There is no clear law expat can own property in Kuwait ,
At the moment, foreigners have restrictions on buying property in Kuwait, although this law may change in the near future. Expats should fulfill certain conditions in order to be allowed to own property in Kuwait.
Most expats, especially newcomers, will prefer search for the property via an estate agent who has a solid reputation among the expat community. It will prevent misunderstandings and ensure you get all the information you need.
When viewing properties, try to avoid ground floor apartments which may be vulnerable to break ins and beggars at the door. If the apartment is near a swimming pool, bear in mind that children in Kuwait stay up far later than is normal in the UK or US, which means noise and thrown items may be a nuisance late into the evening.
Choosing where to live,
One of the biggest factors in deciding where to live is proximity to school or work. If you’re looking for a more relaxed environment, it’s important to know that these areas are highly populated due to their desirability. If you are torn between living closer to your work or your children’s school, it’s worthwhile knowing that most schools provide transport to school and back, taking one burden off the family.
Expats also tend to live in the Gulf areas of Kuwait which should you choose to follow suit could provide you and your family with a community which will help you settle into your new lives. In some cases, accommodation is chosen by the employer of the company you will be working at meaning that again you are likely to be living in expat neighbor hoods.
May be in the future ,
A new law allowing all expatriates to purchase real estate property in Kuwait for the first time is unlikely to be linked to residency, it is claimed. Changes to law number 74/1979, will mean that expatriates, regardless of nationality can buy one apartment as long as it is not larger than 350 square meters. Currently only Arabs with special permits can buy in Kuwait.
Other restrictions though are emerging. For example, it will only be expats who have lived in the country for at least 10 year that can buy and it will not give them the right to permanent residency. Buying such property does not mean you will be given permanent residence in the country,’ confirmed politician Rola Dashti, one of five lawmakers who presented the bill to parliament last week.
Asked what will happen if an expatriate who purchased a property loses his job and has to leave the country, Dashti said he would have to sell it. The draft bill includes regulations guiding ownership of properties by foreigners. It suggests that the interior minister can issue a decision allowing foreigners to own a residential apartment in commercial buildings provided their source of income is enough to acquire the property. Other conditions stipulated in the bill is that the buyer should be of good conduct, have no criminal record throughout his stay in the country and the apartment should be used for personal or family residential purposes only. The owner should not own another property in Kuwait.
