Category: Gossip & Rumors

Remember when back in February there were rumors floating around that internet providers would start implementing download limits? Back then I spoke to Qualitynet support and was assured that “I could relax and download the whole Internet if I wanted to and I would be fine”. Then, two weeks ago when they added the fine print on their DSL page saying “Terms and Condition & Fair Usage Policy Apply” I called them up again. Support told me this was just a temporary issue because of a cable cut.

But now it seems they’ve changed their stance on this sensitive subject. I just called them up and they told me that even though they still haven’t received an official letter from management with details on what the limits are going to be, we should expect that there will be a limit in place soon.

Unconfirmed user reports have placed the limits as the following:

– 2MB DSL users will have 2.8GB daily limit, 19GB weekly limit or 85GB monthly. Once you surpass your limit your connection speed will drop to 512KB.

– 4MB DSL subscribers, one subscriber says Qualitynet told him they will be limited to 139GB a month while another said Qualitynet told him it’s 85GB as well.

Not sure what to say about this, I find this a bit depressing. Please Qualitynet don’t cap our bandwidth!

Note: ALL ISP’s in Kuwait will be applying caps, it’s not just Qualitynet.

Update: According to a reader in the forum KEMS will start watching for bandwidth abusers starting tomorrow. They won’t be setting a cap but if they notice a user abusing their bandwidth then those users would have a cap applied. The reader couldn’t get an exact figure from the KEMS support guy on what counts as abuse.

Update2: I just got an email telling me about a NEW internet provider called Mada. They are offering WiMax, 10Mbps in Salmiya area (I guess might be higher or lower other areas), NO DOWNLOAD CAP and it’s KD60 for 3 months. They have a booth at Marina Mall. I was there last night actually and saw the booth but didn’t know what it was. This is their website [Link]

I just heard awhile ago from a source that Tesco and Sultan Center have just worked out a deal where Tesco will supply Sultan Center with an extensive range of British lines. This will include Tesco products and British brands that are not yet available in the region. I don’t know how reliable this source is so count this information as a rumor for now but if it is true it contradicts my previous post in which I said that Alshaya was bringing Tesco to Kuwait. Or maybe both things can happen?

Paris Hilton has a reality show called My New BFF which I’ve watched once before by mistake. The show is about Paris Hilton looking for a new best friend and it involves a bunch of guys and girls all trying out for that position. Well the show has now moved to Dubai and one of the contestants is a Kuwaiti girl called Reem Al Alnezi (pictured above). The Dubai version of the show doesn’t have any male contestants which means I am not in the running to be Paris Hilton’s best friend. That’s ok though since the only thing we had in common anyway was our love for Hardees.

Here is a link to photos from My New BFF Dubai [Link]

Thanks Fatemah

Kuwait’s being mentioned on a bunch of celebrity gossip sites because of a Rihanna ad that got censored here. Funny. [Link]

Apparently it all started from [Here]

Back in November I posted about how Quiznos is coming back to Kuwait and that their first branch was going to open up in January. January came and went and I had completely forgotten to check if it had opened or not. Tonight though while walking in Salmiya I spotted their new branch but it still hadn’t opened yet. But it looks like its going to be opening up pretty soon.

Update: Forgot to mention the location is right behind Olympia Mall

Ok so maybe it’s not such a slow day after all. I just found out a few minutes ago that the UK giant supermarket chain Tesco is coming to Kuwait. Can you figure out who’s bringing them? If you guessed Alshaya then you’re right! No location or launch date set or at least my source isn’t aware of them as of now. Will post more information when I find out. Last time I posted about Tesco was back in 2007. I was in London and got to experience their self checkout machines which I thought were pretty cool. You could read about my experience [Here]

I just heard that there was a fire at Al Corniche Club. I am calling them to confirm but no one is picking up. Anyone have any information or pictures? [Contact Me]

Update: No one is still picking up but I found out it was a fire in the electricity room and it wasn’t that big but it temporary shutdown their electricity.

Update2: Found the picture below on twitter

Update3: Al Corniche sent out the following message to their members

Dear members we apologise to inform you that the Club is closed today due to a small fire damage. We hope to open tomorrow with limited facilities. Thank you for your cooperation!

Update4: The blog q8iblender has more pictures and information [Here]

Update5: I just heard from an Al Corniche employee that the fire wasn’t small with sections like the Men’s Spa being completely ruined.

I found out today that Hermès will be opening up their first store in Kuwait this September. The store is going to be huge and will be located at the Al Hamra Tower. I guess you should get your wish list ready come this fall…

Yesterday I was checking twitter when I read that Sylvester Stallone is going to be coming to Kuwait for the launch of Planet Hollywood. This sounded a bit déjà vu for me since back in December 2009 I posted the exact same thing but that it would open March 2010. That obviously never happened and now it seems they’re opening up this month on the 24th. If its true that Sylvester Stallone is going to be here then I really really REALLY need to meet him. First I need to get my picture taken with him for facebook, and secondly I need him to sign my Cobra DVD for me. Wish I had a Cobra poster for him to sign but I guess there is always time to order one online.

Awtar at Marina Mall got shot down by the ministry of trade and commerce which is I guess not a big deal with all the recent places that were shutdown at the free trade zone.

But one thing did grab my attention and that is the fact the closure sign says they were shut down due to cheating (if I translated it right). I wonder what they were caught doing…

Thanks Alain

Update: I got an email from the owners of Awtar explaining the reason behind the closure, turns out it’s just a technicality, here is what they had to say:

Hi mark,
Regarding your Awtar post i would like to clear it out if possible. since we as part owners were extremely surprised by the closing down of the restaurant (it will open up again any day now as soon as the paper work is done).

Turns out back in November the purchasing manager decided to purchase Sadia chicken (not kuwaiti) instead of the Kuwaiti chicken which was declared on the certificate for the ministry. A representative showed up and gave the restaurant a warning regarding this matter. Awtar took care of the issue and informed the purchaser to stick to the Kuwaiti brand of chicken as declared in the certificate. Management thought the issue was over. The right thing to do (we had to learn the hard way) was to not only switch back to the declared chicken but also go back and follow up with the ministry and get a representative to inspect this change again and clear the restaurant from any penalties. Because we didn’t do that the ministry acts only on paper work and based on their paper work Awtar didnt switch back (which is our fault we should have followed up with them) and in that case they had to shut down the store for cheating in the kind of chicken we use.
The lawyers are sorting it out i hope this was helpful

Thanks

A reader sent me an email saying that the baladia just shut down Cafe Supreme, Saso Lounge and Starbucks in the free trade zone. According to one of the restaurant managers they closed them down due to license issues. Supposedly Harbor Cafe was also closed down.

I hadn’t heard of Cookie Time until around 15 minutes ago. It seems they’re a very popular cookie chain from New Zealand who had previously held the record for the largest cookie in the world. According to an article I just read, it looks like they’re currently in negotiations to open up four stores here in Kuwait. Sounds good to me. [Link]

Just found out Alshaya are bringing IHOP to Kuwait. IHOP stands for International House of Pancakes and is an American breakfast chain. I don’t think they’re open anywhere outside of North America.

In non-food related news, Harvey Nichols will be opening their first store in Kuwait in Avenues Phase III. Originally Harvey Nichols said they were opening the store in the summer of 2011 but not sure if that’s still the case since I thought Phase III still needed more time then that to be completed.

Thanks damdy

This news hasn’t been confirmed yet but according to a reader and a contact at Alshaya, there are currently rumors circulating that Caribou Coffee (Alsayer) no longer have the rights to The Cheesecake Factory and that Alshaya are now looking to open the actual Cheesecake Factory restaurant (not just cheesecakes) and are shopping around for a location on the Gulf Road. Although its currently just a rumor it would make sense since Alshaya have been on a roll acquiring all these American chains recently (Bath & Body Works, Victorias Secret, Pottery Barn, PF Chang, Shake Shack etc..).

Speaking of Caribou Coffee, I got this in the email today which is related to [This] previous post:

Happy Thursday Kuwait! Free coffee, donuts & goodies for the first 1000 BlackBerry users today at Caribou Coffee. You can take advantage from 10am – 4pm at CBK and Al Raya AND between 4pm – 10pm at Avenues, 360, Salhiya and Al Kout. You’ll also have a chance to win a new BlackBerry, but make sure you get in early.

The beautiful new McLaren is currently being exhibited privately somewhere in Kuwait. The price starts at KD60,000 and goes up depending on the options. If anyone can get me an invite to check the car out please email me!

Update: Turns out the McLaren dealer will be Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive Company who are also the dealers for BMW, Land Rover and the Mini. The car is also currently being displayed in private at Marriott Al Raya. iLSuL6ana was lucky enough to get an invite!

Update2: Here is a video of the McLaren from todays event via iLSuL6ana

[YouTube]

Update3: And here is a picture taken by a reader