Category: Things to do

Qout Market, the market that started the whole markets trend in Kuwait is back again for a new season.

This year, Qout Market is happening at a brand-new location, Mishref’s Oasis, with the first one taking place on Saturday, January 25th.

Stay updated on the new season by following @qoutmarket

These are, in my opinion, the 6 hottest NYE dinners happening in Kuwait this year. Check them out below (listed alphabetically). I’ve included 3 indoor options and 3 outdoor ones.

Cure
Includes DJ and set menu
KD55

Odaichi at SVN
Includes live entertainment, DJ and set menu
KD50

OFK at JON
Includes concert, fireworks and set menu
KD95

Piatti
Includes DJ and À la carte menu
KD65 minimum spend

Roka
Includes dj and À la carte menu
KD30 deposit – no minimum spend

Young Po on the Roof
Includes live entertainment and set menu
KD50

Got another recommendation? Share it in the comments below.

Here is a list of different events taking place this weekend.

Thursday, December 12
Night of Serenity
It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Improv!
Murouj Market
Mirzaam Expo
Sons of Yusuf New Album Listening Party
End of Season Recital
Bloom Market

Friday, December 13
Night of Serenity
Jahra Cultural Season at The Red Palace
Murouj Market
Mirzaam Expo
Kite Festiva
GR Yaris Cup Season 2
Farmers Market at the Terrace
GIG Battle Fitness Festival
Bloom Market
Kuwait Coffee Festival

Saturday, December 14
DAI’s December Family Day
Jahra Cultural Season at The Red Palace
Murouj Market
Mirzaam Expo
Winter Bazaar
KTAA Winter Bazaar
GIG Battle Fitness Festival
Bloom Market
NBK Run 2024
Kuwait Coffee Festival

Not to be confused with the Jahra Nature Reserves which I posted about the other day, the Jahra farms are a historical part of Jahra which I’ve been wanting to visit for years. Yesterday, I finally went, and I’m glad because they might not be around much longer.

Jahra started as a small oasis village known for its underground water and fertile soil. The residents cultivated the land leading it to become known as a notable trading point and stopping place on the way to Kuwait City. With the increase of agricultural production, the village started attracting bandits who would steal and destroy its crops. Eventually the Red Fort (also sometimes called the Red Palace) was built in 1896 to guard the village.

Ironically, because of the Red Fort, the historical farms might now be removed and replaced by new entertainment and shopping facilities as part of Jahra’s plan on attracting more tourists.

I was lucky enough to get a tour of the farms by the architect and Jahra native, Asaiel Alsaeed who also runs the account @jahra_village. I actually attended one of her talks on Jahra nearly 5 years ago, so it was pretty cool getting the tour by her. Unlike the farms in Wafra and Abdaly, the Jahra farms are situated right in the heart of the city. They’ve been fairly neglected, as farmers have long anticipated the government taking them over, leading to minimal investment in their upkeep. But that’s also part of their charm, some of the crumbling walls are so old that they were built with traditional materials: stone gathered from the sea and coated with thick mud plaster.

Walking around the farm fields and exploring them is pretty fun, and I’d recommend you visit  and check them before they are torn down because there is nothing really like it in Kuwait. The farms are mostly all open and free to walk into, they aren’t the Disneyland farms of Abdaly and Wafra, so don’t expect food trucks or gift shops. There are a few wooden shacks next to the farms that sell vegetables, but that’s about it. The area we visited has around 10 farms next to each other, with some in better state than others. You’ll see water wells, streams and lots of greenery there, all while weirdly being surrounded by a bustling city. The view out the window of some of the homes in the surrounding area must be so unusual since they overlook these farm lands.

If you want to visit, the farms are around a 30 minute drive from the city. We parked outside Chili’s at “Awtad Mall” in Jahra and then crossed the street into the farms. Once you’re there, I recommend using Google Maps’ satellite view to explore the farms. There isn’t much signage, and you’ll often need to cross from one farm to another—or even through a farm—to get around. The farmers are friendly and welcoming, and they’re accustomed to visitors, including bird watchers. So if you’re looking for something new and different to do, head to Jahra.

Yesterday, the Environment Public Authority reopened the Jahra Nature Reserve to the public for the winter season. The reserve is considered to be the first eco-tourism project in Kuwait with the aim of increasing environmental awareness and appreciating the landscape.

Since it’s a reserve, visits are guided, and you’ll only have access to selected areas, with no wandering off on your own.The reserve has three observation outposts, and you’ll need to select one when booking your visit. Each visit is limited to an hour and a half.

The cost of visiting the reserve is KD10 for a group of up to 5 people, and increases the larger your group is. If you’re interested in visiting the nature reserve, you can book through the Sahel App, or through the EPA website.

Lots of events and markets taking place this weekend, below are my favorite ones.

Thursday, November 28
Snow White Pantomime
Murouj Market
Turbo Nights Car Show
Bogsha Market at Green Island
Long Live the Olive Tree Festival
Threads of Resilience Palestinian Exhibition

Friday, November 29
DAI Fall Festival & Market
Murouj Market
Turbo Nights Car Show
Bogsha Market at Green Island
Jazz Cafe Live
Long Live the Olive Tree Festival
Wellness Weekend & Market
Threads of Resilience Palestinian Exhibition

Saturday, November 30
Murouj Market
Turbo Nights Car Show
Bogsha Market at Green Island
Wellness Weekend & Market
Threads of Resilience Palestinian Exhibition
Shakshooka Market

The popular Marina Hotel Kashta is back for a new season! Known for its beautiful location, charming setup, and wide range of amenities, it has become a favorite among guests over the years.

The kashta setup is located right on the beach, offering a breathtaking backdrop of Kuwait City and a serene view of the open sea.

You can book one of two daily sessions, the Sunset Kashta runs from 4 PM to 7 PM, and the Dinner Kashta from 7:30 PM to 11 PM. Each session offers a unique experience with different packages and prices:

Sunset Kashta
Time: 4PM to 7PM
Includes: A set menu with salad, pizza, sandwiches, fries, desserts, and a selection of cold and hot drinks.
Price: 14KD per person

Evening Kashta
Time: 7:30PM to 11PM
Includes: A buffet and live stations featuring salad, soup, pizza, pasta, vegetable biryani, shawarma, BBQ grills, fries, desserts, and a selection of cold and hot drinks.
Price: KD20 per person

They also offer private cabanas for groups of at least 5 people.

For bookings, visit the link in the @marinahotelkwt bio or call 60074802.

Khalifouh Village\ is a Kuwaiti heritage village which is owned and built by the popular Kuwaiti actor, Khalifa Khalifouh.

Khalifa worked on various TV shows featuring old Kuwaiti villages and was unhappy with the quality of workmanship in the show-built sets, so he decided to build one himself. Khalifouh Village was designed and built to resemble a real village, complete with a mosque, a bakery, a tea shop, a theater, and a main square.

The village offers a lot of cool photography opportunities, and if you have kids then they’ll love running around exploring the space.

The village which is located in Wafra is reopening again on weekends starting from this Friday. Opening hours will be 1PM to 9PM and for more info you can check out their account @khalifouhvillage and here is the location on Google Maps.

via @salmaninho

In celebration of 125 years of Kuwaiti-British friendship, JACC is hosting British Film Week as part of their November program. Running from November 25 to 28, two British movies will be screened each day and includes classics like the iconic James Bond ‘Goldfinger’ and family favorite, ‘Paddington’.

If you’re into cars then you might be interested to know that the Aston Martin DB5 that actually appeared in the movie Goldfinger will also be displayed at JACC.

Tickets cost 3KD and can be booked through the JACC website, for the full schedule and more info, head over to jacc-kw.com

The 47th Kuwait International Book Fair kicks off tomorrow at the Kuwait International Fairground and runs until November 30th. The book fair debuted in Kuwait in 1975 and has grown to become the country’s largest. The fair is located in halls 5, 6, and 7 and there will be both Arabic and English books available for sale.

The opening hours are the following:

Mornings 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Afternoons 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

For more information (although all in Arabic), head over to @kw_nccal

Today is the final day of the Tareq Rajab Museum’s Hungarian Zsolnay Ceramics Exhibition. The exhibition is in collaboration with the Hungarian Embassy in Kuwait and there are 560 pieces on display, highlighting 150 years of Hungarian ceramic development.

The ceramic pieces are from a private collection and haven’t been seen by the public for over 20 years. So this is a very rare opportunity to check them out.

The exhibition is free and takes place at Dar El Cid in Jabriya (Google Maps). Their timings are 9AM to 1PM and 4:30PM to 8:30PM. If you don’t have anything to do today pass by. @trmkuwait

The AIU Kuwait Film Festival 2024 kicks off next week for its third consecutive year. This year, the festival received an impressive 3,155 film submissions from talented filmmakers around the world. After a rigorous selection process, 106 outstanding films were chosen, promising an inspiring lineup of stories spanning diverse genres and regions.

There are various activities to enjoy during the film festival, including screenings, lectures, workshops, and discussion panels, all free to attend. Whether you’re there to watch films or you’re an aspiring filmmaker hoping to catch a workshop or lecture, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

The film festival will be held at the AIU campus from Sunday, November 10, to Saturday, November 16. Cinescape is their strategic partner again this year, and as a result, film screenings, and discussions with film personalities will take place both on the AIU campus and at the Cinescape theaters in 360 Mall.

All events during the film festival are open to the public, and are free to attend.

If you want to find out more about the festival, head over to aiu.edu.kw/film-festival or check out the AIU Instagram account, @aiu_kw

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

A lot of people might not know this, but the Al-Farsi team owns some of the largest kites in the world. Their Kuwait flag kite, for example, holds a Guinness World Record, but they also have two other kites ‘Blue Manta Ray’ and ‘The Hope’ which are even bigger. The Hope kite is gigantic at around 1,250m², roughly the size of five 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 generally there until around 5 PM.

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

Winter season is here, and events and markets are starting to pick up again. Shakshooka, the food and art craft market, is kicking off its new season on November 30th. Last year, Shakshooka took place at Alandalus in Hawally, and it’s back there again this year.

Shakshooka have been around since 2013 and they used to be a nomadic market moving around from location to location. Their markets generally contain food stalls, art, handicrafts, and fresh produce. For more info and to stay posted on the market, follow them @shakshookamarket

Camel Racing is back for the 2024/2025 season, running from October to March, with races every Saturday at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. The races start at different times each week but this Saturday they’ll kick off at 1:00 PM with a total of eight races.

There is no entrance fee and you can either watch the races from the sidelines, drive up to the starting lines and watch the start of the race, or just drive around the track in your car following the race (it can get chaotic).

It’s really fun, especially if you’ve never been before and it’s never that busy and everyone is pretty friendly. I tend to drop by anytime I feel like having a photoshoot for one of my cars, or if I just feel like driving somewhere far.

Here is the link to the location and entrance on Google Maps.