KUWAIT: Kuwaitization, a national policy aimed at reducing reliance on foreign labor, is reshaping the labor market—and the lives of expats like 28-year-old Indian national Anjali Desai. "I think I’m done with feeling disposable,” she said. Despite her deep affection for the country she now calls home, Anjali struggles to envision a long-term career in Kuwait. "I want to work somewhere where I know I’m here because I add value, not because I’m being given a favor,” she added, advocating for a more inclusive work environment. While she acknowledged the importance of preserving the rights of Kuwaiti citizens and ensuring job security through this policy, she said it wasn’t right to "benefit one population at the expense of another. That is neither equality nor fairness.”
In the public sector, the Kuwaitization policy aims to ensure that the workforce consists entirely of Kuwaiti citizens. In the private sector, quotas have been introduced to encourage the employment of nationals, says Saqr Alghelani, a Kuwaiti HR professional. Reflecting on the early stages of the Gulf’s development, Saqr highlights the factors that led to the region’s initial reliance on expatriate labor. With small local populations and limited skill sets, the region found it nearly impossible to achieve economic growth without the support of expatriates. Today, with expatriates numbering over 2.5 million compared to just half a million Kuwaitis in the workforce, a clear need emerged to reassess the workforce demographic structure and create a plan that benefits all parties involved.
While he describes the initiative as "a noble endeavor,” Saqr also highlights "flaws in its current implementation.” The main challenge hindering the full implementation of Kuwaitization, according to Saqr, is that some roles can only be filled by expatriates, particularly skilled manual jobs and highly specialized positions.
"Jobs like carpenters and plumbers remain unfilled by Kuwaitis because they are physically demanding, low-paying, and there are ample opportunities for education available in other fields,” he explained. As for highly skilled roles, Saqr believes that diverse and multicultural experience is essential—a quality many Kuwaiti nationals lack, as they often limit their work experience to Kuwait, returning home even after studying abroad. "The focus shouldn’t be solely on numbers,” he said. "Nationality should never outweigh professional skill. It’s about addressing the actual needs of the workforce.”
He recommended that the recruitment or replacement strategy should have a long-term approach, spanning five to ten years, and be gradual in nature. He also suggested that before expatriates leave, they should transfer their knowledge to Kuwaitis through training and development programs. While the public sector acts as a secure option for Kuwaitis due to its higher salaries and job stability, Saqr believes it is time for encouraging cooperation between the private and public sectors to avoid competition. Additionally, he highlighted the need to simplify procedures for private investment, with support from the government. He also called for improvements in the quality of education and a shift in societal mindsets. "The government is not obligated to provide jobs. Instead, individuals should take responsibility for seeking employment in both the private and public sectors.”
Building on these points, Saqr acknowledged the impracticality of achieving full Kuwaitization. "No country can possess all the required expertise,” he said. He cited Japan—a highly developed nation that continues to rely on expatriate workers—as an example, highlighting the value of workplace diversity in fostering creativity and driving growth.
From an economic standpoint, expert Ali Al-Enzi discussed the impact of reducing reliance on foreign labor, especially in terms of national wealth retention. "While foreign workers help reduce production costs, a significant portion of their wages is sent to their families abroad, limiting investment potential within Kuwait. Over time, this diverts capital to other countries, which can hinder economic growth,” he warned.
He believes that replacing foreign workers with Kuwaitis will undoubtedly enrich the economy and strengthen the nation’s foundations. However, he acknowledged that while Kuwaitis are now employed across nearly all sectors, challenges persist, particularly in specialized and technical fields. To mitigate potential financial strain caused by the immediate replacement or retention of experienced workers, like Saqr, he suggested a gradual approach to nationalization efforts.