948m dinars in fresh investments boost Kuwait’s economic diversification drive
- Foreign investment inflows strengthen Kuwait’s push towards Vision 2035 as KDIPA reports record investment
Kuwait attracted new direct investments worth 948.037 million dinars during the 2025/2026 fiscal through 17 investment entities, taking the total cumulative approved investments since 2015 to 2.920 billion dinars, the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) announced.
KDIPA Director General Sheikh Dr Meshaal Al-Jaber said the latest figures reflected growing investor confidence in Kuwait and sent a clear message that the country remained open, competitive and prepared for future investment. He stressed that success should be measured not only by capital inflows but also by technology transfer, knowledge development and employment opportunities for Kuwaiti nationals.
According to the Authority’s annual report, licensed investments support the national economy through job creation, workforce development, technology localization, stronger local supply chains and participation in development projects. Cumulative investment flows reached 1.24 billion dinars by December 2024, with 76 percent of total spending retained within the local economy, supporting domestic businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The report highlighted 832 training programs, technology transfers in key sectors and 115 sustainability initiatives contributing to 15 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These efforts are intended to strengthen national expertise, create high-value employment and integrate international investors more effectively into Kuwait’s economy.
KDIPA is implementing its second medium-term strategy for 2025-2030, focusing on attracting investments in priority and emerging sectors, simplifying investor procedures, expanding digital services and improving coordination among government agencies. The strategy also aims to provide a smoother investment journey, from market entry and licensing to expansion and aftercare.
The Authority is also developing investment-ready opportunities involving economic zones, strategic assets and infrastructure projects to encourage greater private-sector participation. International engagement has included participation in the Davos and Bloomberg forums, Expo Osaka 2025 and the Gulf-European Business Forum, alongside strategic partnerships with investment organizations in the UAE, Japan, Hong Kong and Turkey.
Kuwait also assumed the presidency of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) for 2025-2027, strengthening its international investment profile.
As part of institutional reforms, KDIPA trained more than 225 employees, representing 82.11 percent of its workforce, and obtained ISO 10002 and ISO 27001 certifications covering service quality and information security. It is also moving towards an artificial intelligence-supported, cloud-based operating model to improve efficiency, cybersecurity and data-driven services.
The report said ongoing business environment reforms, led by the Standing Committee for Improving the Business Environment, aim to reduce regulatory obstacles, accelerate market entry and improve transparency and competitiveness. KDIPA said its broader objective was to position Kuwait as a long-term investment destination where foreign capital contributes to sustainable growth, economic diversification and lasting national value.
