Kuwait starts demolishing 263 buildings in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

If you live in or near Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, or you own property there, you’ll want to pay attention right now. Kuwait Municipality has moved from warnings to action, and bulldozers are already working through a list of buildings marked for demolition.

This follows the order we covered in our earlier report on the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh demolition order from 4 October, when 263 buildings were first listed as violating construction and planning rules. That list is now being cleared on the ground.

So what exactly is happening?

The Municipality is running what officials call a phased enforcement campaign. Instead of tearing down every flagged building at once, it’s working through the list in stages, starting with buildings that already have approved demolition orders.

The first batch, 263 properties, is being demolished now. The second batch, 494 properties, has already been approved by the Municipality’s Director General and is set to go ahead in roughly three weeks. Together, these two batches make up the 757 properties targeted so far.

A third batch exists too, but it’s not ready yet. The Municipality is still waiting on technical reports and detailed property lists from the Ministry of Public Works before it can move forward with that group.

Who pays for the demolition?

This is the part property owners in the area really need to know. The Municipality has made clear that owners of violating buildings, not the state, will cover the full cost of demolition and removing the debris.

These charges aren’t a flat fee. Officials said the cost is worked out case by case, based on things like:

• The transport routes needed to bring in equipment and remove waste
• The type and amount of equipment required for the job
• The building’s height, meaning its number of floors
• The total built-up area of the property

In short, a taller or larger violating building will likely cost its owner more to pull down than a small one. Officials said regulations will be enforced firmly, with no exceptions mentioned for owners who disagree with the assessed cost.

What this means if you live or own property in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

For tenants and residents, this campaign could mean changes nearby: construction noise, dust, closed access roads, or buildings you’ve known for years coming down. If you rent in a building that’s on one of these lists, it’s worth checking with your landlord or the Municipality directly rather than waiting for a surprise notice.

For owners, the message is blunt. If your building is confirmed as violating, you’re expected to pay for its demolition yourself, and the bill depends on the building’s size and location, not a fixed rate. It would be sensible to ask the Municipality early for an estimate rather than waiting until the crew arrives.

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh has been under close watch from authorities for a while now. Our earlier coverage of a case in the same area showed it’s an area where enforcement has picked up on several fronts recently, not just construction violations.

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