I tried passing by the Mubarakiya School last year but when I did they were closed and then I just forgot about it and never went back. Then last week I got an email from a reader that reminded me about it so I ended up passing by yesterday to check it out. The Mubarakiya School is a museum celebrating 100 years of education in Kuwait and after visiting it I’m not sure what to think of it.
I got there around 12:30 which according to the sign outside was after closing time but the door was open so I just walked in. There was a security guard at the desk who didn’t seem to mind I had come in so I just proceeded to walk into the museum. For a museum on education I thought the interior was… whats the word, futuristic? scifi-ish? Lots of geometric shaped walls with very dim lighting giving the illusion I was onboard a spaceship. I mean I liked it, a lot, but the interior seemed to overshadow the actual museum pieces which sadly there wasn’t enough of. There were just a handful of displays showcasing historical artifacts and documents in the main corridor and then there were 3 or 4 film viewing rooms. The viewing rooms had TVs that displayed historical footage (or photos) with a voice narrating, actually I’m not sure what the TV screens were displaying because they were off with just the voice narration playing. According to the security guard sometimes the AC effects the TVs, I didn’t understand how but thats why the TVs weren’t working according to him.
On my way out I picked up the museum brochure which actually contained interesting information and a bunch of old photos. Personally would have liked to have seen those old photos enlarged and on display at the museum along with the corresponding info. I’m guessing they might be part of the films in the viewing rooms which I couldn’t see but even if they were, when it comes to old photos I generally like viewing them as printed old photos. The Mubarakiya School is located in Souq Mubarakiya [Map] and is worth passing by if you happen to be in the area since its free and looks great for a museum in Souq Mubarakiya. Their opening hours are too complicated to list so instead here is a picture of their opening hours sign [Link]
7 replies on “The Mubarakiya School”
So is there a school there? The name makes it seem like its a 100 year old school that’s been restored.
they’ve turned the old school into the museum. but thinking about it now would have been interesting to see the classrooms and such but sadly thats not part of the museum.
Mark, check the Modern Art Museum and the Diplomatic Club in Sharq, both were the Sharqiya Schools in the 1930s. Both buildings include the old classrooms and school yards.
in the opening hours sign picture everything is in the reverse. But i like the way its made. so funny. 12:00Am to 9:00Am So when i wake up they close. Is this in America? lol
Didn’t know they’d actually done something with the old school so good to hear about this. Kuwait’s first school, and a lot of my family went there so I’ll have to pay it a visit!
This has been open for a few years. This museum is a waste of prime location and it could have been made much better. I hope the new scientific museums complex in maidan hawally does not end up like this, all architecture and no substance.
Oil & Gas exhibition. Opening expected in Feb 2016:
https://www.eventcomm.com/work/kuwait-oil-company-visitor-centre#.VecNVGbXenM