Kuwait has introduced new regulations to govern access to government-sponsored rented housing, aiming to improve fairness and ensure that assistance is directed to genuinely eligible beneficiaries through clearer and more transparent criteria. This move comes with the issuance of Ministerial Decree No. 6 of 2026 by Abdul Latif Al-Mishari, the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Housing Affairs.
The decree brings amendments to several provisions within the Housing Welfare Regulations, imposing more stringent eligibility requirements for registration, application, and continued occupancy of rented government housing. These changes are part of a wider initiative to modernize housing policies and promote equitable distribution of state support.
Under the revised rules, applicants will be disqualified if either spouse owns sufficient property to provide family housing or has previously benefited from government housing assistance. Families evicted from state housing due to violations are also barred from applying. Additionally, neither the applicant nor their spouse can be receiving housing support or cash allowances from other sources.
The updated regulations, now effective following publication in the Official Gazette, require applicants to be Kuwaiti nationals without a valid commercial registration, except for limited exceptions related to small-scale or freelance activities. A monthly income ceiling of 1,500 Kuwaiti dinars has been set, with rare exceptions allowing an increase to 2,000 dinars for special cases involving health or educational needs.
Moreover, the rules establish a one-year waiting period before reapplication is permitted. Applicants who have their special consideration requests denied will be prohibited from reapplying for an entire calendar year. The Public Authority for Housing Welfare has confirmed the immediate enforcement of this decree, marking a significant step in regulating government housing support in Kuwait.
