2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Yesterday, Henley & Partners released their 2026 Passport Index, marking two decades since they first started sharing this list. Henley releases the list every year, and they rank passports based on how many countries holders can enter without a visa.

For 2026, Kuwait ranked 50 on the list with 96 visa-free destinations. Interestingly, it used to be 102 visa-free destinations back in 2024, so I’m curious to know which countries Kuwait had a falling out with.

Compared to neighboring GCC countries, Kuwait has the third best passport, coming in behind the UAE and Qatar. Singapore had the most powerful passport, while Afghanistan had the weakest.

Here are how some other countries ranked compared to Kuwait:

1 – Singapore
5 – United Arab Emirates
7 – United Kingdom
8 – Canada
10 – United States
46 – Turkey / Russia
47 – Qatar
50 – Kuwait
54 – Saudi Arabia
55 – Bahrain
57 – Oman
73 – Philippines
80 – India
85 – Egypt
90 – Lebanon
101 – Afghanistan

If you want to check out the full list, click here.

La Petite Maison Abu Dhabi is hosting a 50 Best Signature Session in collaboration with MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, and they’ve invited a Kuwaiti chef to take part in the event.

Chef Basmah Marouf, best known for her concept Cantina, will be collaborating with an international chef on a one night only dinner on February 5. The evening will feature an exclusive four course set menu created especially for the event.

Being invited to take part in a 50 Best Signature Session is a pretty big deal, and since the event is being promoted by 50 Best, it does make me wonder if Cantina might have made it onto their Top 50 Best Restaurants list. We’ll find out for sure when the winners are announced on February 3.

For more info on the dinner, head to @lpmabudhabi. To find out next month if Cantina made it onto MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, keep an eye on @menas50best.

This past weekend, the second round of the GR Yaris Cup took place at Kuwait Motor Town. The GR Yaris Cup is a racing series by Toyota AlSayer, where 12 drivers compete against each other across multiple races. I previously posted about the first round, and with this weekend’s race done, there are now three more rounds to go.

I personally knew 3 of the 12 drivers competing, but even if you don’t know any of them, it’s still easy to pick a favorite team. Each car is sponsored by a brand, so if you’re a Gulf Bank customer or a Caribou Coffee fan, you can follow their driver. Or you can just watch and cheer for everyone, there are no rules.

All the races are free to watch at the track, and there are usually other activities taking place as well, like food trucks, simulators, and passenger rides around the circuit. The next round is in February, so if you want to stay updated on upcoming races, head over to @toyotakw or @gazooracingkw or their website.

Last June, I posted that Alghanim Industries had launched the brand Sama X and had become the official distributors of Starlink’s satellite internet in Kuwait. The service was meant to launch last year, but when I reached out to them in September, they said licensing and regulatory approvals were taking longer than expected. They were hoping to finalize everything by the end of last year, but according to a contact of mine at CITRA, those issues still haven’t been fully resolved.

Starlink internet works through satellites, making it perfect for places where regular internet can be spotty or completely unavailable. I spent Christmas in Lebanon where the internet was incredibly slow and unreliable, and I told myself that next time I go back, I’d bring my own Starlink with me. Starlink has a small portable unit with roaming packages, which would be perfect for a trip like that. But since there’s still no confirmed timeline for when Starlink will go live in Kuwait, I’ll either have to wait a bit longer or buy an imported unit and pay a premium.

If you want to stay posted on the launch, their website is Sama X

A couple of years ago, I posted photos of an old mosque I came across while browsing the Tareq Rajab Museum’s private photography archive. The photos were taken sometime in the 1970s, and with the help of my Twitter followers, we were able to track down the mosque, which turned out to still be standing in the city.

The mosque was identified as the Ahmad Abdullah Mosque, built in 1915, and located in the area behind the Dickson House. When I passed by, it was in terrible condition and looked like it could collapse at any moment. Someone must have seen my post because restoration work started last summer and was recently completed.

I’m not sure how authentic the restoration was, but the important thing is the mosque wasn’t demolished or left to crumble. It’s now fenced off, and no one is allowed to access the area around it. I’m not sure what the plan is, but they might be keeping is closed until the old city project surrounding it is eventually completed.

If you want to check out my previous post with the old photos, click here.

If you’re looking for a good movie to watch, I watched Predator: Badlands last night and it was really great. Although the trailer was good I wasn’t expecting the movie to be this good because prequels and sequels tend to be butchered. But, I was looking for a sci-fi and this popped up so decided to watch and glad I did. It’s visually stunning and there never was a dull moment throughout the film, it actually felt short by the end.

I streamed the movie on AppleTV but because it’s still new, the cost to rent it was pricey at $25. So similar in price to two people going to watch it in the movies, except I prefer my setup to a movie theater so it makes it kinda ok.

The Neighbourhood is a nostalgic space built around good coffee and food. Their first location in Kuwait opened last year in Qortuba, and a few weeks ago they opened their second location, this time in the brand new Hessah District.

The new location is bigger than the first, with plenty of outdoor seating along with some indoor seating. It’s located right at the start of Hessah District, and the outdoor area overlooks the main road. Inside, the space follows the same nostalgic look that made the original location popular, with dark brown wood, beautiful tiles, and the striped umbrellas that have become synonymous with the brand.

The fresh-baked goods section and the new protein boost menu have become the main reasons people keep coming back. The award-winning matcha is another big draw, alongside the newly introduced hojicha and specialty coffee, which pair perfectly with the menu.

If you’re looking for a new, cool outdoor spot for coffee, good bites and vibes, the weather is perfect to try out the new location (Google Maps). There’s plenty of parking, and it also gives you a reason to pass by and check out Hessah District if you haven’t already. Check them out @nbrhood.me

There are some pretty cool events taking place this weekend. Gulfrun and Nawi are probably the biggest events but on Friday there is a pretty cool interactive cinema experience taking place in Al Hamra Mall and just across the street there is a skateboarding event taking place in Bait Sharq. Check out all the events taking place this weekend below:

Thursday, January 8
Nawi – The Wellness Summit
TK Market at Murouj
Book Talk – ANCESTRAL DAUGHTER
GulfRun GP 2026

Friday, January 9
Nawi – The Wellness Summit
TK Market at Murouj
JJK Photobooth Keychains Workshop
Shibuya Domain Interactive Cinema Experience
GulfRun GP 2026
The Culture Skateboarding Event
Cars & Coffee
EighteenTwelve x Better From Scratch

Saturday, January 10
Nawi – The Wellness Summit
TK Market at Murouj
DAI Storytime at Amricani
GulfRun GP 2026
The Enchanted Garden of Earthly Delights
Hattrick x Hooray

Yesterday I posted that Kuwait Airways will start flying to Mykonos but according to my contact at Kuwait Airways, they’ll soon be launching new direct flights to more interesting destinations, including:

• Beijing
• Maldives
• Moscow
• Phuket

Maldives and Beijing are the two destinations I’m most interested in. Maldives because I’ve been wanting to experience it for a long time, and Beijing because I want to explore parts of China and it would be a great starting point. I do wish they brought back Athens instead of Mykonos though, especially since after deciding it would be my go-to summer spot, they suddenly stopped flying to it.

Kuwait Airways will start flying to Moscow three times a week and Mykonos twice a week, both starting in June. I’m still waiting to hear back on the other destinations, but you can keep an eye on their account for an official announcement @kuwaitairways

There were recently articles in the newspaper about Royal Pharmacy having their license revoked. The article didn’t make much sense to me since it didn’t really explain why their license was revoked. I read a few comments online about people thinking it was because they had too many branches open in the same area, and a lot of people sounded like they were happy their license was being revoked, like they wanted Royal Pharmacy to be punished for their success.

I have a Royal Pharmacy near my house (actually 3) but there is one I pass by the most. So I asked my pharmacist what the issue is and if they were in fact closing down because all three pharmacies near me were still open.

According to my pharmacist the issue is that basically the Kuwaiti owner of Royal Pharmacy had his citizenship revoked. So all the Royal Pharmacy stores no longer had a Kuwaiti partner.

I think the way pharmacies work in Kuwait is that an individual pharmacist needs to be the owner. So for example Royal Pharmacy or Boots are brands names, but each pharmacy is owned by an individual pharmacist. That’s why sometimes you’ll find a pharmacist name on the sign or a window sticker written in a small font.

According to my pharmacist who is an expat, because the Royal Pharmacy owner is no longer Kuwaiti, all the pharmacists need to find a new Kuwaiti partner. So the pharmacies won’t be closing (or most won’t at least), but they will be renamed or rebranded. One of the three Royal pharmacies next to me already had the word Royal removed from the signage. I’d imagine some other big brand might now want to take over the Royal Pharmacy brand.

Anyway, the above is just based on what my pharmacist told me so it might not necessarily be accurate, but it makes sense to me.

Studio Marmi is a newly opened natural stone gallery in Shuwaikh. It’s the largest of its kind, and I found the concept really interesting when they explained it to me. Unlike most natural stone showrooms, Studio Marmi doesn’t display small samples of each stone. Instead, they showcase full uncut slabs, meaning the stone you choose is the exact stone you get.

Most of the time when you’re shopping for natural stone for your home or a commercial space, you pick a stone based on a showroom sample, and since that sample is usually just a display piece, you often end up getting something similar instead. Because Studio Marmi displays the actual slabs, the stone you pick with all its unique characteristics is the one you actually get. Browsing the slabs is a unique experience as well, since they use a crane mechanism to move them around for viewing and selection.

This is also why their space is so large and feels more like a warehouse than a traditional showroom. As you walk around, you’ll see each stone clearly labeled with information on its strength, best uses, and pricing. They carry stones of varying strengths, from softer options like limestone and marble to harder ones like quartzite and crystal, all curated by them and imported from Brazil.

In addition to their impressive space, all their inventory is also available on their website. Once a new slab arrives, it’s photographed and added to their live online inventory along with all the relevant details. They also have a 3D visualizer that helps you see how a specific natural stone might look in a kitchen or home environment.

If you want to pass by their showroom, here is their location on Google Maps. You can also check out their website studiomarmi.com.kw or check out their instagram account @studiomarmikw

Recently, I noticed the Thunayan Al Ghanim Building at the Sheraton roundabout had been vacated and looked like it might be getting demolished. That worried me because of its historical importance, so I reached out to the family, and it turns out the building is actually going to be restored.

When the building was constructed in the 1950s, it was considered one of the most advanced in Kuwait. In the photo above the building is under construction while surrounded by traditional Kuwaiti houses, a very noticeable contrast at the time.

The Thunayan Al Ghanim Building was also the first building in Kuwait to have an elevator. There are stories of Bedouins coming in from the desert just to watch what they called “the flying horse” that can go up and down. Over the years, the building housed the original Kuwait Oil Company offices, the British Consulate, Kuwait’s first English bookshop (later opened in the basement of Al Muthana Complex), and the original Sultan Gallery.

Because of its historical value, the family plans to preserve the building.

Open Space is an all women fitness studio in Kuwait that offers Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, and Barre. They opened a couple of years ago and focus on creating a comfortable and supportive space where women can move, train, and feel confident no matter their fitness level.

This month they’ve invited one of Australia’s most loved Pilates trainers, Victoria (also known as @vicalates). She is the founder of the Vicalates Pilates studio in Australia and is known for her clear cueing and flowing class style. She is internationally qualified and has trained under some of the world’s top Pilates instructors.

Victoria will be teaching exclusively at Open Space from January 10 to 15. Alongside her regular one hour classes, which cost KD 18, Victoria will also be running two four hour workshops during her visit. These workshops are designed for Pilates trainers who want to improve their skills and teaching. Each workshop costs KD 80.

Spaces are limited, so for the full schedule, more details, or to book a class, you can visit Open Space on Instagram @open________space or book directly through their app.

Update: One of the workshops is now fully booked.

According to the website aeroroutes.com, Kuwait Airways is planning to resume direct flights to Mykonos. According to the website Kuwait Airways used to fly to Mykonos until September 2023. I personally want Kuwait Airways to bring back their Athens route. I flew to Athens in 2023 and then 2024 via Kuwait Airways and was hoping to make it a yearly trip but then last year Kuwait Airways decided not to fly to Athens anymore.

I’ve never been to Mykonos but maybe I’ll do it this summer for a weekend although I keep hearing about how it’s super busy and not that great a place anymore. Kuwait Airways will be flying the route twice weekly starting from June 14 until September 13 using a a mix of the A320neo and A321neo. source

Recently I picked up the Canon Selphy CP1500, it’s a small photo printer which surprisingly turned out to be pretty good. I say surprisingly because it wasn’t that expensive and neither were the photo papers needed for it.

My wife wanted to print her digital photos so she asked me to look for a good printer she could get. There were a few brands available locally but I decided to go with Canon because the reviews were great and it’s not HP. The printer doesn’t use ink cartridges and instead uses a ribbon system to print. Each pack of paper comes with the ribbon required to print on those sheets. So for example the photo paper packet includes 108 sheets, and two sets of ribbons, each good for 54 prints. I like this system.

So far it’s been pretty good. I have an iPhone so I use Air Print to send photos from my phone to print on the printer over my home network. There is also a Selphy app which gives you more options like if you want borders around the photos or if you want to make a collage etc, but it doesn’t work with Air Print. Instead you need to connect to the printers wifi hotspot and send photos to it directly which I guess is fine, but Air Print is just simpler.

The printer comes in three colors, black, white and pink. I wanted white which Xcite had available but they were selling it for KD50 while Lulu were selling it for KD37. Lulu didn’t have white so I got the black instead. But, I was just checking out Xcite’s website and it looks like they’ve now dropped the price of the printer to KD37 as well. Lulu on the other hand have now increased the price to KD53.

The photo paper and ribbon sells for KD13.5 for 108 prints. So thats 125 fils per print. But I found them on noon.com for like KD7.5 so next time I’ll just order a few packs from there.