Latest news with #PublicAuthorityforHousingWelfare
Kuwait Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Gulf Housing Week focuses on sustainable development
Deputy Director General for Public Relations and Development, Official Spokesperson for the Foundation, Omar Al-Ruwaih KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) announced that Kuwait will host the third edition of the Gulf Housing Week from May 18 to 22, under the theme 'Real Estate Development for Sustainable Housing.' Deputy Director General for Public Relations and Development and official spokesperson of PAHW, Omar Al-Ruwaih, said in a press statement that the event comes as part of ongoing efforts by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to strengthen regional cooperation in the housing sector. The initiative aims to enhance integration, address key housing challenges, and promote the exchange of expertise to support sustainability and improve quality of life across the region. Al-Ruwaih noted that the event will feature a wide range of activities, including panel discussions, a specialized exhibition, and the second edition of the Gulf Housing Hackathon, which will see the participation of male and female students from across the GCC. He emphasized that the week's agenda is designed to foster collaboration, encourage best practices in housing and urban development, and highlight the latest technologies supporting sustainable housing solutions. The event will commence with the 47th meeting of the GCC Technical Committee on Housing Affairs. The following day will see the official opening ceremony and the inauguration of the accompanying exhibition. On May 20, the 26th meeting of senior housing officials will be held, culminating on May 22 with the 23rd meeting of GCC Ministers Responsible for Housing Affairs. Al-Ruwaih stressed that Gulf Housing Week seeks to encourage public-private partnerships, promote innovative and sustainable housing initiatives, and contribute to the development of integrated, safe residential environments for GCC citizens. A series of panel sessions will take place over three days, covering topics such as real estate development prospects in Kuwait, public-private partnerships in PAHW projects, and financing strategies for sustainable housing. Discussions will also address smart applications in Gulf housing projects, technological innovations, and solutions to housing challenges faced by the region. — KUNA
Arab Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait fast-tracks new cities buildout
KUWAIT CITY, May 17: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has achieved remarkable progress in implementing major housing city projects, confirming its progress over the approved timetables through the acceleration of work in various major housing city contracts. The newspaper obtained a copy of statistics issued by the Implementation Sector, showing that the number of public buildings under construction as of April reached 217. These buildings include 92 in Mutlaa City, 74 in the Affordable Housing Project, 31 in South Abdullah Al-Mubarak Project, 17 in Sabah Al-Ahmad City, and one each in Jaber Al- Ahmad, Saad Al-Abdullah and West Abdullah Al-Mubarak. The statistics indicated that two supervisory contracts were signed to provide consultancy services and supervise the construction, completion and maintenance of public buildings in residential suburbs N1, N3, N2 and N4 in the Mutlaa City project. The South Sabah Al-Ahmad Project has recorded remarkable progress, with the actual completion rate of the main roads contract reaching 48.63 percent -- exceeding the contractual rate of 40.88 percent. The infrastructure contract for 7,623 plots has an actual completion rate of 9.03 percent, compared to a contractual rate of 4.94 percent. The second contract for 6,189 plots was achieved an actual completion rate of 9.55 percent, compared to a contractual rate of 4.75 percent. The third infrastructure contract for 6,568 plots achieved an actual completion rate of 4.7 percent, compared to a contractual rate of one percent. In the South Saad Al-Abdullah Project, the actual completion rate of the main roads contract reached 32 percent, compared to a contractual rate of 12.3 percent. Meanwhile, the infrastructure contracts for the plots are still being prepared. As for the affordable housing project, the actual completion rate for the first and second contracts reached three percent, compared to the contractual rate of 0.01 percent. Infrastructure contracts for the remaining homes are still being prepared. Statistics confirmed the commitment of the State Ministry for Housing to expedite the completion of housing projects and daily monitoring of implementation works to ensure project completion before the deadline. The statistics indicated that the number of housing applications reached 101,604 in April.
Arab Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait's Al Ahmadi sees strongest rental growth
KUWAIT CITY, May 12: Al Ahmadi apartments showed the strongest 6-month rental growth among governorates in Kuwait, with average rents for one-bedroom and two-bedroom units increasing by 6% and 10.9% over the last half-year to Q1 2025, according to Kuwait-based prop-tech company Sakan. Sakan's data, which is based on its online listings database and excludes properties promoted offline, showed mixed results for the apartment market, with average rents of areas near the capital softening over the last three and six months leading to Q1. In Hawally Governorate, the average rents of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom-listed flats decreased by 7%, 3%, and 1% respectively when compared to Q4 2024. Al Asimah's 2BR and 3BR average rents decreased by double digits. From a 6-month perspective, Hawally's and Al Asimah's rental markets have both seen downward performance. Hawally apartment rents for 1BR and 4BR apartments have remained the same, while those of 2BR and 3BR have declined by 2% and 4% respectively. Al Asimah apartments have shown similar patterns except for the 1BR category, whose average rent improved by 2% over the last half-year. But while areas near the capital have generally seen lower rents, Al Ahmadi's apartment sector saw an upward trend, driven by higher lease rates in Mahboula and Fintas districts. Among governorates, Ahmadi apartments have shown the best quarter-on-quarter performance in terms of rents, growing by 3%, 11%, and 10% for the 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR categories, respectively. Nearly 12,000 housing units turned over in 2024 The movement in rents can be attributed to a variety of events that have shaped Kuwait's residential leasing sector over the last six months. After the Mangaf fire, the government has cracked down on overcrowding in residential properties. At the same time, the leasing sector is seeing the effects of the massive residential construction boom sweeping across Kuwait, driven by the government's housing program. In 2024, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare distributed 11,897 housing units in Kuwait and issued 32,204 building permits in key residential projects, namely Mutlaa, South Abdullah Al-Mubarak, and South Khaitan. Anecdotes suggest that apartments which were rented by families waiting for their homes are now having challenges finding tenants. Home ownership is expected to increase in the forthcoming years with the anticipated introduction of the Mortgage Law, which will allow commercial lenders to provide housing loans. Once implemented, the Law is seen to encourage more lending activity in the housing sector, create a more competitive market, and potentially enable more citizens to own homes.
Kuwait Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait committed to labor rights
Public bodies mark May Day • Human rights diwan urges safe work environment KUWAIT: Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to protecting labor rights and improving workers' welfare during a conference organized by the ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday to mark International Workers' Day. Held under the patronage of Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, the event brought together several government ministries and national institutions to highlight Kuwait's ongoing efforts to support labor issues and promote fair and safe work environments. Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah represented the minister and toured an accompanying exhibition showcasing the roles of workers in Kuwait's development and the legal protections ensuring their safety and well-being. Speaking at a roundtable titled 'Adequate Housing and Workers' Welfare in Kuwait... International Standards and Sustainable National Solutions', Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah said Kuwait aims to align with international labor standards under its New Kuwait 2035 vision. She noted that contract workers make up 75 percent of Kuwait's labor force, representing over 174 nationalities, reflecting the country's expansive development projects. She highlighted several initiatives, including the allocation of six labor cities by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare and the ministry of finance, the opening of a migrant worker shelter for men in February by the Public Authority of Manpower, and a nationwide awareness campaign launched in March on health and safety standards for labor accommodations. Kuwait is also enhancing its legislative framework by updating laws on human trafficking, domestic labor, residency and private sector employment to promote transparency and sustainable development. She praised cooperation with UN agencies such as UN-Habitat, the International Labor Organization and the International Organization for Migration, and acknowledged the private sector's role, citing participation from companies like Alshaya Group, Kuwait National Petroleum Company, Bait Al Mawared, and the Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company. She stressed the importance of civil society involvement and highlighted the national strategy against trafficking and smuggling for 2025–2028, announced during the 6th Regional Anti-Trafficking Forum. She also noted that labor rights will be a core topic at the upcoming second World Social Summit in Doha in November. Separately, the National Diwan for Human Rights (NDHR) marked Labour Day by voicing its support for all efforts aimed at ensuring safe, just and exploitation-free work environments. In a statement to KUNA, the diwan emphasized its dedication to preserving workers' dignity and basic rights. The diwan contributed to a recent awareness campaign on occupational safety targeting delivery motorbike drivers, reaching around 39,000 workers through materials in seven languages, in cooperation with delivery companies. It also partnered with the ministry of health to vaccinate 3,224 drivers against seasonal flu as part of efforts to reduce respiratory illnesses linked to work conditions. The diwan reiterated its commitment to raising labor rights awareness and improving conditions in this vital sector. – KUNA
Trade Arabia
05-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Kuwait awards $558m South Saad Al Abdullah project contracts
Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) has awarded two infrastructure contracts worth KD172.1 million ($558 million) related to its South Saad Al Abdullah residential project to China Gezhouba Group. The scope of work includes construction and maintenance of the infrastructure works for residential suburbs as well as substations, said PAHW in a statement. The Chinese builder will also be responsible for the irrigation tank building within the South Saad Al-Abdullah residential project.- TradeArabia News Service
