In case you missed the fireworks show this past weekend, you can now watch a video of the Kuwait Towers opening ceremony on YouTube courtesy of Kuwait Television. [YouTube]
I find it odd that a huge event was held for what is essentially nothing new. I mean the Kuwait Towers were closed for 4 years for unclear and mysterious reasons, then they spent 2 months quickly refurbishing the restaurant and reopened it with a fireworks show that most likely cost more than the refurbishment itself? The whole thing is just very strange.
24 replies on “The Kuwait Towers Opening Ceremony”
The fireworks were for 10 years the emir is in charge. Not for the Kuwait towers opening. Just to clarify.
According to the general manager of Kuwait Towers the fireworks were for the opening. they originally wanted to do it during national day but were told to push it back because they wouldn’t be able to manage the crowd on national day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYSji7XV10s
According to the government and Amiri Diwan (Emir of Kuwait), the fireworks celebration was for Kuwait’s 55th National Day, 25th anniversary of Liberation Day, and the 10th anniversary of His Highness the Amir’s assumption of power.
straight from this excerpt: the Cabinet extolled efforts exerted by the Amiri Diwan for putting together a successful fireworks celebration on Saturday, marking Kuwait’s 55th Independence Day, 25th anniversary of Liberation Day and the 10th anniversary of His Highness the Amir’s assumption of power.
https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2491269&language=en
btw, KUNA is the official state news agency
https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2491023&language=en
+1
Does anyone know, what is the entry charge now for the towers??
You missed part I of the video, mark :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2hmJyqUYKg
Although regarding the ceremony, it wasn’t just dedicated for the opening of kuwait towers. it also celebrated 10 years of the amir sheikh Sabah’s rule. as well as 25 years since the liberation.
thanks, the reader just sent me the link to the 2nd part.
doesn’t make sense it was on the occasion of the 25th anniversary since that was last month. why would they hold the fireworks 10 days later?
They got a discount!
It was closed for refurbishment as an effort to list Kuwait towers in UNESCO’s world heritage , and to change it into a tourist attraction. The External media lighting was also part of that effort. It took them really long time to complete the external lighting itself. It was the internal refurbishment which took the most time. although the tendering part took more time than the actual execution itself. The fire fighting and protection system were completely outdated. Hopefully it has been refurbished as well now.
Thats not true, the whole internal refurbishment took just 2 months according to the general manager of kuwait towers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79PKnPyMRlw
Parcial Refurbishment as some parts like the lifts were untouched because of UNESCO’s request, The major delay was because internal structure repairs in the water tanks a side affect of the Iraqi invasion, Repairs were carried out under the supervision of the original designer and contractor of the towers.
Personally, I loved the fireworks this time around as well, but when the WR was broken 3-4 years back, man that show was something! That was music + fireworks for more than a couple of hours. This time though, they followed the schedule thankfully and it was exactly from 8 to 9pm. Both times, I was right beside the towers 🙂
The traffic jam was crazy and very unusual… They closed down the streets from 2PM until around 10 PM. I live right next to Safir in Bnaid Algar and I had to park my car far away and went home walking, then got my car back midnight (I don’t usually stay late!)
I was hearing the tens of car horns until 12:00 AM. Streets were complexly blocked. This didn’t happen even during the National and Liberation days.
Nothing unusual about it. There were several notices from MOI before hand about road closures.
It was unusual. Even many social medias reported it. Usually I can reach home anytime during the National and Liberation days celebrations. Police blocked all the entrances to where I live which never happened before. The same happened to many who live around that area.
I still enjoyed the night walk and the kebab sandwich I had on the way.
where did u have the kebab sandwich..i’m hungry right now and it sounds so tempting! was it nice enough to go there specially for it?
He probably means Dandosh or Tabab, both walking distance from the Kuwait Towers .
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/kebabs-dandosh-vs-tabab/
Thanks dude, they look delicious!
steal, my eyes your eyes.. (tarjem)
I think this was the highest turnout. From 9p.m. to 11 p.m., the cars were basically grid-locked.
Sitting in Kuwait if I can not see it in person, I m definitely better off seeing it on uTube,
I’m closed to the producer of the show so, I can give you the truth about this show.
Called “Those are My Sons”, that show was written and directed by Rodolph Nasillski, a French Writer and Director and produced by a franco-belgian team composed of Laser Systeme Europe and Groupe F. It’s the same team that performed “Let’s Play!” the opening show of Al Jaber Stadium in last December.
The show was held by Amiri Diwan in the context of “Benevolent Kuwait” (as you can see at 1mn25 of the video) to celebrate 3 anniversaries: Kuwait’s 55th Independence Day, 25th Anniversary of Liberation Day and the 10th Anniversary of the Amir’s Reign.
To be able to join these 3 events, the Amiri Diwan chose a date close to the Independence Day and the Liberation Day, but not at these date (because the 10th Anniversary of Reign couldn’t fit with them).
If you look at the show, you’ll see that the first part talks about the independence, the war, the reign of the Amir, the mosque bombing and finish with a hope and unity message for the future. It never talked about the towers.
The show was performed on the Kuwait Towers because they are one of the most iconic places of Kuwait, but it has never been planned for the opening of the Kuwait Towers, it’s just a coincidence.
Anniversaries of Independence, Liberation and Reign and Kuwait Towers re-opening are two different events. Some of medias were confused by the proximity of the dates and assimilate both. Sometimes, medias made mistakes too 😉
Thanks for the info!
Thanks Julien. Information is power and rests all confusion and rumours.