Property
Real property ownership closed to most foreign nationals
Foreign nationals other than GCC citizens generally cannot own real property in Kuwait. This is the most restrictive position in the Gulf.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Real Estate Registration Department, Ministry of Justice.
Governing law
- Law 74 of 1979 on Non-Kuwaiti Ownership of Real Estate
- Civil Code, Decree-Law 67 of 1980 — property provisions
In practice
The restriction is the defining feature and it is a genuine prohibition rather than a licensing hurdle: non-GCC foreign nationals cannot buy residential or commercial land, with narrow exceptions for Arab nationals meeting residence and reciprocity conditions and for diplomatic premises. There is no designated freehold zone equivalent to Dubai's or Doha's. Foreign businesses therefore lease, and long leases are the standard structure. GCC nationals have limited ownership rights that are still not equivalent to Kuwaiti nationals. Anyone extrapolating from UAE or Qatari practice will reach the wrong answer here.