Kuwait

Kuwait is the fifth richest country in the world measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head.

Benefits for businesses exporting to Kuwait include:

• No axation on personal income
• Growing diversification within the Kuwaiti economy
• Earmarked government investment of £71 billion on infrastructure projects
• Public Private Partnership (PPP) approach for infrastructure projects
• English widely spoken

Strengths of the Kuwaiti market include:

• Free trade zone
• Stable regime
• Strategic location in close proximity to other Gulf markets
• Kuwaiti dinar is highest-valued currency unit in the world
• Friendly living environment for foreigners
• More than half of Kuwait nationals under 25
• Moderate business costs

Economic growth in Kuwait

Kuwait’s GDP growth in 2014 remained steady at around 3%. Expansion is expected to be driven by oil production, strong investment in infrastructure projects and new legislation aimed at boosting Foreign Direct investment (FDI).

Oil accounts for nearly half of Kuwait’s GDP, 95% of export revenues and government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020.

Kuwait regularly achieves a large budget surplus. Foreign reserves and investment income are substantial, and the Kuwait stock market’s recent performance has been good.

The government’s new 5 year National Development Plan (2015 to 2020) focuses on economic reform and the implementation of several long-stalled mega strategic projects.

Privatisation remains an important priority of the Kuwaiti government. PPPs are expected to become the state’s model for infrastructure development.

Business opportunities in Kuwait

Transport sector

Infrastructure development at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) is a USD 6 billion project. It aims to expand capacity to handle 20 million passengers per year and become a major passenger and cargo hub for the region.

An estimated USD 3 billion will be spent on:

• reconstruction and extension of the existing runways
• construction of primary and secondary access roads and taxiways, aircraft stands
• enhancing control tower facilities
• building new cargo facilities
• upgrading other airport infrastructure
• Kuwait’s Metro system will expand to 160 kilometres and 69 stations over 5 phases.

There are opportunities for foreign companies throughout the supply chain for these transport projects.

Healthcare sector

Healthcare in Kuwait represents a significant opportunity for companies.

A programme is underway to increase hospital beds to 11,000. It is designed to cope with the health needs of a growing, ageing and wealthy national population as well as a growing expatriate population. Healthcare is free for Kuwaitis.

There are opportunities for companies supply:

• medical equipment
• Information Technology (IT)
• training
• maintenance
• facilities management
• hospital management

Infrastructure

Port development in Kuwait

A massive new port and logistics facility will be developed over the next 20 years at Boubyan Island in the north west of Kuwait. This will be financed by the government of Kuwait in conjunction with the private sector. The facility will be linked to the GCC railway enabling the port to serve as a major deep-sea staging area for regional shipping and transportation.

The wider aspects of the development will include:

• housing
• a free trade zone
• industrial area
• The port is currently under construction. Opportunities for UK companies include consultancy, design and planning for the next phase.

Housing sector in Kuwait

The shortage of housing and long waiting times for land allocation has resulted in housing being a government priority. There are plans to build 3 new cities by 2020.

The waiting list for government subsidised housing has grown to over 100,000. More than 170,000 homes will be needed by 2020.

There are a total of 11 planned projects to build over 175,000 new houses. These projects will all need supporting transport and service infrastructure.

There will be significant new opportunities for companies in:

• project management
• design
• construction
• the supply chain

Defence and security sector

Kuwait has some significant opportunities in the defence and security sectors over the medium to long term. Healthcare, oil, infrastructure and transport projects will also all have security elements.

Downloads