New building regulations usher Kuwait into new era of urban, economic development

As part of the Municipal Council’s ongoing efforts to align with Kuwait’s vision for urban modernization and economic growth, the Technical Committee, headed by Engineer Munira Al-Amir, held a vital meeting to finalize updates to the new building regulations.

The meeting focused on specifications for investment housing both inside and outside Kuwait City. Several key amendments were approved, to optimize land use and boosting economic returns in the vital real estate sector.

Al-Amir emphasized the collaborative nature of the committee’s work over four consecutive meetings with representatives from the municipality, the fire department, and the Ministry of Interior, as well as civil society groups such as the Union of Engineering Offices, the Real Estate Association, and the Kuwait Society of Engineers. This broad participation ensured that the final regulation reflects professional consensus and real-world needs.

One major improvement is the precise definition of terms used in the regulations to avoid confusion and subjective interpretation. For example, one of the clauses outlines which structural elements — like basements, parking floors, mechanical service spaces, and stairwells — are excluded from total building percentage calculations. A system of maximum limits was also introduced for these elements to ensure efficiency and better space utilization.

The official highlighted transformative changes in clauses such as — Clause 8 which doubles commercial space allocation in investment plots from 3x to 6x the residential space; Clause 9 which permits basements to be used for parking or recreational purposes, in compliance with fire safety regulations and Clause 12 which specifies allowable commercial uses within investment residential buildings, such as clinics, salons, law offices, and charitable organizations, with strict adherence to design and spatial requirements.

For the first time, Clause 13 introduces a mixed-use investment housing model in Kuwait City, allowing a combination of residential and commercial functions within one property. The regulation caps commercial usage at 30% of the permitted 400% building area, offering building owners the option to apply for compliance reviews and benefit from the new system immediately.

Clause 17 introduces strong incentives for developers to include residential units for the Public Authority for Housing Welfare. These include a 30% increase in building area for designated units and a 50% bonus if existing apartments are modified to meet welfare requirements.

Unused increases can instead be used for commercial activity on the first three floors.

Al-Amir also underscored that the regulations also prioritize the urban environment. Clause 3 mandates designated waste collection areas within each plot, designed to blend in aesthetic view, with proper entry and exit routes based on building size and service access.

Engineer Munira Al-Amir concluded by stating that this new regulation represents a complete technical overhaul of residential construction guidelines in Kuwait. “We didn’t just update the regulations,” she said. “We rebuilt the system to meet the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and economic value. The outcome is a comprehensive regulation that reflects national aspirations and offers tangible benefits for developers, residents, and the economy.”