Law & Regulation
Real Estate Ownership Law
Historically restricted real estate ownership to Kuwaiti citizens, with narrow exceptions for GCC/Arab nationals under strict conditions. Decree-Law No. 7/2025 (10 February 2025) expanded eligibility to KDIPA-licensed entities, Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed companies, and licensed real estate funds/investment companies. Decree No. 195/2025 provides the detailed implementing controls: eligible entities must have real estate dealing among their licensed activities, private-housing-designated land remains off-limits, and CBK-supervised entities and GCC nationals are treated as exceptions/equivalent to Kuwaiti citizens.
Legal Significance
What This Instrument Does
Defines eligibility for real estate ownership in Kuwait, now progressively liberalized for licensed corporate and fund investors.
Why It Matters
Directly relevant to any licensed foreign-linked investment vehicle considering Kuwaiti real estate exposure.
Legal Framework Position
- Land / Real Estate / Land UsePrimary / Framework Instrument
Instrument Overview
- Official Citation
- Law No. (74) of 1979, as amended by Decree-Law No. (7) of 2025 and Decree No. (195) of 2025
- Instrument Type
- Law / Act
- Enactment Date
- 1 January 1979
- Last Amended Date
- 10 February 2025
- Last Verified
- 30 September 2026
Recent Developments
- Regulatory · 10 February 2025Kuwait amends Real Estate Ownership Law and issues implementing controls
Decree-Law No. 7 of 2025, issued 10 February 2025, expanded Kuwait's Real Estate Ownership Law to permit KDIPA-licensed entities, Kuwait Stock Exchange-listed companies, and licensed real estate funds/investment companies to own property. Decree No. 195 of 2025, issued in the same window, sets out the detailed implementing controls.