Kuwait ramps up growth with $18.7 billion in major projects
The $5 billion Dorra Gas Field project, jointly developed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, tops the list, followed by the $4 billion second and third phases of the Al-Zour North Power and Water Desalination Plant.
• Kuwait’s contract awards over the past five years reached significant levels, with 2023 recording the highest project value at $7.1 billion, followed by 2024 at $5.8 billion, 2021 at $5.3 billion, 2020 at $4.2 billion, and 2022 at $2.1 billion.
Kuwait is experiencing a surge in project implementation and investment spending, driven by a major wave of developments in 2025. According to MEED magazine, the country’s ten largest ongoing projects—spanning various stages from planning to execution—are valued at approximately $18.7 billion, Al Anba newspaper reported.
The country is working to accelerate the implementation of development projects as part of an ambitious government plan aimed at enhancing infrastructure and transforming Kuwait into a regional financial center. Over the past five years, projects worth $24.5 billion have been completed, with more developments planned in the coming years.
Below is a list of the ten largest projects currently underway in Kuwait:
1. Dorra Gas Field
The development of the offshore Dorra Gas Field, jointly undertaken by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, tops the list of planned projects with a total value of $5 billion. The project is expected to be completed by 2028.
2. Al-Zour North Power Plant
The second and third phases of the Al-Zour North Power and Water Desalination Plant rank second, with a total value of $4 billion. Expected to be completed in 2027, the project will help secure Kuwait’s electricity supply.
3. Al-Khiran Power Plant
According to MEED, the total development cost of the first phase of the Al-Khiran Power and Water Distillation Plant is estimated at $2 billion. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project aims to meet the country’s growing electricity demand.
4. Shagaya Renewable Energy Complex
Phase 1 of the Shagaya Renewable Energy Complex is valued at approximately $1.5 billion, with completion expected in 2028. One of the largest renewable energy projects in the Arab region and globally, it will have a total production capacity of around 4,500 megawatts across all phases.
5. Dibdibah and Shagaya Renewable Energy Project
MEED reports that the combined value of the DibdibahPower Generation Project and the Shagaya Renewable Energy Project is approximately $1.5 billion, with an expected completion date in 2028. This renewable energy facility will have a net capacity of 1,100 megawatts and will supply electricity to the Kuwaiti grid through a 30-year power purchase agreement with the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy.
6. Gathering and Separation Center 3 and Water Injection Station
The total value of the Gathering and Separation Center 3 and Water Injection Station project is approximately $1.1 billion, with completion expected in 2027. Kuwait’s oil fields are connected to an extensive network of gathering centers, which collect crude oil from multiple wells via flow lines. These centers provide primary processing by separating associated gas and removing salt.
7. Gathering and Separation Center 1 and Water Injection Station
The Gathering and Separation Center 1 and Water Injection Station project is also valued at approximately $1.1 billion, with an expected completion date in 2027.
8. Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port
The first phase of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port Development Project ranks eighth, with a total value of approximately $904 million. Expected to be completed in 2027, the port will serve as a regional transportation hub and contribute to the northern region’s economic and urban development, enhancing diversification and increasing GDP.
9. Mutlaa Fuel Depot
The Mutlaa Petroleum Products Depot development project is valued at approximately $850 million, with completion expected in 2027. The project aims to meet the growing demand for fuel in areas experiencing major urban expansion, such as Mutlaa City, which is part of the government’s northern expansion plans.
10. Al Sabah Medical District Children’s Hospital
The Al Sabah Medical District Children’s Hospital development project has a total value of approximately $810 million and is expected to be completed in 2029.
Kuwait’s contract awards over the past five years reached significant levels
MEED magazine reported that Kuwait’s contract awards over the past five years reached significant levels, with 2023 recording the highest project value at $7.1 billion, followed by 2024 at $5.8 billion, 2021 at $5.3 billion, 2020 at $4.2 billion, and 2022 at $2.1 billion.
Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts Kuwait’s GDP to reach $162 billion in 2025, growing at 3.3% after contracting by -2.7% in 2024. GDP growth was -3.6% in 2023 and 5.9% in 2022. The IMF also expects Kuwait’s inflation rate to decline to 2.4% in 2025, down from 3% in the previous year.
