Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works has been allocated $10.8bn for infrastructure development to 2013.

The government funding includes $1.3bn for 2009-10, $1.7bn for 2010-11, $3bn for 2011-12 and $4.5bn for 2012-13, Sadhel Jafar, Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works and Municipal Affairs, told state media.

Topping the ministry’s list of priorities is the 479,360-square-metre Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital project which, once finished, will be the largest medical facility in Kuwait.

The second phase of the 60-dock Boubyan Port project has also been identified as a priority. After an initial estimated investment of $400m for the first phase, a further $155m has been allocated for a railway linking Boubyan Island with Kuwait City, $65m for design work and $121m for roads.      

The $2.5bn Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Bridge project is another of Kuwait City’s top priorities. The government has set a deadline of 8 July 2010 for the submission of bids on the main construction deal, which includes designing and building a bridge linking Kuwait City to Subiya City and a second bridge linking the Kuwaiti capital to Doha Village, 20 kilometres north of the capital.

The ministry also hopes to start work the first phase of a revamp of Kuwait City’s sewage system, which is scheduled for completion in 2030.

Kuwait is also thought to be considering several smart building initiatives for future projects, the most popular of which includes harnessing solar energy for state building projects.