To evaluate the feasibility of solar power plants for both power generation and water desalination in arid desert locations, A Photovoltaic power plant was compared to a Concentrated Solar Power plant at different design capacities in the selected country of Kuwait. Both plants were configured in terms of the country’s satellite-based weather data values throughout the year, and their corresponding electrical and thermal power generation capabilities were simulated using the NREL System Advisor Model (SAM) and compared to the country’s power grid and RO/MSF desalination plants to explore demand satisfaction. Economic analysis was also performed for both plants and the results were compared in terms of feasibility. As a result, the PV and CSP systems respectively satisfied up to 0.93% and 2.22% of annual power demand, and up to 133.32% and 162% of RO and MSF energy demand, respectively. It was shown that the PV plants outperformed CSP in most technical performance factors such as energy production and capacity per installation area and fell short against CSP in terms of energy yield and capacity factor. PV systems also outperformed CSP in all factors of economic analysis, ranging from 84.93% to 94.25% in decreased costs when compared to Concentrated Solar Power, deeming the PV option to be favorable for installation in Kuwait and the desert region it is in. Possible issues related to both power plant options such as the effect of high ambient temperature, dust formation, land availability, intermittent operation, and equipment maintenance were discussed along with solutions and mitigations to these problems.