Integrated workers' cities could play a critical role in reshaping expatriate housing and strengthening labour market regulation in Kuwait, according to experts who say the initiative should extend beyond accommodation to include health, safety, transportation and essential public services.
The proposal has gained renewed attention following recent security campaigns led by the Ministry of Interior in cooperation with other government agencies to address labour and housing violations.
Experts argue that organised workers' cities could offer a long-term solution to informal housing while improving living conditions for expatriate workers and supporting the country's broader development objectives.
Hamoud Alana, head of the National Integrity Center and a former Municipal Council member, said workers' cities should be viewed as part of a comprehensive labour management system rather than as standalone housing projects.
He noted that the issue had previously been discussed by the Municipal Council, with land already allocated for the development of workers' cities following consultations with relevant authorities.
According to Alana, Kuwait already has a regulatory framework that could serve as the foundation for the project. However, he stressed that successful implementation would require the creation of integrated residential communities that meet public health and safety standards while providing transportation, essential services and effective management systems.
He said organised housing would help preserve workers' dignity while addressing regulatory and security concerns.
Alana also highlighted the importance of linking workers, employers, workplaces and residential addresses through a unified database to improve oversight and reduce municipal, health and security violations.
He called for a shift from simply managing housing to developing a broader labour management framework that incorporates worker protection, employer accountability and stronger coordination among government agencies.
He also advocated greater private-sector participation in the development, management and operation of workers' cities and suggested making worker accommodation a requirement for contractors undertaking government projects.
Real estate researcher Abdurahman Al-Hussainan said the success of the initiative would depend on treating workers' cities as a long-term economic and investment model rather than a temporary housing solution.
He pointed to experiences in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where workers' cities have evolved into integrated communities that include healthcare services, retail outlets, banking facilities and recreational spaces.
According to Al-Hussainan, such developments could improve living conditions for workers while easing pressure on traditional residential areas.
He added that government entities with real estate and investment expertise could become strategic partners in the initiative, helping create income-generating assets that deliver sustainable revenue through rental and service fees.
The proposal also aligns with Kuwait's long-term development agenda. Ghadeer Abdul Mohan Mak Jumaa, head of the Developmental Entrepreneurship Association, said workers' cities could support the objectives of the New Kuwait 2035 vision and existing labour regulations.
She emphasised that worker housing should be designed as a fully integrated urban environment that incorporates planning, health, environmental sustainability and public services.
Jumaa said the success of the model would depend on effective coordination among government agencies, clear regulatory oversight and the integration of official housing records into government databases.
She added that a structured approach to worker housing could deliver social, economic and urban planning benefits while protecting residential neighbourhoods from incompatible land use and improving the allocation of public resources.