Kuwait sets a water-heater code for new buildings, binding from November 2027

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy has adopted a technical code for water heaters in buildings. Ministerial Decision 131 of 2026, signed by Minister Dr Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, was published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm (issue 1815) on Sunday 1 November 2026. It takes effect one year after publication, in November 2027, so anyone designing a house or building today should plan for it now.

What it covers

• Every entirely new building, residential or not.
• New extensions to existing buildings that need additional electrical load.

Non-residential buildings

They must meet the code’s minimum energy-efficiency requirements for designing and installing water-heating systems, and fit a system that saves at least 60% of total water-heating demand. Al-Anba reports that the code also requires swimming pools to have a sustainable heating system covering at least half the energy used to heat the pool water.

Homes

Residential buildings may use any water-heating system, a conventional electric heater included. But an owner who chooses a high-efficiency system, such as solar water heating or a heat pump, must then follow the code’s design and installation rules. Al-Anba reports the code recommends, without requiring, a saving of at least 40% in homes.

The standard

All systems and equipment covered must comply with Kuwaiti standard KWS 1903:2025 from the Public Authority for Industry, or its latest edition. The code lists solar heaters, heat pumps, hybrid systems and heat-recovery systems.

Photo: Ministry of Electricity and Water card made by Kuwait One, over a blurred photograph of high-voltage switchgear. Public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

Source: Ministerial Decision 131 of 2026 as published in Kuwait Al-Youm, issue 1815, 1 November 2026, via lawskw.com, read today; Al-Anba, 2 November 2026.