2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

A couple of days ago, Boulevard World in Riyadh opened to the public as part of Riyadh Season. Boulevard World (or BLVD World) is located right next to BLVD City, another large entertainment zone. The venue features replicas of iconic landmarks from several countries, and this year they’ve added three new zones: Indonesia, Korea, and Kuwait.

The Kuwait zone features replicas of the Kuwait Towers, Seef Palace with its clock tower, and a large dhow. It also includes restaurants serving authentic Kuwaiti food, along with traditional arts and live performances.

If you’ve never been to BLVD World or City, you really should. I’ve been three times, and each time it was bigger than the year before. It’s a gigantic world that feels a bit like Universal Studios or Disneyland. Riyadh is also always a fun road trip if you want to drive down.

From Kuwait to Riyadh 🇰🇼❤️
Authentic Kuwaiti food, traditional arts,
and live performances are waiting for you at the Kuwait Zone inside Blvd World 🌏

Book your tickets nowhttps://t.co/zvz6LyRkSL#BigTime#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/kMANvQx4vy

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) October 11, 2025

Photos are from @addadruh.

Barari is a local landscaping company I’ve been following for a couple of years. I’m a fan of their work, and they’ve done some really interesting projects. One that stood out to me is called Tree Den.

For the Tree Den project, they took a tiled-up garden with artificial turf and turned it into a vibrant desert sanctuary. Looking at the before and after photos, it’s hard to believe they’re of the same place.

Instead of covering the ground with artificial or real grass, they decided to embrace the sand as a natural, breathable surface. According to Barari, they wanted to celebrate the desert rather than fight it. They planted dense greenery along with mature trees to create a cozy and immersive space. Even the kids play area encourages hands-on exploration and digging. It’s a simple idea that I think is executed beautifully, and they managed to convince me that sand doesn’t need to be covered but can actually be a beautiful part of the landscape.

If you want to check out all the before and after photos of the transformation, head over to their website here.

I don’t have a dirt bike but I found out about this place in Kuwait that does decals and sells plastic body panels for dirt bikes. It’s very niche which is why I figured I’d post about it in case someone ever tries using google to find a place that does this.

The place is called MOTORRAD and their instagram account is @motorradkw

UFC Bantamweight Champion, Merab Dvalishvili was in Kuwait this weekend. I found out when I was at the gym and when I checked Merab’s instagram story he had posted a video of Al Shaheed Park taken from inside the Four Seasons, my guess is where he was staying. Supposedly he was in Kuwait to visit some friends. Pretty wild considering I just watched him fight on TV last week!

Qudra is a Kuwait-based freelance marketplace that connects freelancers with clients. I posted about them when they first launched last year, and now, a year later, they’ve expanded beyond Kuwait with a launch in Dubai to serve the wider MENA region.

Their platform connects talent in Kuwait and the MENA region with clients seeking services like graphic design, digital marketing, and interior design. The app offers secure payments, direct chat, and detailed freelancer profiles to help clients find the right match.

Since I last posted about them, Qudra has rolled out new features including Qudra Pro, a way for freelancers to verify their profiles, gain more visibility, and access exclusive opportunities. They’ve also improved payments, added better project management tools, and enhanced communication features based on user feedback.

If you’re a freelancer
Qudra lets you showcase your skills and get discovered by clients. Payments are secured before you start a project, and once it’s completed, the funds are released to you.

If you’re a business
Qudra simplifies the hiring process by providing access to a diverse pool of talent with a wide range of skills. You can also post a job listing with a specific budget and have freelancers reach out to you.

Qudra makes freelancing safe, efficient, and rewarding for both sides. Try them out joinqudra.com

Back in August, I posted about using AliExpress for the first time to purchase a couple of items, and I was really impressed with the experience. They’re now always top of mind when I think about getting something online, which is why I ordered from them again 10 days ago.

I wanted to buy a wireless CarPlay adapter for my Hilux (this was before I decided to sell it). From the factory, CarPlay only works with a USB cable, but I found out about a tiny USB adapter called the CarlinKit Mini Ultra. You just plug it into the USB port, and your phone connects to CarPlay wirelessly. The price on the CarlinKit website was around KD 18 at the time with free shipping (it’s now discounted to about KD 15). Just before checking out, I decided to see if it was available on AliExpress since it’s a Chinese company and it was.

There were plenty of options, and I found one selling it for KD 4.3 with 600 fils shipping. I ended up paying just KD 4.9 for the item, shipped from China straight to my door! I honestly don’t understand how that’s possible. It costs me more than 600 fils to get a burger delivered from Five Guys down the street.

So I guess this is another post recommending AliExpress, also the adapter. Been using it for the past few days and it’s pretty great. There is a slight lag between an input and something happening, like you click forward for a song and it takes maybe a second or less for the track to move forward. It’s not a deal breaker and something that you’d get used to. I have the same issue with the aftermarket CarPlay unit I installed in my e46 BMW.

Here are my favorite events taking place this weekend.

Thursday, October 9
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
Interstellar IMAX Screening
Astronomers Diwaniya

Friday, October 10
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
A Tribute to Whitney Houston
Interstellar IMAX Screening
BAKED Turns 4 Brunch

Saturday, October 11
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
Resistance For Hope Exhibit
Pigment to Paint
Art & Frequency Gathering
in-between pop-up open cafe
Interstellar IMAX Screening
Conversations with Strangers 7.0
Mandala Flow Workshop
Korean Movie Night: Forbidden Dream
BAKED Turns 4 Brunch
KSP’s Fight Night 4

Camel racing is back for the 2025/2026 season, running from October to March, with races taking place every Saturday at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. Since the weather is still hot during the day, this Saturday the races start at 5:30 AM with a total of nineteen scheduled. As the weather gets cooler, the races will start later in the day (check my weekly “Things To Do” weekend list for updated timings).

There’s no entrance fee, and you can either watch from the sidelines, drive up to the starting line to see the start, or follow the race around the track in your car (it can get a bit chaotic).

It’s really fun, especially if you’ve never been before. It’s never that busy, everyone there is pretty friendly, and it’s fairly easy to get to.

To find the location and entrance to the race tracks on Google Maps, just search for “Kuwait Camel Racing Club”.

One big complaint I keep hearing is how difficult it is to make friends in Kuwait. My advice is always to join a hobby group or club since in my experience it’s one of the quickest ways to meet new people and people you’ll actually have something in common with. If you like running, then keep reading.

Morning Milers is a local running club that started last year by three friends, Rebecca Jones, Pip Field, and Sophie Bray. They caught the running bug and wanted some company on their runs, so they invited a few friends to join. Before they knew it, the group began to grow, and what started as a few casual jogs turned into the amazing and supportive community they have today.

The club meets twice a week for runs. Every Wednesday they meet at 6:30PM in Al Shaheed Park, and on Fridays they meet at 8AM, but the location changes every week. Each run ends with coffee and chats.

If you’re interested in running and meeting new people, follow them on Instagram and join their WhatsApp group linked in their profile. @morningmilersrungroup

Just something random and kinda funny. I woke up this morning to find a friend in a WhatsApp group had shared an LA Times article that randomly included a picture of my car I had taken when I had visited The Vault. The picture was in a video that talked about a guy who sold investors on the concept of an ultimate man cave where for a monthly fee they’d have access to high-end vehicles. Totally random.

I can access the full article because it’s on Apple News which I’m subscribed to. The LA Times article is behind their paywall but the video isn’t and can be watched here.

Joe & The Juice is opening a new spot at Al Shaheed Park tomorrow (Tuesday, October 7). It’s right by the big lake in Phase 2 and feels like the perfect stop for a juice or a light meal if you’re walking around the park, out for a jog, or just hanging out with family or friends.

I passed by earlier today around sunset and the place looked great, with warm light coming in through the large glass windows designed to connect the indoors with the surrounding greenery. The interior seating is cozy, but since it’s in the park there’s also plenty of outdoor seating. You can sit overlooking the lake or catch the sunset from the other side.

The new location will be open daily from 5AM to midnight, making it perfect for early morning joggers. To stay up to date on their new menu items or locations, head over to @joeandthejuicekuwait

I’m getting a Raptor next week so selling my Hilux. Before I list it on the market I wanted to see if any of my readers wanted it. If you’re interested, get in touch with me. Here are some specs:

Toyota Hilux Adventure
Model: 2022
Mileage: 84,000KM

Upgrades:
Old Man Emu Shocks and Springs
Original BRAID wheels
BFG KO3 Tires (Less than a year old)
Mountain Top EVOm roll cover
Mountain Top Sports Bar
Rival Underbody guard
FOCAL Audio for Hilux Sound System
Front PPF
Ceramic Tint

Asking KD9,000

You’ve probably noticed this strange futuristic-looking building on your way to the airport (Google Maps). It’s always been kind of a mystery to me since, although there’s quite a bit of information about it online, there aren’t that many photos of it. This is the Amiri Terminal, also sometimes called the VVIP Terminal.
 
The Amiri Terminal was built to host reception ceremonies on a presidential level. Construction started back in 2007 and was completed three years later.

 
The terminal was designed by the firm TAEP who had to take into account Kuwait’s extreme temperatures and sandstorms. Since it’s difficult to plan a typical outdoor reception ceremony throughout the year, they came up with an alternative solution by designing the building around a huge reception hall.
 
The terminal was shaped by a large dome that allowed them to create a hall with a 24-meter-tall interior, helping eliminate the feeling of being in a closed indoor space. To further enhance the sense of openness, the ceiling was painted black and 250,000 fiber-optic light points were embedded into it to recreate the feeling of a desert night sky.
 
The terminal is made up of six buildings: the Amiri Hall, the glass reception area, the parking lot, baggage check, services, and the plane hangar.
 
The Amiri Reception Building consists of three floors. The first floor includes the protocol and reception halls, the dining area, the Amiri meeting room, a press conference hall, a hall for ambassadors, a protocol hall, a women’s waiting hall, and a multipurpose hall.
 

The ground floor houses the main kitchen, offices for the Amiri Guard, a screening room, a waiting room for journalists, a Civil Aviation staff room, a resting room for the plane crew, a rest room for the guests’ guards, a first-aid room, a security room, and offices for the Interior Ministry.
 
The second floor contains the guest wing and the operations room.
 
The glass dome on the outside which you can spot in some of the photos is part of the reception area. The first floor is connected to an air bridge, while the ground floor is for guests arriving on smaller planes.
 
To check out more photos, click here.

Last week I posted that Akon was coming to perform in Kuwait, and I just found out that tickets to the concert are going on sale tonight at 7PM.

@fame.entmt and @quantumconkw are the ones bringing Akon to Kuwait, and he’ll be performing at The Arena on November 21. Tickets will be available through thearenakuwait.com

Update: Tickets are now on sale, they start from KD 35 Link

I usually post about brands and their products, but this one’s a bit different since it’s about the company behind the brands. You’ve probably never heard of SocialEats, but you’ve definitely heard of their concepts. SocialEats is a creative hospitality group that started in Kuwait in 2016 with its first brand, Chocomelt, and has since grown to multiple brands and over 30 branches across the GCC. Some of their brands include:

Chocomelt
A flagship dessert spot that’s been serving handcrafted creations for over 10 years across the GCC.

Chutney & Co
An Indian tapas concept bringing elevated Indian cuisine to Kuwait and soon Qatar.

B.Social
A creativity-driven brand for custom cakes and desserts made for every kind of celebration (including allergen-free).

The Neighbourhood
A nostalgic space built around good vibes and balanced food, and home to their award-winning matcha.

MoG
A specialty coffee concept known for its signature menu and attention to detail in every cup.

From Kuwait to the world, SocialEats is growing fast and going global with plans to expand beyond the GCC into the UK, Turkey, India, and Iraq. What started as a shared passion for hospitality has turned into a diverse portfolio of brands, from award-winning desserts and elevated Indian cuisine to specialty coffee and custom cakes. Check them out socialeats.com