable alternatives for citizens unable to access housing care. Decisions that hinder social stability will only exacerbate the problem further.