Category: Kuwait

Yarmouk became the first healthy city in Kuwait this month by fulfilling the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO). Some of the requirements they fulfilled included:

– Fighting against obesity
– Having a walk marathon
– Beautification and cleaning of the city
– Setting up a well-equipped walking track
– Planted trees
– Saved power and water
– Washed streets with water and soap
– Organized exhibitions for young entrepreneurs a
– Established an environment-friendly park
– Organized cultural, social, educational and health symposiums and lectures
– Urged people to donate blood
– Combatted smoking
– Fighting swine flu

I think thats really great now if only the same formula could be applied to my area or other areas around Kuwait. Checkout the article on KUNA [Here]

Photo by Samira

A few hours ago the Central Bank of Kuwait revealed the new design of the Kuwaiti currency and a few moments ago I obtained the official images of the currency. The new Kuwaiti Dinars were designed by the famous De La Rue company in the UK. They’ve been around since 1821 and they sell high-security paper and printing technology for over 150 national currencies around the world. The new notes have plastic polymer in them making them difficult to tear as well as making them a lot more durable for day to day use.

I love the new designs and can’t wait till they go into circulation in the next couple of months. My only criticism is the lack of a KD50 note, KD20 just isn’t large enough today. Check out all the notes below.

Thanks Patrick

The Central Bank of Kuwait just released images of the newly designed Kuwaiti Dinars at a press conference a short while ago. The photo above is taken from the video presentation and clearly shows the new designs. First impression, I like them.

Thanks Asrar

Update: Another friend just sent me the below images of the new currency.

Thanks Mana3ee

Thursday
The Vault Fundraiser
Shakshooka Nomadic Farmers Market
Cinemagics: Short Term 12
Exhibition: 50 Years of Printmaking
Exhibition: Once Removed – Kevork Mourad
Exhibition: Nuwa Creations – Katia Al Tal
Exhibition: The Tour – Barry Iverson
Exhibition: Re-Cast

Friday
Mapping Meetup 9

Saturday
Food Revolution Day
Cinemagics: Trances
International Museum Day

If you’d like to share an event on the blog click [Here]

Update: Just added the International Museum Day event

Thursday
Exhibition: 50 Years of Printmaking
GAME Expo 2014
Cinemagics Rooftop Movie: Frances Ha
*CANCELED*
Friday
GAME Expo 2014

Saturday
GAME Expo 2014
3rd French Short Movie Festival
Guided Tour: Grand Mosque
Cinemagics Rooftop Movie: Nostalghia

Photo above by Allan Santiago

A couple of years back Discovery Channel aired an episode of Building the Impossible that featured Sabah Al-Ahmad Sea City. Back then I hadn’t heard of the project but ever since I did I’ve been frequenting the place as often as I can mostly for activities like wakeboarding. Anyway a reader left a comment on my old post letting me know you can now watch “Sea City – Building the Impossible” online. I’ve already watched them before but if you haven’t check out this [Link]

Last month when I posted my photographic journey of Salam Palace I mentioned that right next door to the palace a huge project is currently under construction. I was shown renderings of the buildings and they looked out of this world but due to the secretive nature of this project (they want it to be a surprise to everyone) I wasn’t allowed to take any photos to share on the blog. Luckily with a little help from a friend of mine (thanks Khaled!), I was able to source out the images of the project online.

The site of the huge project is the old flag square opposite the church in Kuwait City [Map] and when completed will house four structures, an opera house, a music center, a theatre and a library. The official name for this cultural centre I believe will be “Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre”. The buildings will be made out of titanium shells and will have no pillars at all on the inside. When I met with Al-Diwan Al-Amiri they told me the project was expected to be completed in 18 months and I truely believe that will be possible due to the amount of resources they’ve assigned for this project. The project is already two months ahead of schedule.

As you can see from the images this project looks really stunning and like nothing else we have ever done in Kuwait. Its also located on the coastal road so it’s in clear sight for everyone to see. This is the quality of design all government projects should have but sadly don’t and I personally can’t wait until the project is completed.

Enjoy the renderings, I found them [Here]

Deera is an iPhone app which allows you to report issues with public services. The way it works is very simple, you snap a photo of the problem, specify what the issue is along with the location and then submit it. According to a reader who emailed me about this last night, he tried it by reporting waste left on an empty plot next to his house and the next day he received a notification that the problem was fixed. I haven’t tried it yet myself but I’m going to later today.

If you want try this app you can download it from the Apple Store either by searching for Deera or by clicking [Here]

I just got back from the protest outside the original Chamber of Commerce and Industry building and I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. There were only around 30 people there mostly consisting of young Kuwaiti architects which makes me wonder, where was everyone else? I know a lot more than just 30 people care about saving Kuwait’s architectural heritage but they just weren’t there.

I was kinda joking around with a friend that maybe if there was valet more people would show up but I’m starting to think that it might have actually attracted more people. In any case the owner of the building was there and he actually wants to preserve the building but the baladiya only gave approval on demolishing and not refurbishing. Too much politics, but hopefully this is going to get solved and the building will be saved. But even if this building is saved today, there will still be more that need saving tomorrow.

Photo on top by @jassamino

Back in 2011 I posted the picture above of the original Chamber of Commerce and Industry building. I loved the old architecture in the building and I wrote about how I hope it was not going to get demolished. Sadly last night they started demolishing the building.

The building is an important emblem of Kuwait’s modern heritage and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters was even trying to list it along with some of the surrounding buildings onto UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

This is why there will be a protest against this destruction this afternoon at 4:30PM beside the building. If it’s something you care about then pass by and show your support. Here is the location on [Google Maps]

Below is a shot of the building taken in the early 70s.

AbiDoc is a website that allows you to search, find and book an appointment with a doctor all via their website. They originally launched last year but I wasn’t a fan of the website back then, it felt outdated and really sluggish but now they’ve given it a major facelift and relaunched it. The way it works is very simple, you select what kind of doctor you’re looking for and then select your area and the website will list all the doctors and their available timings.

Not all the clinics and hospitals in Kuwait are available though, only the ones that have signed up with AbiDoc in the same way not all restaurants are available on Talabat. For example I searched for “Physical Therapist” in “Salmiya” and got “Sorry, No Exact Matches Were Found” even though the Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute is located down the block from my place. Still, the site contains a lot of doctors and the more popular AbiDoc gets the more will want to sign up with them. Check out their new website [Here]

Rainy Morning at Anjefa from Moayad Hassan on Vimeo.

Moayad Hassan is back with another beautiful short film, this one was shot a few days ago on a rainy morning at Anjefa beach in Kuwait. [Vimeo]

Remal Sand Sculpting Festival
Teddy Bear Hospital
Visual Art Exhibition
KRC International Show Jumping Championship 2014
Shakshooka Nomadic Farmers Market
Cinemagic: Man Push Cart
Al Nibras Bazaar
Dance Gala: Diamond Decades
AIS Senior Bazaar ’14
Kids Storytelling at Q8Books
Cinemagic: Dry Summer
FIA Middle East Rally Championship – Kuwait

Make sure you don’t miss the show jumping championship, the venue is great and you won’t believe you’re in Kuwait.

Update: Just added the Rally Championship to the list

Remal Sand Sculpting Festival
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Shakshooka Nomadic Farmers Market
Teddy Bear Hospital
Guided Tour: SAS Marine Museum
Spring Nights
Cinemagic Rooftop Movie: A Woman Under the Influence
Alwan, a Live Art Festival
4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament
Bayan Winter Blast
Cascade Charity Garden Fete
Cinemagic Rooftop Movie: Surprise Movie of the Month
“The Inner City” Parkour Show
Argana Flower Bazaar

Update: Just added the flower bazaar.

Arabian Business released their “100 most powerful Arab women 2014″ list and 9 Kuwaiti women made the top 100. Last year 11 Kuwaiti women made the list with the most powerful being Suad Al Humaidi who came in at number 10. This year Suad dropped down all the way to 46th place leaving Shaikha Al Bahar (pictured above) to take the top spot by coming in 21st place. Below is the current ranking of all the powerful Kuwaiti women who made the top 100.

21 – Shaikha Al Bahar
27 – Maha Al Ghunaim
43 – Rasha Al Roumi
46 – Suad Al Humaidi
50 – Faten Al Naqeeb
67 – Sara Akbar
78 – Donna Sultan
89 – Hanadi Al Saleh
99 – Ghosson Al Khaled

For the full top 100 list, visit the Arabian Business website [Here]