2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003
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
The end of the year is filled with international artists coming to Kuwait, and it looks like it’s going to be the busiest Q4 I can remember. To keep track of all the major upcoming events, I’ve listed them below. I’ll be updating this list as new ones get announced, so it’s worth bookmarking this page to check back later.
October 10 – Whitney Houston Tribute
October 20 – Russell Peters
October 23 – Sean Paul
November 15 – Bassem Youssef
November 21 – Akon
November 29 – Jon Batiste
December 5 – Saint Levant
December 18 – Max Amini
The comedian Bassem Youssef is returning to Kuwait next month for a show at The Arena. His event last year sold out pretty quickly, so I expect this one to do the same.
The show is on November 15, and tickets are now on sale starting at KD 25 through thearenakuwait.com
Here are some of my favorite events taking place this weekend.
Thursday, October 2
Gahwa by The Avenues
Fullout Dance Workshop
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition
Friday, October 3
Gahwa by The Avenues
Speedcubing Nationals 2025
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition
Sunrise Yoga
Saturday, October 4
Gahwa by The Avenues
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition
Speedcubing Nationals 2025
SL Show
A Table of Cakes
Urban Sketchers in Blockat
The Cartoons’ Orchestra
Singapore F1 Qualifying Session
Coffee Painting Workshop
Back to School Chess Fest Competition
DAI StoryTime at Amricani
Blooms & Brews
Family Kayak Race
Matcha Workshop
Hardcover Binding Workshop
Sunrise Yoga
Akon, the popular American R&B singer, is coming to perform in Kuwait this November. He rose to fame in the 2000s and still has a strong following today with over 10 million fans on Instagram. He was supposed to perform in Kuwait back in 2015, but the concert was canceled.
Fun facts, Akon holds the Guinness World Record as the top-selling artist for ringtones, and he is also the first artist to hit 1 billion views on YouTube.
@fame.entmt and @quantumconkw are the ones bringing Akon to Kuwait, and he’ll be performing at The Arena on November 21. Tickets will go on sale soon through thearenakuwait.com
The new redeveloped Shuwaikh Beach is reopening tomorrow Wednesday, October 1st. The project is part of Kuwait Municipality’s efforts to enhance the leisure and recreational spaces in Kuwait. The 1.7km-long project got upgraded facilities, including a running track, bicycle track, mosques, and several main areas tailored to community needs like sports fields, recreational areas, and extensive green spaces.
I took a stroll around the park and although it’s not covered in trees like the original renderings were, there were plenty of grassy areas to sit and chill. Barbecuing isn’t allow but picnics are. I saw two main play areas for kids each located at opposite ends of the park. There were also two volleyball courts, two basketball courts and a small rock climbing area as well as some outdoor workout equipment.
There will be a 1km walkathon tomorrow as part of the official opening and that will take place from 4PM to 7PM. Here is the location on Google Maps. For more photos, click here.
I’ve posted about UFO sightings in Kuwait in the late 70s twice on the blog, first time back in 2013 and then again in 2021. Recently, I found out (via @thevenerablebetty) that Kuwait was also featured in the 1979 summer edition of UFO Update! magazine, and I managed to get a copy of it.
The article was written by an executive from an American oil company who was in Kuwait on business. While driving out to one of the oil fields, he spotted a strange aircraft, and the piece details what he experienced and saw. He wasn’t the only eyewitness that night.
I’ve also uploaded additional clippings as a bonus read. These were declassified by the US State Department and include US embassy wires along with statements from KOC officials, KISR, and even the Ministry of Interior, who investigated a report by a Kuwait Airways pilot who had spotted an “unusual light phenomenon.”
I used to be a huge UFO buff, so I always find these stories interesting. Even if you don’t believe in UFOs, they’re still fun to read. I’ve uploaded everything to my Flickr and you can check them out there.
Back in 2019, a small Bhutanese spot called Momo Zaa opened in Salmiya and quickly became popular for their delicious momos (steamed dumplings). Sadly, the pandemic hit the following year and they ended up closing. The good news is they’re now back, this time with a new name and a new location.
Lepo & Lemo opened this past August in a new location in Salmiya. I actually prefer this new location because it’s walking distance from my place, like literally a 10 minute walk which is great. The restaurant is small but cute, with a good amount of seating for the space, including some seating outdoors.
We were a total of three so we ordered a bunch of things to try:
Crispy Chili Potato KD 1.850
Veg Juma (Vegetarian Sausage) KD 1.850
Chicken Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.850
Beef Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.950
Kewa Datshi (Potato Chili Cheese Stew) KD 1.750
Norsha Pat (Stir-fried beef) KD 2.650
Steamed Rice KD 0.750
L&L Signature Fried Ice Cream KD 2.650
For some reason my food photography skills seem to get worse with age, but trust me, everything looked great and tasted even better. Like, unexpectedly delicious. It’s been a while since I last had their food, so I’d forgotten how good it was. Everything was full of flavor and by the end I couldn’t decide what I liked most. The sausage I think really surprised me with how good it was, but I’d say the beef dumplings were my favorite dish. The cheese stew was my least favorite but even that wasn’t bad, it’s just everything else was much better.
I try not to post about food unless it’s something special, and L&L is definitely special. Even if you’ve never had Bhutanese food before, their dishes feel approachable and not at all intimidating. They had some unusual items like noodles with laban, which I’m saving for my next visit, but the dishes I mentioned above are all pretty beginner friendly.
We were three people and the bill came out to KD 13.650. They gave us the dessert on the house.
If you want to check them out, Lepo & Lemo open from 3PM to 11:30PM and are located in Salmiya right behind the 4th Ring Road fire station (Google Maps). They’re also on Instagram @lepo.lemo
The MOI shared a video yesterday where they stopped an attempt to smuggle in bottles of alcohol coming in from Europe. The bottles were hidden inside steel cable reels and with the help of the fire department they were able to cut open the reels to reveal the hidden bottles.
الجمارك تحبط محاولة تهريب 3037 زجاجة خمر مخبأة داخل بكرات كوابل صلب قادمة من إحدى الدول الاوروبية في ميناء الشويخ
تنفيذًا لتوجيهات معالي النائب الأول لرئيس مجلس الوزراء ووزير الداخلية الشيخ فهد يوسف سعود الصباح بضرورة تشديد الرقابة الجمركية والتصدي لمحاولات التهريب، تمكنت… pic.twitter.com/X21qREWoD8
— وزارة الداخلية (@Moi_kuw) September 27, 2025
Pretty elaborate smuggling attempt, I wonder how along this might have been going on for and also makes me wonder about other ways people are smuggling bottles in.
via Khaleej Times
Deliveroo just did something pretty cool and fun. They took four of Kuwait’s favorite chefs and sent them abroad to cook, learn and trade recipes with some of the world’s top chefs.
The Kuwaiti chefs that took part in this program were:
Faisal Al Nashmi (Table Otto, San Ristorante, and more)
Ghalia Hayat (Oh G!)
Khaled AlBaker (Little Ruby’s, Young Po, and more)
Sawsan Daana (Matbakhi by Sawsan)
The idea? Bring back the secrets behind viral global dishes while sharing Kuwait’s own flavors with the world. They sent Faisal to Rome, Ghalia to London, Khaled to Seoul and Sawsan to Athens. Think of it as a culinary exchange program and going by the videos Deliveroo have been publishing, it looked pretty fun.
The chefs are now back in Kuwait and they’re each working on creating a dish based on their experience abroad. These 4 new dishes are going to be exclusive to Deliveroo, so you won’t find them anywhere else. To find out when they drop, make sure you are following @deliveroo_kw
his is a super busy weekend. If you’re a fan of House of Dragons, Milly Alcock is going to be in Kuwait for the comic festival this weekend. Check out all my favorite events taking place below.
Thursday, September 25
Comic Festival Convention
Bugsha Market at Assima
Auto World Show
Pokémon Trading Event
Friday, September 26
Comic Festival Convention
Film Club: Hook
Bugsha Market at Assima
Song Circle & Cacao Ceremony
Auto World Show
Saturday, September 27
Comic Festival Convention
Girls Only Game Day at Cozy Den
Seeds of Connection
Brunch, beats & tote bags
AIESEC x Qesati : Re-Inventing Myself
Bugsha Market at Assima
The State Symphony Orchestra of Moscow
Basics of Astronomy
Visual Journaling Session
Literary Open Mic
Soof Wool Mill Tour
Book Club: Confetti & Ashes
Auto World Show
Photo from @hadoolalk
Frankie’s was one of my favorite breakfast spots in the city before they went on hiatus 3 years ago. Now they’re back after finding a new home in Cantina. Previously, Frankie’s would pop up in the mornings at Little Ruby’s, and now they’ll be popping up at Cantina in the mornings.
Some of the original signatures will still be on the menu, like their French toast and breakfast tacos, but I’m looking forward to the new items specially the Steak & Eggs which look amazing in the photo. Chef Basmah also mentioned the new menu will feature Palestinian za’atar and family heirloom recipes.
If you’re looking for a new breakfast spot to try, Frankie’s will be serving breakfast from 8AM to 12PM starting this Friday and Saturday. @cantina_kw
There have been rumors about Uber coming to Kuwait for at least a decade now, and I think we might finally be getting it next year. I don’t have any inside sources confirming this, it’s just my opinion.
Recently I got a notification from my Uber app with a message saying “Hello, Kuwait. Wherever you’re headed, explore with ride options that fit your travel plans”. Someone on Reddit posted a different message he got which said “See more of Kuwait. Explore the city sights with Uber”.
That was the first hint. The second came when a reader emailed me saying he was taking a cab to pick up his new car and got into a conversation with the driver. The subject of Uber came up, and the driver told him they were starting in Kuwait on October 2nd. He even showed him an email with Uber in the subject line.
That’s when I decided to reach out to a contact at Careem to see if they knew anything. Since Uber acquired Careem years ago, I figured if anyone had info on Uber coming to Kuwait, it would be them. Here’s what I found out.
Uber is NOT launching in Kuwait on October 2nd.
What’s actually happening is that Careem’s driver backend is being integrated into Uber’s software. This is consistent with how things work in other markets where Careem operates, and it makes sense since Careem is owned by Uber. This is also confirmed on the Careem drivers page, which now states:
Captains operate on the Uber app now!
Signup on the Uber Driver app to get Careem bookings on the Uber Driver app and enjoy Uber Driver perks!
The signup link then redirects drivers to the Uber website to complete the process.
But from the conversation I had, I felt there was more to the story. When I asked if Uber was launching in Kuwait on October 2nd, my contact said they were still only operating as Careem for now, but might have some news in 2026. When I asked if Careem was rebranding to Uber, they said no, that would not happen. If Uber decided to enter the market, both apps would operate in Kuwait. They then hinted again that some exciting news could be coming early next year.
Here’s what I think. Uber is in fact coming to Kuwait next year. My guess is that Uber and Careem will operate as one entity with two different apps, meaning Careem drivers are Uber drivers and vice versa. That makes sense since both would be using the same backend system. That’s just my theory though, and for now we’ll have to wait and see.
Auto World Show is the largest car exhibition in Kuwait. It launched in 2023 and is back this year for its third edition.
Most of the major car brands are taking part, including: 212, Audi, BAIC, BYD, Cadillac, Changan Auto, Chery, Chevrolet, Detour, Dongfeng, Exceed, Exlantix, Ford, Foton, GAC, GWM, Geely, GMC, Haval, Hero, Honda, Hongoi, Ineos, Infiniti, JAECOO, Jaguar, Jeep, KGM, KIA, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lynk&Co, Maserati, Mazda, MG, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Omoda, Polestar, Porsche, RAM, Renault, Rox, Skoda, Soueast, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo, VW, Yamaha, and Zeekr.
The show is being held at the Mishref Fairgrounds in halls 5, 6, 7, and 8. Entry is free, and the event runs daily from 10AM to 10PM. @autoworldshowkw