Author: Mark

Yesterday I got a phone call asking if I’d like a sneak peek at Wingstop. Obviously, I said yes. So I headed there earlier today and gathered as much info as I could about the opening. Here’s everything you need to know.

Opening Date
Wingstop Kuwait will be opening on the first day of Eid.

Locations
They’re launching two locations at the same time, the main flagship store in Bida’a and a second store on Salmiya’s Baghdad Street, across from Dodo and LaBaguette.

Opening Hours
During Eid they will be opening from 11AM to 1AM. Both locations.

Menu
Because they’re expecting a large crowd, the launch menu will be streamlined for efficiency. During this initial phase, they’ll offer Classic Wings, Boneless Wings, and Tender, but items like the Chicken Burger and Milkshakes won’t be available yet.

Flavors
All 10 Wingstop flavors will be available at launch.

Prices
The menu prices are currently being finalized but I should have them by tomorrow. Once I get them I’ll update this section to include them so check back again.

Update: Here are the prices:

Wings 6 pieces – 2.450KD
Boneless Wings 6 pieces – 2.450KD
Tenders 3 pieces – 2.450KD
Regular Fries – 1.100KD
Large Fries – 1.500KD
Loaded Buffalo Ranch Fries – 1.900KD
Loaded Voodoo Fries – 1.900KD
Loaded Cheese Fries – 1.800KD
Soda – 1.000KD

Seating
Both the Bida’a and Salmiya locations will have indoor seating. I didn’t get to see the Salmiya location but the Bida’a one is fairly large with plenty of seating spread out over two floors.

Pictures of the food will probably start popping up online tomorrow since they’re soft launching for family and friends over the next few days.

If there is any info you want to know which I didn’t include, let me know in the comments. For more photos, head over to my instagram.

Their official Instagram account is @wingstopkuwait if you want to follow them.

I’m a huge fan of Ai and its potential, so when I heard about Bee and saw the price, I knew I had to try it. Even though reviews weren’t that great, the idea of Bee intrigued me and it was only $49, so not really a huge investment. I figured it was worth getting just to play around with especially since there wasn’t a monthly subscription or anything additional to the $49 I needed to pay for. I’ve had it now for a couple of weeks and my first impression, I really like it, well the idea of it at least.

Bee Ai is basically two things, a mic you wear on your wrist like a Fitbit, or you can clip it onto your shirt. The second part to Bee is the software. The Bee mic constantly records everything around you and the software with Ai keeps track of everything for you. So for example, I went to Xcite last week to check up on some Dyson vacuum cleaners. The next day I asked Bee “How much did the guy say the Dyson vacuum was?”. Bee responded telling me the price of the handheld model I asked about and the larger model. It’s like ChatGPT but for my real life in a way.

But, Bee is also totally unreliable at the same time. It can’t tell the difference between a real conversation I’m having with an Xcite employee, or me watching an episode of White Lotus. It’s really unreliable, but also so accurate and great at the same time which is why I’m loving Bee more than hating it. When it gives me summaries of my day it’s generally accurate and the way it words it makes me feel good about the day, like I did so much and it was epic.

When Bee gives me suggestions to add to my to do list they’re usually very accurate. Actually, more like wow how did it know that kind of accurate. Like Bee knows I have a dog called August, it understood I was trying to teach my dog tricks and my dog was struggling. So Bee added the following to my suggested to do list:

I was talking to a friend about one of my cars and an interior trim piece I needed to get, Bee added it to my suggested to do list.

I had a conversation with another dog owner about the possibility of getting a second dog. I didn’t know the dog owners name at the time but Bee still added the reminder for me to follow up with Waldo’s owner about the potential of getting a puppy. Bee did’t know the name of the person but recognized that the owner has a dog called Waldo and so referred to them that way. Thats common sense smart.

It’s actually a bit unreal how smart (and how stupid) Bee can be. It’s still too early for it to be really useful, but the potential down the line, it’s similar to the Apple Vision Pro, like you need to think much further down the line with improvement in technology and abilities. The idea of having basically an Ai assistant taking notes down for you throughout the day has so much potential, an Ai memory. I already use the blog as my digital memory, especially since back in the day I used to share more personal stuff here, but now something like Bee can become my real world memory. I mean it even recognized that on Sunday the talk of the day was the Ya Hala drama.

If you want to try Bee out, they just started shipping their 3rd batch. Here is the link to their website.

Scrolling through the Instagram account @kap.posters, you’d think you’ve stumbled upon retro blueprints from Kuwait’s golden era of architecture. But what you’re actually seeing is the creative work of Ahmed Safer, an architect and visual artist who creates digital posters of Kuwait’s architectural landmarks.

Kuwait’s modern architectural identity began to take shape in the aftermath of 1946, the year crude oil exports first took off. With newfound wealth, Kuwait became a melting pot of global influences. Western art, literature, technology, and architecture poured in. Brutalism and Modernism, the global architectural trends of the time, found a strong foothold here, and Kuwait embraced it. A wide spectrum of structures were constructed, everything from massive rigid buildings, to colorful and playful villas all reflected this new wave of architecture that defined the 50s through the 80s.

But now, a lot of those buildings are being demolished, and that entire era is disappearing.

KAP Posters is a visual archive, a growing collection of digital illustrations that pay tribute to Kuwait’s architectural gems. These aren’t just digital sketches though. Because Ahmed is an architect, he approaches each building with discipline, precision, and care. He told me he tries to be as accurate and original as possible with his illustrations. He doesn’t draw building extensions or alterations for example. His illustration of the National Council for Culture, Arts & Literature (NCCAL) building for example (above) took 12 days to complete because he had to replicate the exact same number of tiles on the building.

His whole process actually starts with a lot of research, scanning old books, digging through the internet, or photographing buildings in person, often with a drone. He then corrects distortions and stitches the reference images together in Photoshop. Only after that does he start tracing, layering, coloring, and adding subtle details.

KAP Posters isn’t just an art account, it’s turning into a time capsule. If you’re interested in Kuwait’s old architecture then check it out. @kap.posters

Earlier this week I got back from an incredible 8-day trip to Morocco. I flew direct from Kuwait to Casablanca with Kuwait Airways, rented a car, and drove to Marrakech. It was my second time there, and it’s definitely a city I’d recommend visiting. There’s so much to see and do, so I wanted to share my list of lesser-known spots to add to your Marrakech itinerary:

Eat
My favorite restaurants were Plus61 and Grand Café de la Poste, both located in the trendy Gueliz area. I also had really good meals at Le Petit Cornichon and Blue Ribbon, and on my previous trip I liked the upscale traditional experience of Le Tobsil. One place I wanted to visit but didn’t because they were fully booked was Sahbi Sahbi. I also missed out on lunch at Farasha Farmhouse since it rained the day I was planning to go.

Drink
Thirty5ive and Blue Ribbon were my two favorite coffee spots. Blue Ribbon also has great banana bread, plus the added bonus of serving breakfast and lunch. While having lunch at Royal Mansour, I saw people having Afternoon Tea and it looked great. I didn’t try it, but the hotel is beautiful and worth a visit.

See
Head to LRNCE for ceramics, Magasin Général for vintage furniture, and Marrakshi Life for handwoven garments and atelier tour. MORO have an interesting concept store and Studio Sana Benzaitar have beautiful carpets. For art, visit Loft Art Gallery, MACAAL and Le Monde des Arts de la Parure. If you’re looking for a less crowded alternative to Jardin Majorelle, check out CACTUS THIEMANN.

Sleep
I stayed inside the old Medina on both trips, and both times at Riad Mena. I can’t imagine staying anywhere else. Their Grand Suite is huge, and the riad itself is beautiful and super chill. The team is also really friendly—I’d stay there again if I go back. My plan B was Maison Brummell Majorelle.

For my previous travel guides, click here.

The World Happiness Report 2025 is out and Kuwait has dropped out of the top 20 list. Last year, Kuwait was the 13th happiest country in the world, but this year, it has dropped to 30th. I think the lowest Kuwait ever ranked was 48, while 30-34 is where it usually ranks. Last year was the highest spot Kuwait ever hit but sadly it didn’t last long.

The results are based on surveys from people in more than 140 countries who are answering questions regarding their overall satisfaction with their lives. The study also takes into account six key variables including GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity and corruption.

The top three happiest countries in the world haven’t changed since last year. It’s still:

1- Finland
2- Denmark
3- Iceland

The happiest country in the Gulf is UAE coming in 21st place. For the full report, click here.

According to a contact of mine, Wingstop, the popular chicken wings chain will be opening in less than two weeks!

They have two locations under construction, but the one in Bid’a will be the one opening first. The second location in Salmiya will open at a later date.

Their Instagram account is now active as well so if you want to stay posted on their opening follow them @wingstopkuwait

Back in November I posted a 6 months later update on my Apple Vision Pro and I mentioned my usage dropped considerably since I first got it. That is still the case now, maybe more so even. Basically, I tend to mostly use the AVP whenever Apple releases a new immersive video, or someone releases an app or game that is a unique experience that can only be experienced on the AVP.

Recently, Apple released a Metallica immersive concert for the AVP and I watched it last night and wow.

Firstly, I like Metallica. I was actually going to their concert back in 2017 when I was in LA and I chose to miss it because I was at the beach with family and friends and was having too good a time to want to leave. I don’t regret missing the concert, well maybe just a bit, but I do wish I had gotten to see them live.

This immersive video is like the next best thing to actually being at the live concert. It’s hard to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced any Apple Vision Pro immersive content, but it really makes you feel like you’re there. The video is around 20 minutes long and I think it covered 3 or 4 songs tops. The perspective changes, sometimes you’re right in front of James Hetfield as he’s screaming into the mic, sometimes you’re with Lars at the drums, sometimes you’re watching from the top of the stadium or down in front of the crowd. It’s all 3D of course, and it’s all in Apple’s immersive 180-degree 8K video format.

I’ve never experienced Enter Sandman the same way as I did watching them perform it live last night. I really really loved it and it’s just another preview of what’s to come years down the line when AR/VR goggles/glasses become more affordable, accessible and common.

It’s another perfect example of what I was saying back in November, the AVP is really just a technology preview of things that will come in the future. No one should really buy one unless they have extra cash lying around, but it’s definitely something people should experience if they have the opportunity to.

The Expat City Ranking for 2024 by InterNations is out and Kuwait is back to being the least friendly for expats. According to InterNations, Kuwait has constantly placed in the bottom 10 since the list started all the way back in 2014:

As in 2023, Kuwait ranks last (53rd out of 53 countries) in the Ease of Settling In Index. In fact, it has consistently placed in the bottom 10 since the first year of the survey in 2014.

Only about a quarter of expats in Kuwait (26%) feel welcome there (vs. 63% globally). Rather, around half don’t feel at home in the country (49% vs. 23% globally) and say it’s difficult to get used to the local culture (47% vs. 21% globally). Expats rank Kuwait dead last when it comes to Local Friendliness (53rd), and less than a quarter (22%) are happy with their social life there (vs. 52% globally).

And although 57% of respondents in Kuwait say they’ve already been there for five years or more (vs. 48% globally), the majority (53%) is still only friends with fellow expats (vs. 37% globally). This is possibly because making local friends is difficult: over three in five expats (61%) agree, 20 percentage points more than the global average of 41%.

Costa Rica on the other hand was ranked the friendliest place for expats in 2024. For the full list and more details, click here.

If you look at a KD20 note, you’ll notice a dhow on it. That’s Al-Ghazeer, and I recently found out the story behind it. The illustration on the KD20 was also based on the image used in this post.

This story starts with Mohammad Al-Maskati. Mohammad started sailing at the age of 6 as a Tabab (helper) on pearl-diving vessels, working unpaid while learning the trade. By ten, he was promoted to Rathif (diver’s assistant), earning a small share of profits. Three years later, he became a Ghais (diver) but later moved to trading vessels.

Mohammad joined a trading dhow as a seaman transporting dates and cargo from Basra to India. Within two years, he was entrusted with steering the vessel. Mohammad worked as the Assistant to the Nokhada (Captain) until 1949.

In 1953, Mohammad was appointed as the honorary Nokhada of the fleet belonging to Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the future Amir. He also began to utilize his experience and contacts in India within the shipbuilding industry. Over a period of years, Mohammad built 20 ships which he sailed back to Kuwait and the region to sell.

In the 1960s, Mohammad Al-Maskati began working with businessman Husain Marafie. Their relationship proved pivotal, as in the 70s, Marafie enlisted Al-Maskati to build a dhow that would serve as a restaurant for a 5-star hotel he and his family were developing, which later became the SAS/Radisson. The dhow was named Mohammadi II, after Hussain Marafie’s grandfather’s 1916 vessel, Mohammedi I. It was completed in 1979 and became the Al Boom Restaurant in 1982. While building Mohammadi II, there was enough spare wood to build another dhow so Al-Ghazeer was built and completed in 1983.

Husain Marafie and Al-Maskati sailed the Al-Ghazeer dhow from India to Oman, Bahrain, and finally Kuwait, where it received an enthusiastic reception in all three countries.

Al-Ghazeer was later featured on the back of the KD20 banknote as an element that alludes to Kuwait’s rich economic and commercial history that is linked to the deep blue seas.

For the source and more details on this subject, click here.

Note: The post has been updated with additional information since initially publishing.

Thursday, March 13
Gergean at Boulevard Mall
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at Gate Mall
Gergean at the Scientific Center
The Gergean Walk
Gergean at Promenade
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Kout Mall
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean in the South
Gergean Ya Hala

Friday, March 14
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at 360
Gergean at the Scientific Center
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Kout Mall
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean in the South
Gergean Ya Hala

Saturday, March 15
Gergean at Alandalus
Gergean at 360
Gergean at Kland
Gergean at Al Hamra Mall
Gergean Ya Hala

Gravity coffee shop recently reopened its newly redesigned shop in Seaview Mall, Abu Hulaifah. The interior was designed by Studio Nama, the same studio behind the new Matchbox at JACC, which I also love and highlighted back in December.

The main design concept of Gravity aims to accommodate both individuals seeking quiet moments and larger groups looking for communal interactions.

What caught my attention was the contrast between the different materials, colors, and textures used to give this space its unique look. I also love how the space has so many layers and nooks—plus, I’m a sucker for chocolate brown velvet sofas. Studio Nama deliberately created a variety of seating options, from sofas to casual tables with chairs to platform cushions for a more informal feel. It’s because of these different arrangements, the space can accommodate both solitary visitors and larger groups.

If you want to see more photos of the space as well as other work by Studio Nama, click here.

Photos by @mashkanani

Just a quick update to my T4 post from a few days ago. As I mentioned, Pret A Manger already has their ‘coming soon’ hoarding up, but I also found out about a few other places opening. Here’s the list of what’s coming soon so far:

• Bartone (Airside)
• Caribou (Airside & Landside)
• Ole (Landside)
• Pick (Airside)
• Pret A Manger (Airside)

If you’re flying out during Eid and notice a bunch of places shut down, well, now you know why.

While going through Ghazi Sultan’s photography archive, I came across a photo of the Seif Palace clock tower under construction. I don’t recall ever seeing photos of Seif Palace being built, especially the clock tower. When I previously posted about the clock’s history, I searched but couldn’t find any images of it during construction, which is why I found this simple photo so interesting.

Seif Palace was originally built in 1904, but over the years it was renovated and expanded a number of times. In the 1960s, as part of the second expansion, a new building was constructed which was characterized by a high tower that ended in a gold-plated dome with a clock. Construction of the expansion was completed in 1964.

The Seif Palace clock which was engineered by the UK based clockmakers Smith of Derby, was installed in January 1962. This means this photo was most likely taken between 1962 and 1964.

Ok this is an update to my 2024 post, “Everything that is closed in Kuwait Airways Terminal 4“. Here are the restaurants and coffee shops that are still operating as of March 2025:

• McDonalds
• Raising Cane’s
• Shake Shack

And that’s it. Everything else has closed down including Starbucks. On the bright side, Pret A Manger is opening up where the Shake Shack seating area used to be.

I was out of town last week so didn’t really watch much TV except on the plane ride. I finally got around to watching Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and it was as slow and epic as you would expect from a long Kevin Costner film (think The Postman). I really liked it but I’m a huge fan of his storytelling and directing (I’m a huge fan of Waterworld and The Postman).

Other than that I binge watched High Potential since I was behind on it and caught up to season 3 of Reacher.

Have you watched anything interesting lately? Let us know in the comments.

Movies at the Cinemas
The movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:

Other Movies Showing:
A Complete Unknown (7.7)
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (7.1)
Captain America: Brave New World (5.9)
Cellphone (3.0)
Cleaner (4.9)
Den of Thieves 2 (6.6)
Dog Man (8.4)
Flight Risk (5.6)
Moana 2 (7.1)
Mom (5.4)
Mufasa: The Lion King (6.7)
Outbreak (4.5)
Paddington in Peru (6.8)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (7.5)
The Bayou (4.9)
Wow! (5.4)

The numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at the time of publishing.