"Authority in Finance sector set deadline for vacating 22 properties seized earlier, by September 30th, for prospects of public development schemes"
The Kuwaiti government is taking steps to optimise the use of state property, with a focus on expropriating lands and properties currently occupied by public benefit associations. The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, has initiated procedures to vacate 22 properties that have been under temporary licenses, paying symbolic rents of no more than 50 Kuwaiti dinars per month.
The Ministry of Finance has requested the Ministry of Education to allocate alternative unused buildings for temporary use by these public benefit associations. However, it's important to note that the Ministry of Education has not been requested to provide permanent solutions after the temporary permits expire.
The decision to repurpose these properties aims to eliminate unauthorized occupation, optimise state property usage, and move forward with national development plans. The Ministry has extended a one-year grace period for public benefit associations, with the deadline for eviction set for September 30.
Following the completion of the temporary permits, the public benefit associations will return to their properties, which will have been repurposed. The cleared plots will contribute to public interest initiatives as part of the government's broader strategy to enhance infrastructure and support services across Kuwait.
The Ministry has not yet allocated alternative buildings for these public benefit associations following the completion of the temporary permits. After the eviction process is completed, the buildings will be demolished. The sites, following demolition, will be handed over to Kuwait Municipality for planned development projects.
The buildings allocated by the Ministry of Education will be used temporarily by the public benefit associations before their original properties are repurposed. It's worth noting that the Ministry of Finance has already designated these alternative buildings for its own use.
Among the 22 properties to be demolished, some have been in use for over 40 years. The original owners of these properties have already received compensation through official property appraisals at the time of expropriation.
This coordinated government effort demonstrates a commitment to repurpose expropriated properties carefully, while ensuring legal and financial measures are in place for fair compensation. The process is governed by Law No. 33/1964 on expropriation and temporary seizure for public benefit. Committees for valuation and objections will be formed after the final Cabinet approval.
The timeline includes eviction orders for expropriated properties to be completed by September 30, 2025, for the 22 properties earmarked for public projects, as directed by the Ministry of Finance. The plan, which involves coordination between the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), Ministry of Finance, and other relevant bodies, aims to provide alternative housing units in PAHW-owned housing in Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City, with subsidized rental options for temporary residents.
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- The Ministry of Finance is planning to use the buildings temporarily allocated by the Ministry of Education for its own industry-related operations after the eviction of public benefit associations.
- The cleared plots following the demolition of properties will be handed over to the Kuwait Municipality for financing and managing development projects that contribute to public interest initiatives.
