Hawalli Governorate

Hawalli Governorate is Kuwait's densely-built residential and commercial zone—an 83.26 km² territory southeast of Kuwait City where population density exceeds 11,000 inhabitants per square kilometer, among the country's highest. The 2021 census recorded 926,170 residents, with districts like Salmiya alone hosting over 321,000 people as of early 2025. Hawalli was one of the original three governorates established by Emiri Decree No. 6 of 1962 (alongside Al Asimah and Al Ahmadi), reflecting its importance from Kuwait's independence. The governorate's appeal stems from relatively affordable housing compared to Al Asimah, attracting middle-income Kuwaiti families alongside expatriate workers. Commercial districts and shopping areas serve both residents and visitors from neighboring governorates. The high density creates infrastructure stress—traffic congestion, parking scarcity, and utility demands—that Kuwait's urban planning continues to address. Hawalli was split in 1999 to create Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate, acknowledging that the combined territory had grown unmanageable. The remaining Hawalli still contains more residents per square kilometer than most global cities.