Kuwait, 21 June 2025: Kuwait International Bank (KIB), represented by its Real Estate Department, held a panel discussion titled “Financing and Mortgages: Opportunities and Challenges” in collaboration with the Department of Finance and Financial Institutions at the College of Business Administration, Kuwait University.
The panel, held recently as part of the ongoing collaboration between KIB and the College of Business Administration at Kuwait University, was moderated by Dr. Saad Al-Nahedh, Assistant Professor of Finance at the College. It featured Engineer Fahad Al Saleh, Manager of the Real Estate Advisory Division and the Product Development and Support Division (PDSD) at KIB's Real Estate Department, and Mr. Ibrahim Adeeb Al-Awadi, Chairman of the Real Estate Union and CEO of Aayan Real Estate Company.
In this regard, Al Saleh reaffirmed KIB’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with Kuwait University, driven by its belief in the importance of promoting knowledge and equipping students with practical experience. He emphasized that this reflects the Bank’s dedication to social responsibility and its leading role in the banking sector. Al Saleh also noted that such collaboration bridges academic studies with real-world application and plays a key role in empowering and preparing young people to enter the job market with confidence and competence.
The panel explored the key challenges facing real estate financing in Kuwait, with a focus on the differences between residential and commercial financing in terms of repayment periods and profit rates. It emphasized the need for innovative financing solutions that can ease the financial burden on citizens, particularly youth.
Speakers also discussed the potential role of the proposed mortgage law in regulating the market and enhancing access to private residential plots. In addition, they highlighted ongoing public and private sector efforts, most notably by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare, to develop housing cities comprising more than 170,000 residential units. The panel also addressed the importance of establishing a regulatory framework for mortgage financing and advancing real estate developer projects to help balance supply and demand in the housing market, ultimately aiming to address Kuwait’s broader housing challenges.
Underscoring the vital role of real estate developers in revitalizing the market by offering integrated property solutions that meet citizens’ needs, the panel also emphasized the importance of enhancing public-private partnerships to advance legislation and regulatory frameworks that support a sustainable financing environment.
The panel saw strong engagement from students and faculty members, who enriched the discussion with thoughtful questions about the future of the real estate sector in light of ongoing economic developments.
It is worth noting that this initiative reflects the shared commitment of KIB and Kuwait University to social responsibility by advancing education, promoting knowledge, and supporting government efforts to provide comprehensive housing solutions, contributing to sustainability and enhancing community well-being in Kuwait.