Kuwait

Free health care is widely regarded as a civic privilege in Kuwait. However, a growing population means that health care provision is starting to strain state finances. A new scheme is therefore underway to encourage private-sector participation to reduce the burden of state care. The Kuwait Health Assurance Company (KHAC) will be launched by 2015, with a mandate to manage the health care needs...

While the contribution of oil to the economy has fallen in recent years, due in part to the global downturn, hydrocarbons still make up nearly half of Kuwait’s GDP and provide the government with around 95% of its annual revenue. Indeed, under the New Development Plan, launched in 2010, oil production is set to rise. However, like all Gulf economies, Kuwait has adopted a long-term strategy of...

A number of major developments are underway in the transport sector following the massive spending plan approved by the Kuwaiti government in 2010. Projects include the expansion at Kuwait International Airport, with a new terminal set to raise passenger capacity from 7.2m to 20m upon completion in 2017. Plans to develop a metro system are now at the feasibility stage. While defence and...

Ever since Kuwait opened its mobile market to further competition by granting a licence to a third mobile operator, Viva, in 2008, competition has ratcheted up. However, while the number of mobile subscribers has also increased, from 4.09m in first-quarter 2010, to 4.59m registered users in 2011, operator revenues have declined. With tightening margins, mobile internet and value-added services...

As in many other countries, the construction industry in Kuwait was one of the first-hit areas of the economy during the global recession. However, because of this, the sector is set to benefit from hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure spending to be spent over the next 20-25 years as part of Vision 2035. This investment will be staggered over a series of five-year plans, the first...

With oil still very much the backbone of its economy, Kuwait is looking to expand production. State-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has approved $90bn worth of spending on the oil and gas industry up to 2015. Indeed, gas has sizeable potential, since Kuwait currently produces less than 1% of its proven reserves of natural gas. Increasing this amount will translate into both financial and...