Municipality makes landmark progress, preserves state property, boosts revenues, advances urban development
In a year marked by dynamic action and collaboration with the new government, the Kuwait Municipality played a pivotal role in balancing the protection of state property with efforts to maximize public revenues.
Through field tours, campaigns, and sector-wide coordination, the Municipality launched its largest-ever campaign to combat encroachments on state land and achieved a sixfold increase in advertising license revenues, according to Al-Rai daily.
The transformative momentum began in May 2024, with the appointment of Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan as Minister of Public Works and Minister of Municipal Affairs. Acting swiftly on her directives, municipal departments initiated structural reforms aligned with the national development plan. Regular meetings were held to reorient sectoral functions and drive efficiency across services.
A notable milestone was the conclusion of a key municipal contract with the National Bank of Kuwait, under Dr. Al-Mashaan’s oversight. The agreement entails the design, construction, completion, and maintenance of a multi-story parking facility in East Block 7, along with the development and beautification of adjacent public squares—financed through a generous bank donation.
Further empowering citizens, Dr. Al-Mashaan issued amendments to Resolution 206/2009, updating regulations on construction standards for private and model residential buildings. The revision aims to grant homeowners greater flexibility in designing homes tailored to their specific needs.
Following these foundational achievements, the Municipality escalated its on-the-ground efforts under the leadership of Minister of Housing Affairs and Municipalities, Mr. Abdullatif Al-Mishari. He oversaw the most extensive demolition campaign in municipal history, targeting illegal structures and encroachments in the southern desert regions. The campaign extended through November and marked a significant step in reclaiming state lands.
The Municipality has since launched a comprehensive development plan, which includes:
- Ongoing public awareness campaigns to encourage regulatory compliance,
- Fostering healthy competition between governorates to improve service quality,
- Enhancing geographic deployment of inspection teams to monitor violations,
- Introducing new cleaning contracts to raise environmental standards.
On the financial front, a standout achievement was the Municipality’s leap in revenue from electronic advertising licenses, which soared to KD 5.36 million—a sixfold increase from prior figures.
Additionally, reflecting the strong cultural ties between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the Municipality signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Imam Abdulrahman Al-Faisal House Museum, further enriching the region’s cultural landscape.
Highlighted Campaigns of the Year:
- Crackdown on encroachments on state property
- Site inspections for structural deformations in public and private sector projects
- Removal of unauthorized event halls and advertisements
- Highway and beach cleaning initiatives
- Clearing of unregulated mobile vendor carts
- Enforcement in private residential areas
The Municipality’s performance this year underscores its commitment to urban development, service quality, and national heritage—anchored in transparency, regulatory enforcement, and strategic partnerships.
