Al-Husainan: Real Estate Financing Is a Step in the Right Direction

His Highness’s Directives and Government Steps Reflect Priority of Citizen Well-being and Family Stability

Researcher in real estate affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Husseini, affirmed that the Cabinet’s approval of the draft law decree regarding housing finance for eligible recipients of housing care represents a significant step in addressing the housing issue. It reflects the political leadership’s and the government’s commitment to placing citizens’ needs and the stability of Kuwaiti families at the forefront of their priorities.

Al-Husseini stated that His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s close follow-up of the housing file, along with the successive legislative and regulatory steps taken by the government, demonstrate a clear awareness of the magnitude of challenges facing citizens and the need to transition from traditional solutions to more flexible and sustainable tools for providing housing care.

He added that the housing finance project comes within this context to provide citizens with broader options for obtaining housing, allowing them to benefit from financial instruments alongside the housing care provided by the state, thereby enhancing the housing system’s capacity to handle increasing demand.

Growing Challenge

He pointed out that the scale of the challenge is clearly evident in the number of housing applications. The latest statistics from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare showed 108,086 pending housing applications as of June 15, 2026, highlighting the importance of acting through multiple channels and not relying on a single tool to address the housing issue.

He noted that the rise in the number of applications compared to previous statistics confirms the continued need for solutions that accommodate natural growth in demand for housing care. Al-Husseini clarified that the project’s significance lies in not presenting finance as a standalone solution, but rather embedding it within a broader system involving the state, the Kuwait Credit Bank, commercial banks, financial institutions, and real estate developers. This integrated approach can contribute to building a more comprehensive model for providing housing to citizens.

Flexible Financing

He explained that offering both subsidized and non-subsidized financing, and the ability to combine them according to Central Bank of Kuwait regulations, gives beneficiaries a wider range to choose the mechanism that best suits their needs. Furthermore, a repayment period of up to 25 years provides greater flexibility in managing financial obligations.

Real Estate Developers

He emphasized that an important aspect of the project is opening the door for purchasing housing units from real estate developers, in addition to financing the construction of government plots. He considered this trend likely to enhance the role of the private sector in providing diverse housing products, contributing to increasing supply and reducing waiting periods.

Al-Husseini praised the government’s move to strengthen the role of real estate developers and expand partnerships with the private sector. He noted that the housing file can no longer rely solely on the traditional model, given the rising number of applications and the need to provide housing units at a pace that keeps pace with population growth and future needs.

He pointed out that the government has already launched projects under the Real Estate Developer Program, as part of a strategy aimed at expanding private sector participation in providing housing care.

Youthful Vision

He said that the presence of a generation of young ministers, led by the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Mashari, is a crucial factor in understanding the nature of families’ and youth’s needs more closely aligned with reality. This is particularly important because the housing issue is directly linked to family formation, living stability, and building the future.

He added that the proximity of officials to the reality of these needs contributes to proposing different approaches to the housing issue, which are not limited to how the state provides housing, but extend to how it can be provided quickly, efficiently, and with quality, through options that align with the aspirations of Kuwaiti families and their changing needs.

He clarified that developing legislation and financial tools reflects a trend toward seeking practical and sustainable solutions that go beyond merely addressing backlogged applications.

Al-Husseini emphasized that the political leadership’s attention to the housing file, alongside governmental legislative and executive action, sends a clear message that citizens’ comfort and family stability are central to shaping housing solutions. The goal should not be limited to reducing the waiting list, but should extend to building a sustainable housing system capable of meeting the needs of current and future generations.

Economic Impact

He noted that the mortgage financing project also carries an economic dimension, as it can help stimulate broad sectors related to real estate, construction, building materials, contracting, and engineering services, while enhancing the role of the banking, financial, and real estate development sectors in the national economy.

Implementation Guidelines

He stressed that the project’s success in achieving its objectives will largely depend on the swift issuance of the executive regulations and the clarity of implementation guidelines, particularly regarding financing amounts, installment calculation mechanisms, conditions for benefiting from subsidized and non-subsidized financing, rules for combining the two, and mechanisms for dealing with developers and financial institutions.

Sustainable Solutions

Al-Husseini concluded by emphasizing that addressing the housing issue requires integrating financing tools with land provision, accelerating the implementation of cities and housing projects, expanding the role of real estate developers, increasing the supply of housing units, and keeping citizens and Kuwaiti families at the core of this system, thereby ensuring the provision of dignified and sustainable housing that meets the current and future needs of society.