Author: Mark

Active Arena is one of Shuwaikh Gate Holding’s latest projects (@shuwaikhgate) and is a new modern destination that just opened in Funaitees on the coastal strip. If you’ve driven down Road 30 toward Fahaheel recently, you’ve probably noticed it on the left side next to the National Guard Officers Club. It’s a futuristic looking building in a super convenient spot, easy to access with plenty of parking, which makes it a great stop for families or anyone looking for a quick and easy place to hang out.

Right now the project has Raising Cane’s, HID Café, and the largest PLAY Entertainment in Kuwait, with more concepts opening soon. The PLAY branch is huge and occupies most of the building. According to the manager I spoke to, it also has one of the largest soft play areas in the region.

If you’re in the area and looking for a quick bite, a cup of coffee, or a new spot to take the kids, check the place out. You’ll find the mall’s exact location linked in their bio @activearenakw

This batch of photos caught my attention mostly because of the shots of Fahaheel. I’ve come across old photos of Fahaheel before but they never get old, especially seeing how barren it used to be with just a dirt road running through it. Since it was close to Ahmadi, it was visited frequently by the KOC residents there.

The photos here were scanned by Mark Anderson, the son of Suzanne and Malcolm Anderson. His dad worked at KOC in Marine in the late 50s before moving into production and various areas within the refinery. The family eventually left Kuwait in 1972.

The photos in this post were taken in the late 50s and early 60s. Other than the shots of Fahaheel, there are also photos of his parents and their friends socializing at someone’s home. I love these kinds of photos since they give a glimpse into life back then, from the clothes people wore to the way their homes looked and how they socialized.

Sadly, both of Mark’s parents passed away a couple of months apart at the end of 2022. There are around 15 photos, if you want to check them out all click here.

If you’ve been wanting to go to India and are looking for direct flights on brand new planes then this post will interest you.

Akasa Air is one of the newest Indian airlines, established just a few years ago, which is why their fleet is one of the youngest in the world. They currently operate Boeing 737 MAX aircraft flying to over 28 destinations including Kuwait, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.

Their local agent is AlKazemi Travel & Tourism, one of the oldest travel agencies in Kuwait, established in the late 60s, so you can expect everything to be handled smoothly and professionally. Akasa has been operating in Kuwait since last year and now has daily flights to India except on Sundays. Their local office is located on the mezzanine floor in Sanabil Tower, Sharq.

Akasa’s aim is to provide comfortable air travel at competitive rates while maintaining a high level of service. Café Akasa, their inflight meal service, offers a menu with over 45 meal options to suit all diets and tastes. Even though they’re a more economical option, all their seats have extra legroom and most of their aircraft have USB ports to charge your devices. The cabin is noticeably quieter, with up to 50 percent less noise inside.

They’re also an airline that cares. Akasa believes in sustainability, which is why they use recycled and bio-friendly materials wherever they can. Not only is their packaging and cutlery for inflight meals biodegradable, but even their crew wear sneakers specially designed for them by Adidas and made from recycled materials. They’re one of India’s greenest fleets. Their safety manual and menu card even include braille, a small but thoughtful detail that shows how much they care about accessibility. Last but not least, Akasa is a pet-friendly airline.

If you want to book your next trip or learn more about their routes and services, check out akasaiar.com and their local agent alkazemitravel.com

Al-Farsi Kites Team are back this Friday for their first desert display of the season.

A lot of people don’t realize this, but the Al-Farsi Kite Team (founded in 2003) owns some of the biggest kites on the planet. Their Kuwait flag kite has held the Guinness World Record for almost 21 years now, but they actually have two even larger ones. They’re called The Blue Manta Ray and The Hope. The Hope alone is around 1,250 m², about the size of three basketball courts.

During the winter months, the Al-Farsi Kite Team puts on a display every Friday in Bnaider near exit 258. The display starts after Friday prayers, and they’re usually there until around 5 PM.

For weekly updates and the Google Maps link to their location, check out their Instagram account @alfarsikite

Last week I visited Failaka for the first time since a school trip back in 1989. I’ve been meaning to go back ever since, but because I get seasick, I kept putting it off. A few months ago though, my wife and I got accepted into the Failaka Institute for Knowledge and Arts Research (FIKAR) residency program, and that was the push I needed to finally go back.

FIKAR is a space dedicated to artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, and researchers who want to explore and celebrate the history and stories of Failaka. I first found out about it when I met the founder (Sulayman Al Bassam) a few years ago and they’re now in season 3 which I’m excited to be part of.

For anyone who wants to visit Failaka but isn’t sure what to expect or even how to get there, I wanted to quickly share my experience.

Transport
I’d recommend taking your car since Failaka is big and you’re not going to be able to explore all of it on foot. You can walk around some of the abandoned buildings and visit an archaeological site, but not much else. There are two car ferry operators, Joan alKuwait and Ikarus Marine. I went with Joan since I was taking my dog and Ikarus doesn’t allow pets. The cost was KD30 for a round trip including the car and driver, and additional passengers are KD10 each.

Things to do
Once you get to the island you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a post-apocalyptic movie scene. Imagine an abandoned neighborhood with no people, cars left decaying in driveways, and empty destroyed homes slowly being taken over by nature. I loved it.

Other than exploring the abandoned buildings, there’s a museum on the island with archaeological sites you can visit. We drove out to a live archaeological site in the middle of the island, and an archaeologist there was nice enough to give us a tour. There’s also Wanasa Beach, which has a restaurant and a place to rent bicycles and kayaks. And that’s pretty much it. One night is all you need on the island.

Stay
We stayed at FIKAR, but there are small houses you can rent and hotel rooms in the Heritage Village which you can book through Ikarus.

Finally, there is 5G service on the island, two bakalas and a gas station. If you have any question or curiosities let me know in the comments.

A new building mural has popped up in the city by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters as part of their “Al Fenn Al Thalith Murals Project” (roughly translated as “The Third Art Murals Project”). The mural was created in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Kuwait and is a collab between Canadian artist Bryan Beyung and Kuwaiti artist Yousef Saleh. Implemented with the assistance of artist Laila Naseeb.

According to the artists, the mural explores water as a connective force between cultures, drawing inspiration from the Kuwaiti film Bas Ya Bahar and the world of the pearl diver. Scenes like a father and daughter ice fishing, shared marine species, and symbolic elements such as stamps, seashells, and Kuwait’s Arfaj flower highlight themes of home, memory, and exchange, while flowing calligraphy ties everything together and emphasizes movement, resilience, and the way water carries stories across places and time.

This is the third mural in the Cultural Exchange Program, the first being a collaboration with the British Embassy and the second with the Australian Embassy.

If you want to check out the mural it’s located in Sharq, near the police station roundabout. When I passed by earlier they were adding some final touches before the official reveal. Here is the location on Google Maps.

This weekend the Grammy award winner Jon Batiste will be performing in Kuwait at JACC. The largest food festival in Kuwait is also happening, along with a bunch of other interesting events and activities.

Thursday, November 27
Kuwait International Book Fair
Murouj Market
The Avenues Shopping Marathon
Kuwait Food Festival
Literary Open Mic
Lush Fun Day
Quantum Con
Sons of Yusuf Album Drop
A Night of Short Films & Theater

Friday, November 28
Kuwait International Book Fair
Murouj Market
The Avenues Shopping Marathon
Kuwait Food Festival
Lush Fun Day
Quantum Con
Junk Journal Workshop

Saturday, November 29
Kuwait International Book Fair
Murouj Market
Finding Your Voice as a Creative
The Avenues Shopping Marathon
Kuwait Food Festival
Jon Batiste Live
Quantum Con
KTAA Winter Bazar
Kashta with Madang
Paper House Shop Launch

I just read on gulfnews.com that expats are now eligible up to 15 years. The 15 years requires expats to be investors and although they don’t mention the details I’d imagine it’s not for us normal folks. But, the article also mentions that certain expats can receive up to 10 years residency. The article doesn’t mention how just the following:

Up to 10 years for select categories
While standard residency permits may be issued for a maximum of five years, the regulations allow certain groups of expatriates to receive residency of up to 10 years, subject to meeting specific conditions set by the authorities.

Does anyone know what the conditions are to get the 10 year visa? Link

Later today I’m heading to Failaka for the first time since 1989 which is when the photo above was taken. I’m pretty excited since it’s been on my todo list for decades now but I kept putting it off mostly because I get sea sick and didn’t want to be on a boat for so long. But, a few months back I got accepted as a resident of season 3 at the Failaka Institute for Knowledge and Arts Research (FIKAR) and so I’m heading there today for my first stay. It’s a short one night stay for now just to get my bearings and then will head back for a longer visit. Already the whole process of getting there with my car was more complicated than I expected.

I was meant to be on the island from November 25 to 27 (Tuesday to Thursday). I initially contacted Ikarus Marine but turns out their car ferry is only available on weekends. I then got in touch with Joan Al Kuwait (KPTC) and they had daily ferries so decided to go with them. I was supposed to leave yesterday but yesterday’s ferry got canceled. So I moved my stay to 26 to 28 (Wednesday to Friday). When I went to book the ticket yesterday turns out they have daily ferries except for Friday. So now I’m just staying a night which is fine but yeah, if you want to head there with your car it’s a bit more complicated then it should be.

One interesting point. Ikarus doesn’t allow pets onboard while Joan do as long as they stay in the car. So if you want to take your dog to Failaka you can with the Joan ferry.

Anyway, if you’re curious about anything to do with Failaka let me know and I’ll try to get the answers for you.

On a side note, the only memory I have of the island involves the Philips Moving Sound walkman I had with me on the trip. The walkman has a speaker so you can listen to music with friends without headphones and I remember I was on small metal watch tower of a sort listening to music with the walkman with a couple of friends who were on the trip with me. I have four of those walkmans (don’t ask) and so gonna have to take one with me and try to find that spot on Failaka if it’s still there.

Mr Baker is probably everyone’s favorite cake shop brand. I personally love their eclairs and tend to have them a couple of times a month when we get Mr Baker cakes for Friday lunch. Last week they shared with me their new Tea Cake collection with a campaign inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

The idea behind the collection is to make tea time feel a bit more magical. They’ve created over ten different “Tea Cake families,” each one built around a specific origin or purpose. The traditional family includes the classics we all grew up with in Kuwait like Rahash and Girs Ogaili, while the international family features cakes inspired by favorites from around the world such as Victorian cake, honey cake, coconut and fudge.

Some of the families are more about convenience. The bites family is made up of smaller cakes for anyone who prefers lighter portions, while the Tea Cake Baskets are curated mini selections that work perfectly when you’re visiting a small group or hosting a quick gathering.

The whole collection is meant to give you options depending on what you’re in the mood for, whether you want something nostalgic, something international, or something easy to share.

You can order everything through their newly launched website with delivery across Kuwait, or pass by any of their shops and choose from the display. For more photos, head over to @mrbakerkwt

Yesterday Leica officially opened its first store in Kuwait at 360 Mall. The shop is located in the original phase of the mall near the fountain outside Bloomingdales. It’s a small space that looks like a pop-up, but I think it works really well for them. The photographer Jassim Ahmed Almuhanna (@jassimpix) took some cool photos during the opening, which I’ve shared on Instagram.

Boushahri Group were the local Leica dealers previously but the brand is now with the Qatari luxury group Ali Bin Ali. The store is open daily from 10AM to 10PM and until 11PM on weekends. @leicastorekwt

Thanksgiving is coming up so I put together two lists: one for restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner, and another for spots offering Thanksgiving meals to take home.

This year there are a bit more places offering dine in, but in case I missed a spot just let me know in the comments.

Dine In

Crowne Plaza
Rib Eye Steak House – KD 14 per person

Holiday Inn & Suites
Al Diwan Terrace – KD 13.9 per person

Park Inn By Radisson
Al Maha Restaurant – KD 10 per person

Radisson Blu Hotel
Al Bustan Restaurant – KD 19.5 per person

Symphony Style Hotel
Cucina Restaurant – KD 18 per person

Waldorf Astoria
AVA Restaurant – KD 26 per person

To Order

Baker & Spice
Four Seasons Hotel
Madison & Heig
Holiday Inn & Suites
Oak and Smoke
Paul
Radisson Blu Hotel
Santolina at SVN
Sawsan
Symphony Style Hotel
The St. Regis

Photo from Four Seasons Hotel

A friend of mine shared this link with me which is basically a search engine for all the books available at the book fair. I’m actually surprised that it exists because not only will it tell you if the book is at the book fair, it can also let you know which hall, which stall and the price.

That’s super cool, check it out here.

Thanks Forzaq8!

Over the weekend I was invited to Sahara Arena, a new upcoming area of Sahara Resort. I wasn’t there to check out the arena itself, which is still in the early stages of construction, but to get a sneak peek at a new pop-up called The Diwaniya Show.

The Diwaniya Show is being described as Kuwait’s first dining show to feature a full Broadway style production. It’s a project created through a collaboration between three local brands: the creative agency Beattie+Dane, the production company Massive Content, and Seazan, the team behind the Melenzane By the Sea experiences. With all three teams involved, you can expect the same elevated experience they’ve become known for with their previous projects.

Similar to the previous By the Sea experiences, The Diwaniya Show is a large installation that’s being built from the ground up. They took over a large section of the Sahara Golf Resort and built a large theater along with an outdoor retail and entertainment space that overlooks a beautiful artificial lake and the golf course’s green hills.

The idea behind this year’s experience is to give guests an immersive evening where the storytelling, music, and performances all take place just a few steps from their dinner table. There will be two daily shows with dinner, running five days a week. Although it might not look like it from the photos, The Diwaniya Show is expected to open at the end of this month. They just launched their Instagram account, so if you want to stay posted, head over to @aldiwaniyashow

For more photos, click here.

Soundstorm, MDLBEAST’s flagship festival, is the largest electronic music event in the region and has been held annually in Riyadh since 2019. I remember the first time I heard about it back then, I couldn’t believe it was happening in Saudi since they were just starting to open up and the event was bigger than anything I had seen in the region at the time. Since then Soundstorm has kept growing, with last year attracting over 450,000 visitors, and this year they’re going even bigger.

Soundstorm 2025 will have a lineup of over 200 artists with some huge names including Post Malone, Benson Boone, Cardi B, Metro Boomin, DJ Snake, Halsey, Major Lazer, Pitbull, Calvin Harris, and many more.

This year they’re also unveiling a totally new experience with a revamped festival site and brand new stage designs. Riyadh’s downtown area will be completely redesigned and the site will be divided into 4 districts with a total of 14 stages.

Soundstorm 2025 is taking place in Riyadh over three days from December 11th to 13th. Tickets are on sale now at mdlbeast.com. For more info along with the full lineup, head over to the website or their Instagram @mdlbeast.