Rental Listing Scams in Kuwait
Fake apartment and villa rental listings in Kuwait collect deposits from newcomers seeking accommodation, with properties that are unavailable or non-existent.
Part of: Rental Listing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Kuwait's competitive residential rental market, combined with a large population of newly arrived expats, creates opportunities for rental listing fraud. Fraudulent listings appear on Facebook Marketplace, property portals, and classified sites, advertising spacious apartments in Salmiya, Hawally, or Mahboula at below-market prices.
Newly arrived workers who are under pressure to find housing quickly and have not yet built a local network to verify landlords are particularly at risk.
How this scam works on Kuwait
An attractive rental listing appears showing a clean, modern apartment at a price 15–25% below market rate. The poster claims to be the landlord but says they are currently travelling abroad, making an in-person viewing unavailable. They offer a virtual tour video and ask the prospective tenant to pay a deposit to 'hold' the property.
After the deposit is transferred, communication becomes intermittent and then stops. Victims who visit the address find it occupied by genuine residents with no knowledge of any rental listing. In some cases the property photographs are found to have been taken from a legitimate property agency website.
Expats who arrive in Kuwait before finding housing and are staying in expensive hotels are targeted because their urgency is acute.
Common red flags
- Rental price significantly below comparable properties in the same district
- 'Landlord' abroad and unable to meet in person or facilitate a physical viewing
- Request for a deposit before any in-person visit or document verification
- Property photographs appear on other listings or reverse-search to a different source
- Contract terms informal or offered only via WhatsApp
- No verifiable property ownership documents offered for inspection
How to protect yourself
- Never pay a deposit without visiting the property in person and verifying ownership
- Use a licensed Kuwait real estate agent to verify ownership through the Real Estate Registration Department
- Request to see the title deed and verify the landlord's identity before signing anything
- Avoid listings where the landlord claims to be abroad with no local representative
- Consult your employer's PRO for recommended accommodation channels
How to report it
- Report to the Ministry of Justice Real Estate Registration and Documentation Department
- File a complaint with the Ministry of Interior CID
- Report the listing to the platform where it appeared
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to pay a deposit before viewing a property in Kuwait?
No. Reputable landlords and agencies in Kuwait facilitate in-person viewings before any deposit is exchanged. A landlord who insists on a deposit before any viewing is a strong fraud indicator.