KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait is advancing plans to expand its network of economic and free zones as part of broader efforts to enhance its position as a regional trade and investment hub. The Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) has formally requested the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) to issue a tender for consultancy services to update the feasibility study of the Al-Na’ayem Economic Zone project and to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the Al-Nuwaiseeb Free Zone project.
The CAPT Board of Directors, during a meeting held last Wednesday, decided to postpone its decision pending receipt of a letter incorporating discussed amendments from KDIPA, expected within five working days.
This move aligns with Kuwait’s 2025/2026 Development Plan, which outlines two key strategic projects under KDIPA’s mandate designed to foster investment and economic diversification. The first, the Economic Zones Project, supports efforts to modernize the country’s investment environment and attract value-added opportunities for both local and foreign investors. It reflects ongoing coordination with government bodies involved in the nation's broader Third National Structural Plan 2005/2030 framework.
The project involves the development, planning, and management of designated economic zones, including Abdali, Wafra, and Na’ayem, allocated by Kuwait Municipality for KDIPA’s economic initiatives. The intentions behind these zones include transferring advanced technologies and technical expertise to Kuwait, expanding employment prospects, and building capacity, all aimed at transforming the country into a regional commercial hub.
The second strategic initiative focuses on the expansion and development of free zones. Planned enhancements include the construction of 50 logistics warehouses and storage plots, four dining complexes serving workers, five commercial banks, 50 light manufacturing facilities, two investment complexes available for leasing, two medical centers, and infrastructure to support 500 investment companies. Additionally, a tender for three hotels is planned as part of the free zone expansion to support business and visitor needs.
Through these coordinated projects, Kuwait aims to strengthen its investment climate and promote sustainable economic growth by leveraging infrastructure development, regulatory improvements, and public-private partnerships.