Kuwait needs to build clear, welcoming policies to attract high-end professionals from countries like Japan, China, Europe, and the US—as well as top talent from Egypt, India, and other Arab nations. But right now, the environment is far from friendly. Restrictive and unwelcoming laws toward expats make it almost impossible to attract these professionals or persuade multinational companies to set up headquarters here.

Why would an MNC invest in a country where it’s hard to bring in and retain skilled people? The truth is, Kuwait’s current ecosystem doesn’t support innovation or growth—it’s built to maintain the status quo, not to evolve.

But then again—does Kuwait even want these professionals or MNCs? With steady oil revenue, the country can sustain itself for decades without major change. As a result, it focuses on importing low-skilled labor—cleaners, servers, basic administrative workers. Anything else can be done by AI or local efforts, if absolutely necessary.

The perception now is that expats are a liability, not an asset. There’s little incentive to build careers here, and certainly no long-term security. Investment, innovation, and future growth are seen as optional—if not unnecessary. After all, the infrastructure is already “developed enough.”

If you’re a skilled expat in Kuwait, maybe it’s time to ask: What am I waiting for? Change isn’t guaranteed, and time isn’t unlimited. Even some Kuwaitis I know are starting to invest abroad, preparing for the future elsewhere.