KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft decree-law to repeal Article 29 (bis) of Law No 47 of 1993, widely known as the “Who Sold His House” law, which has been the subject of long-standing public criticism. The repeal measure will now be submitted to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for ratification.

The decision came during the Cabinet’s weekly session, following a review of recommendations by the Ministerial Legal Affairs Committee. Officials described the move as part of a broader effort to promote fairness and equity in the country’s public housing system.

The legislation in question - Law No. 2 of 2015 - amended Kuwait’s foundational housing care law by adding a provision that allowed certain citizens who had previously sold their state-provided homes to reapply for housing, under strict conditions. Originally designed to assist families facing urgent changes in housing needs, the law applied only to a narrow segment: those who sold their homes between 1992 and 2015, repaid their Kuwait Credit Bank loans, and no longer owned property.

Critics argued that the law unfairly benefited a select group of citizens while leaving thousands of first-time applicants on lengthy waiting lists. Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari, in a recent Cabinet briefing, said the law had inadvertently deepened inequality in housing access and created a dual-track system. “This law granted preferential treatment to a specific segment of citizens, which undermines the principles of social justice and equality enshrined in Kuwait’s Constitution,” Al-Meshari said, according to an official statement.

In the same session, the Cabinet also approved a draft decree-law on international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Aimed at aligning Kuwait’s legal framework with international standards, the bill provides mechanisms for mutual legal assistance, extradition, and the transfer of sentenced persons. The Cabinet emphasized the need for such legislation, citing legal gaps that have hindered cooperation with international partners in combating cross-border crime and recovering illicit assets. — Agencies