We are witnessing a truly tragic situation. Its full extent requires a closer examination of the details. The recent social media post by a Kuwaiti citizen sheds light on a troubling pattern, as he shared his ordeal with an expatriate contractor. He said “after years of waiting for state housing support, I received a plot in Mutlaa and took a loan to build a home for my family. I finalized an agreement with a contractor, but the moment he collected the payment, he disappeared. When I inquired about his whereabouts, I found out that he returned to his native country on the same day. Left in distress by this scam, I have even contemplated living in a tent with my children.” Police records indicate that this scenario has evolved into a prevalent pattern in Mutlaa residential area, which remains heavily burdened by ongoing contractual conflicts and legal claims. This is an alarming development.
Since court procedures are slow, victims are stripped of their savings long before a legal solution is reached, while the rogue contractors already escaped overseas. Enforcing court rulings is almost impossible, as these fraudsters take measures in advance to conceal their acts and ensure immediate escape. Recent figures revealed that around 2,000 fraudulent contractor cases are currently bogged down in the court system. Most of these lawsuits are against ‘shell’ companies that lack the financial backing to finish their projects. These businesses usually utilize stalling tactics before walking away from the entire work, allowing their partners to flee quickly.
In response to these growing concerns, Minister of Justice Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait is preparing new legislation to close contractual loopholes between citizens and builders in order to prevent scams. Sources close to the minister revealed that holding a commercial license will no longer be enough. Going forward, the proposed regulations will mandate verified financial solvency, substantial performance guarantees to cover project costs, and supervision by accredited engineering firms. Building contractors must present proof of a fully operational workforce or demonstrate that the subcontractors they engage with hold a valid license, along with a documented history of completed projects. The enforcement of such regulatory protections prevents fraudulent operators from abandoning projects and dodging accountability.
Although property owners should exercise due diligence when undertaking construction works, most citizens lack legal expertise and proceed with customary local practices in good faith. This vulnerability was unveiled by the victim of a scam who shared his ordeal on social media, sparking public calls for decisive legislative action. The Minister of Justice deserves commendation for his swift intervention in drafting statutory measures to eliminate the legal loopholes. Other government officials must adopt a similar approach by monitoring public grievances on social media and news outlets, interacting directly with citizens, and resolving issues. This administrative awareness is exemplified in the famous historical account of an Arab prime minister who commissioned daily intelligence briefings on political satire and jokes circulating about his administration. By analyzing public humor, he accurately assessed the sentiment of the people, economic stability and societal satisfaction. He used such insights to effectively address the grievances.
