Kuwait tightens access to government-rented housing under new ministerial decree
KUWAIT CITY, Apr 12 — Kuwait has tightened access to government-provided rented housing, introducing stricter eligibility criteria under a new ministerial decree that is now in force, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare said. The Authority announced that Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdul Latif Al-Mishari issued Ministerial Decree No.
6 of 2026 amending several provisions of the Housing Welfare Regulations. The changes aim to improve fairness and ensure support reaches eligible beneficiaries under clearer and more transparent criteria, according to the Authority. Under the amendments, applicants will not qualify if either spouse owns property sufficient to provide family housing or has previously received government housing assistance.
Families that were evicted from state housing for regulatory violations are also excluded. In addition, applicants or their spouses must not be receiving housing support or cash allowances from other entities. The regulations require that applicants be permanent residents of Kuwait and not hold a valid commercial registration, with limited exceptions for small-scale and freelance activities.
The Authority said the revised rules apply to registering, obtaining, and maintaining applications for rented housing. The decree sets a monthly income ceiling of 1,500 Kuwaiti dinars. Limited exceptions allow income up to 2,000 dinars in special cases involving health or educational obligations, subject to review.
Applicants whose requests are rejected under special consideration will not be eligible to reapply for one calendar year. The Authority confirmed the decree took effect following its publication in the Official Gazette and said the updates form part of broader efforts to modernize housing regulations and ensure equitable distribution of state support.