According to the philosophy of management, one of the biggest barriers to progress is administrative corruption. A nation with a corrupt government cannot advance and will remain stagnant until it collapses. At a time when the state is working on opening a new airport, which officials claim can handle 70 million passengers a year, seven international airlines have pulled out of the Kuwaiti market due to a misguided administrative decision.

Meanwhile, more businesses are attempting to close their offices in Kuwait. This raises a few important questions: How will the state attract companies to use the new airport? Are cumbersome administrative procedures driving them away? Does this hinder investment? It is widely known that a management error is a form of corruption, and the individual responsible should be held accountable for their actions, as they violate the law and act against the interests of the nation. In countries that respect their laws, corruption is not only seen as someone misappropriating public funds, but also as the result of wrong choices made by individuals. These poor decisions are considered deliberate sabotage of the administration, as they keep the system stuck in a vicious cycle.

In the past, decisions were made that harmed the country’s interests, such as the decision to prevent expatriates over the age of 60 from renewing their residency. This had major repercussions, including the inability of many Kuwaitis to even find a tailor to sew their “dishdashas.” This is just one example of decisions cooked up in diwaniyas, where officials may align with influential friends or figures, while the nation pays the price. It is as if Kuwait’s institutions have become farms for certain people. It is known that in 2006, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation took an important step in developing the Kuwaiti air transport market by implementing the policy of opening the skies to increase air traffic.

This was important for stimulating passenger traffic, but a few years later, this policy was undermined by poor decisions that led companies to exit the Kuwaiti market. In the past, Kuwait was an open market for transit, particularly for airlines from around the world, which is why many international carriers chose to operate here. The procedures were easier than what we see today, and ticket prices were more affordable. When these same companies left Kuwait, they found many incentives in neighboring countries that made it easier for them to work.

These countries have administrations that prioritize national interests rather than serving the needs of influential individuals or operating on outdated bureaucratic systems. The most dangerous form of corruption, however, lies in decisions and procedures that do not serve the national interest. When companies, not just airlines but many others, exit the Kuwaiti market, it means more confusion for the national economy and a decline in overall performance. How can investments be attracted to the country when investors are given no incentives or face constant obstacles in their work? From this perspective, those who undermine the administration must be held accountable, as their actions harm the country more than they help.