Category: Information

Lots of people have been asking me if there will be fireworks this National and Liberation Day. The answer is yes.

There are currently three confirmed fireworks shows:

Al Shaheed Park
There will be two fireworks shows at Al Shaheed Park on February 25 and 26, followed by a drone show. The shows will start sometime between 8 PM and 9 PM on both days. The duration and exact start time will depend on the weather and wind speed. There will be music throughout the entire show.

Al Mikshat
Located on the northern island of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Bridge, they are hosting what they’re calling the largest fireworks show during the holidays. It will take place on February 25 and 26.

Al Khiran Mall
If you’re spending the holiday in the chalets area, Al Khiran Mall will host a fireworks show on February 26.

Al Kout Mall
Al Kout Mall will host a fireworks show on February 25 at 8PM.

If you know of any other places with fireworks, let me know in the comments.

Last week I took a tour of the new Asnan Tower that opened a few months ago, and I was completely blown away.

Asnan Tower was established in 2008 and has since grown to become not only the largest dental center in the Middle East but also the biggest in the world. Their newly opened center is state-of-the-art, filled with the latest dental technology they could acquire. I was given a tour of not only their customer facilities but also a behind-the-scenes look at their labs and sterilization department, and it was the behind-the-scenes tour that really blew me away.

To give you an idea of the scale, the center has over 100 dental chairs! It’s huge and also feels very luxurious. I was first given a tour of the main dental rooms including their VIP rooms which are mostly used by celebrities. I was then shown the kids clinic which has a completely different fun look with games and TVs in their waiting area and colorful and playful dental rooms. But, they do have one muted room reserved for autistic children as well.

Next, we toured the behind the scenes areas. The first was their massive laboratory packed with technicians and split into specialized areas, including one focused on 3D dental printing. The second stop, and the most impressive, was their sterilization department. This area houses the center’s most expensive equipment and is split into three sealed rooms: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization. Instruments move one way through these rooms to prevent cross-contamination and ensure the highest level of infection control. It’s also all top of the line equipment.

That last line actually perfectly sums up the new Asnan Tower, it was built with the best of everything, and not just equipment. One of the things they pride themselves on is hiring American-trained dentists from top dental universities, and having at least one Ivy League alumni available in each specialty. They want customers to have a seven-star service and that’s why they need to have the best facilities and dentists.

If you want to find out more about Asnan Tower, head over to Asnan.com

Starting from June 24, Jazeera Airways will have three flights a week to Armenia. When I tried to book, return fares in the Extra category were around 120 KD because the cheaper Light option was sold out.

Armenia is a great place to visit, and it’s just a short 2-hour, 25-minute flight away. I once drove to Armenia from Tbilisi and have been meaning to go back since I had a great time there. In 2023, the Armenian national carrier Fly Arna started flying directly to Kuwait, but they canceled the route a few months later due to lack of interest.

Hopefully, Jazeera doesn’t do the same, although their press release states this is a seasonal route, not a year-round one.

Yesterday morning, workers removed all the plastic barriers along the second phase of the Gulf Road waterfront project that starts at the SVN resort and extends to the Green Island. With the barriers gone, the waterfront is now open to the public, making it accessible to both runners and cyclists.

Similar to the first phase, the waterfront was given a complete facelift with new sidewalks, dedicated jogging and bicycle paths, as well as new lights, bins, benches and more.

The total length of the bike lanes and running track from SVN to just past the Kuwait Towers is now around 7.5KM. I used to love riding that route since it was a great workout, so I’m glad they opened it while the weather is still good.

The Kuwait Annual International Camel Racing Championship is back, taking place from February 20 to 25, 2025 at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, bringing participants from GCC countries, the Arab world, and even Europe.

This year will mark the 23rd edition of the championship which has become an important event in Kuwait’s sporting and cultural calendar. The races bring people together from different backgrounds and have become a celebration of heritage, competition, and tradition.

Race Schedule – Kuwait Camel Racing Championship 2025
Location: Kuwait Camel Racing Club
Dates: February 20 – 25, 2025

Day 1 – Thursday, February 20, 2025

Morning Races (8:00 AM) – 4 KM
Evening Races (3:00 PM) – 4 KM

Day 2 – Friday, February 21, 2025
Morning Races (8:00 AM) – 5 KM
Evening Races (2:00 PM) – 5 KM

Day 3 – Saturday, February 22, 2025
Morning Races (8:00 AM) – 6 KM
Evening Races (1:00 PM) – 6 KM

Day 4 – Sunday, February 23, 2025
Morning Races (8:00 AM) – 8 KM
Evening Races (1:00 PM) – 8 KM

Day 5 – Monday, February 24, 2025
Morning Races (8:00 AM) – 8 KM
Evening Races (1:00 PM) – 8 KM

Day 6 – Tuesday, February 25, 2025 (Final Day)
Main Championship Races (2:30 PM) – 8 KM

If you’ve never been to a camel race before then this is a good time to do so. Entry is free and you can find the location on Google Maps by searching for “Kuwait Camel Racing Club“.

Last night Forbes Middle East revealed their annual list of Middle East’s 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen and 7 businesswomen from Kuwait made the list for 2025. Similar to last year, what is really impressive is that 3 of the top 5 most powerful businesswomen are Kuwaiti.

Here are the most powerful women in Kuwait:

2. Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar
National Bank of Kuwait Group (NBK Group)

4. Wadha Ahmad Al-Khateeb
Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC)

5. Dana Nasser Al Sabah
Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) – KIPCO

17. Nadia Bader Al-Hajji
Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC)

22. Henadi Al-Saleh
Agility

54. Elham Mahfouz
Commercial Bank of Kuwait (Al-Tijari)

58. Donna Sultan
KEO International Consultants

Forbes considered the following when creating their list:

• The impact that the leader has had on the region and the markets that she serves.
• The achievements and performance of the leader during the last year.
• Their role within the company.
• The size of the business in terms of revenues, assets, AUM, market capitalization, and number of employees.
• Sustainability and CSR initiatives.
• Years of industry experience and the time the leader has served in their current role.
• The other roles they currently hold.
• Leaders of family businesses were excluded.

For the full top 100 list, click here.

Looks like the AC issue at the Kuwait National Planetarium is fixed since they reopened to the public again yesterday. Visitors can now watch five daily shows from Monday to Thursday at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.

Kuwait’s planetarium was one of the first in the Gulf Region and originally opened back in 1986. The technology at the planetarium has recently been fully upgraded with a new system consisting of nine 4K video projectors, new computer technology and an upgraded sound system. But, at the heart of the planetarium is the unique Zeiss STARMASTER projection system. Only 19 of these STARMASTER projection systems are installed worldwide and they’re known for providing a very realistic starry sky.

The planetarium is located on the Gulf Road, opposite Seef Palace and is part of the Kuwait National Museum.

Entrance to the planetarium is free. For the schedule and info on the shows, click here.

I try not to post too many food posts back to back, but this one couldn’t wait. According to a source of mine, La Petite Maison (LPM), the popular high-end French Mediterranean restaurant, is planning to open in Kuwait. Supposedly, the same company that brought Beefbar, Ferdi, and Philippe by Philippe Chow to Kuwait is now bringing LPM.

Since opening in London in 2007, LPM has expanded to 10 locations worldwide, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, and Doha.

I reached out to both parties for confirmation. The Kuwait-based company told me they’d update me in a couple of weeks, while LPM said they can’t confirm anything for Kuwait just yet.

“Just yet” sounds promising, so hopefully, an official announcement is coming soon. For now, I’ve filed this under a rumor. @lpmrestaurants

Update: According to a reader who just messaged me, looks like LPM are coming to Kuwait because they were in negotiations for a seaside location.

Lil Baby App is a new approach to parenting, designed to make life easier for parents. The Kuwait-based app, created by a pediatrician, offers the ability to create regular orders for baby supplies and subscription boxes for essentials like milk, diapers, wipes, and snacks. Orders can be placed for fast delivery or scheduled in advance, with free delivery for next-day orders.
 
There are several advantages to using Lil Baby including:
 
Prices & Subscription Packages
For both regular orders as well as subscriptions, the prices on the app are often more affordable than those found in supermarkets. Additionally, the app offers further savings through subscription packages. For instance, instead of buying diapers weekly, you can set up a one-month subscription and enjoy a discounted rate when paying upfront. These subscription packages are not only cost-effective but also convenient as they eliminate the need to repeatedly order the same items.
 

Free Delivery
If you need your items urgently, they can be delivered within 45 minutes for a nominal fee. However, if you don’t mind waiting until the next day, delivery is completely free.
 
Items Availability
As a parent you’ve likely faced situations where a supermarket or delivery app didn’t have your preferred diaper size, your baby’s milk brand, or their favorite snacks in stock. Lil Baby understands these frustrations, which is why they make it a priority to keep every brand, item, and size available always, ensuring you never have to deal with that inconvenience.
 
Customer Service
The owner grew up ordering from online brands like Amazon, where he experienced top-notch customer service. Inspired by them, he made customer satisfaction one of Lil Baby’s utmost priorities.

Finally, what truly sets this app apart is the added value of having a pediatrician providing informed medical guidance. For instance, you won’t find cough syrups for sale in the app but instead a message from the American Academy of Pediatrics on why that is the case. Additionally, the app features an ‘Activity’ category where Dr. Abdallah shares insightful news and articles related to parenting and childcare.
 
For more info head to @lilbabykw

Ya Hala, the biggest shopping festival in Kuwait’s history, kicked off a few days ago. I was at The Avenues and noticed tons of shops offering discounts. It’s super easy to tell which ones are participating in the festival by the Ya Hala stickers stuck outside on their displays.

For the next ten weeks, every 10 dinars you spend will earn you a coupon for a draw. Each week, you could win one of 12 cars or a share of $100,000, divided among 100 winners.

Stay updated on the festival by following @yahalakuwait and @whatsonyahala

According to my TikTok feed which has become pretty weird recently, making charms is a really popular new trend. This fun activity that has recently gained popularity abroad has now popped up in Kuwait.

For those unfamiliar with charm making, it’s a creative process where you design and assemble personalized jewelry pieces like bracelets, necklaces, or keychains.

Charm Studio is a local small business that started back in October by Fajer Al Owaish who wanted to re-create this existing concept here in Kuwait. Back in high school she used to make charms and jewelry using beads and other accessories, and then sell them to classmates as a side hustle. It’s something she’s always been passionate about, which is why she was able to turn it into a success so quickly.

If you’re looking for something fun to do, she has a few workshops coming up, including one this weekend at the trendy sneaker shop @solelabkw. You can check out her Instagram for more details @charmstudiokw

When I first found out that AlSadu Society was partnering up with Kuwait Foundation for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Al-Mawashi to open up SOOF, a wool mill, I was very intrigued. Where wool came from wasn’t something I ever thought of, and the more I learned about the project, the more fascinated I became with it.

Up until now, Kuwait imported its wool. You’d think with Kuwait’s history with wool, all the Sadu weaving, the bedouin tents, and all the sheep in the market that a wool mill was something that already existed, but it didn’t. Not only that, but from what I was told, SOOF is the first wool mill in the GCC which is crazy when you think about it.

Previously, all the wool from the locally slaughtered sheep was discarded.Although wool had value, locally the sheep’s fleece was mostly considered to be a waste product and so handing and disposing of it was seen as an inconvenience.

SOOF was created to provide a sustainable source of processed wool locally, and also to help preserve the cultural heritage. I passed by their first mill location in Kuwait yesterday, and was pretty surprised at how compact and simple the setup was. The mill was located inside Al-Mawashi slaughterhouse in Al-Rai, and the plan is to eventually have more of these wool mills in slaughterhouses around the country.

If all this wasn’t impressive enough, SOOF is also prioritizing eco-friendly practices in every step of the processing chain. The wool is sourced from local sheep and the organic dyes from natural sources such as plants. They use sustainable energy from solar panels, and the wastewater from washing and dyeing wool is treated and then reused for plant irrigation. It’s really impressive.

The wool produced will be used at AlSadu House for weaving, and will also be available for the public to purchase. It will initially be available online and then eventually in the physical store at AlSadu. The first batch already sold out yesterday, but more wool will be available again soon. If you want to find out more about this project, visit their website soof.alsadu.org.kw or follow them @soofbyalsadu

Alan Yau, the restaurateur behind popular brands like Wagamama, Hakkasan, and Princi, is launching a new Asian concept in Kuwait called Solange.

Having flown in and out of Kuwait multiple of times since 2011, Alan is well-acquainted with the market. He also has a strong relationship with Nejoud, the company behind % Arabica and Mr Holmes in Kuwait, which led to this collaboration. After surveying the market, they identified a gap in premium Chinese dining and decided to launch a concept that perfectly fits with Alan’s expertise.

I got a sneak peek earlier today and was blown away by the interior. As soon as I walked into the space I took out my camera and started snapping photos. The restaurant gives off Moulin Rouge vibes, with a stage featuring a grand piano for live music and cozy booths all around.

There’s also a spacious private room in the back with it’s own private access, a chef’s table in the kitchen, and even a bar serving non-alcoholic cocktails. I didn’t get to try any food or see the menu, but I was told that there will be a wide range of items to suit different price points.

Solange is located in the new Salhiya extension, up the escalators across from Tiffany & Co. They’re expecting to open in February, with private invitations starting this weekend.

To stay posted on the opening, you can follow them on @solange.maison

Wingstop, the popular American restaurant chain specializing in chicken wings, is opening in Kuwait. Apparel Group, the company that brought back Nando’s to Kuwait, is behind the launch and aims to open the first location within 2-3 months (around March or April).

Initially, they’ll be opening two locations: one in Bid’a where TGIF Nike used to be, and the second in Salmiya on Baghdad Street next to Trolley. Two additional locations are planned to open by the end of the year.

If you’re excited about their launch and want to stay posted on their opening, follow them at (tag removed, read note below)

Note: I made a mockup of how the hoarding for Wingstop might look like since it’s currently just white, just a fun preview.

Note2: I had initially tagged what I thought was their Instagram account but turns out they don’t have an account yet. Once they do I’ll update this post with one.

Ghazi Hamad Sultan Bin Isa (1941-2007) was a Kuwaiti architect and urban planner who is regarded as one of the key figures in the modernization of Kuwait. He is best known for the waterfront project (including Green Island) which was developed jointly with Sasaki while working for the Ministry of Public Works. Ghazi Sultan is also renowned for his significant contributions to the Arab art movement. In 1969, he founded Sultan Gallery (@sultangallery) with his sister Najat Sultan, and it remains active to this day.

Ghazi’s son, Zahed Sultan (@zahedsultan), recently launched a website and Instagram page (@ghazihamadsultan) to honor his father’s legacy. According to Zahed, both platforms will be updated regularly, as his father’s archive holds a wealth of material to share.

One section of Ghazi Sultan’s website contains photos of Kuwait taken by him in the 1960s. I’ve decided to share these for now and will hopefully post more stuff from his archive in the future, espcially the architectural projects.

If you want to find out more about Ghazi Sultan, or view the photos he took, head over to ghazisultan.com