Over 17 percent of real estate units in Kuwait remain unoccupied

Latest figures from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) indicate that the number of vacant real estate units in Kuwait at the end of 2025 reached 139,800, accounting for 17.6 percent of the total units assigned automated numbers and registered with the Authority.

The total real estate stock stands at 804,200 units. Apartments account for the largest share at 358,300 units, representing 44.5 percent of the total. The figures also include 179,200 houses, 9,807 annexes, 164,500 shops, 5,731 marginal units and 85,500 traditional units.

Statistics show that, by the end of 2025, vacant properties included 55,300 residential apartments, 1,448 annexes, 37,902 shops, 4,098 marginal units and 27,730 other traditional units. The figures also covered unoccupied buildings, including 5,455 houses, 42 apartment buildings, 2,821 marginal buildings and 8,409 traditional buildings, in addition to 775 properties still under construction.

Of the apartments, 271,600 are allocated for housing while 10,971 are used for business activities. Units allocated strictly for housing total 435,300, compared with 136,900 designated for work and 36,200 combining both residential and commercial use. PACI data indicates there are 227,700 buildings across the country, of which 146,900 are residential. A further 13,700 buildings are designated for work purposes, while 40,257 are allocated for both residential and work use.

Geographically, Al-Ahmadi Governorate recorded the highest number of real estate units at 52,200, followed by Al-Jahra with 45,800, Al-Farwaniya with 35,600, Hawalli with 34,200, the Capital with 33,500, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer with 26,100 units. In terms of houses, Al-Ahmadi also ranked first with 35,500 homes, followed by Al-Jahra with 31,600, Al-Farwaniya with 29,000, the Capital with 27,200, Hawalli with 26,200, and Mubarak Al-Kabeer with 22,900.

Infrastructure and facilities statistics from PACI recorded 71 palaces nationwide, including 29 in the Capital Governorate. Additionally, there are 156,000 villas,102 hotels, 1,144 schools, 103 hospitals, 114 clinics, 28 colleges and 22 institutes in the country. The data also lists 1,594 mosques, 100 clubs, 177 parks, 374 cooperative societies, 1,411 government buildings, 5,073 commercial buildings, 1,208 factories, 6,951 farms, 8,256 livestock pens and 1,018 stables.