2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Nagwa was founded in 2004 and they’re one of my favorite spots when I want to pick up sweets to take with me to a lunch or dinner. They have 12 branches across Kuwait and over the past three years, they’ve expanded into Saudi Arabia, and this Ramadan, they’re opening a new branch in Bahrain. Their Ramadan campaign, “حكايتنا ننسجها,” draws inspiration from Middle Eastern embroidery, reflecting the craftsmanship and storytelling behind their designs.

This Ramadan, Nagwa is blending tradition with elegance, offering a variety of beautifully designed sweets and gifts:

VIP Trays – Luxurious packaging for premium gifting.
Hampers – Available in multiple colors, featuring tassels, badges, and removable pins for a personal touch.
Tahado w Tahabo – Now offered in a new size with customization options.
The Photo Frame Box – A unique way to personalize gifts by putting in your own photos in the frame.
Gergean – Include extra giveaways in your Camel or Trolley picks.
Wooden Boxes – Elegantly finished in shades of blue, green, and natural beige.

This year, Nagwa is introducing 35 new designs, including hampers, trays, wooden boxes, and Gergean, available in a variety of colors and sizes. Their signature embroidery-inspired designs extend to the finer details, from ribbons to greeting cards, adding an extra layer of elegance.

Their offerings cater to a range of tastes and budgets, making them perfect for both gifting and personal indulgence. Their thoughtful packaging and intricate designs is one of the main reasons I like gifting their stuff so much.

Nagwa’s Ramadan collection is available now in all their branches and website. For more info head over to @nagwakuwait, or if you’re in KSA and Bahrain @nagwaksa @nagwabahrain

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.

Last night, I got to try some amazing sandwiches at a new spot simply called The Sandwich Shop.

The Sandwich Shop is run by chef and digital content creator Haya from @ahha.kuw, but she’s also a friend and my former neighbor. She started AH-HA because she loved ASMR food content and wanted to give it a shot. Initially, she focused on sharing her skills and recipes, but she quickly realized people weren’t looking for recipes—they wanted to try her sandwiches. And that’s how The Sandwich Shop was born.

Haya decided to open The Sandwich Shop with her best friend (and now business partner) Dalal, who found the beautiful space. They’re both hands-on, with Haya handling all the cooking while Dalal takes care of the guests. The shop is right next to OVO in Massaleh Towers (google maps), and even though I’ve passed by the location many times before, I never noticed how cozy that corner was. It’s in a courtyard-like space with plenty of seating inside and out.

I passed by last night with my best friend so we got to order a few things and share them. The menu currently has around 8 of Haya’s sandwiches from AH-HA, as well as some salads, sides and the best banana bread I’ve ever had for dessert. We got the following:

Cowboy Steak Sandwich: Angus striploin steak, with caramelized onions, arugula and a cowboy mayo sauce on ciabatta bread.
Berry, Brie, Bacon: Mixed berry compote, hickory bacon & cheddar cheese on sourdough
Rio Garlic Bread: Creamy, buttery, cheesy, herby garlic baguette
Burnt Butter Banana Bread: Chocolate banana bread topped with vanilla ice cream

It’s hard to pick a favorite. The garlic bread caught me by surprise with how good it was, the Cowboy Steak was really delicious, and the banana bread—like I said—the best I’ve ever had. I guess the BBB was the weakest link, but even that was good. With so many recipes in her library, the menu should always have something new. Should be fun.

If you want to try her sandwiches, The Sandwich Shop opens tomorrow. They’ll be open Tuesday to Saturday from 3 PM to 9 PM.

Check them out @thesandwichshop.kw

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“.

Cozmo has been around since 2003, and a lot of people might not know this, but it was actually created by the son of the Showbiz owner. Cozmo has always been ahead of its time, constantly shaping the entertainment scene with new and exciting experiences, from arcades to bowling and more.

Although Cozmo was initially known mainly as a bowling spot, it has since expanded to include a wide range of activities. Cozmo now has 12 branches across Kuwait, and the group includes three different brands:

Cozmo: The classic Cozmo experience we all know, designed for gamers of all ages and suitable for the whole family.

Cozmo Black: Their new and exclusive brand catering to a more sophisticated audience, offering more advanced gaming experiences and high-end entertainment. This venue is adults only.

Kidzone: Tailored specifically for kids, Kidzone is a more whimsical brand featuring playgrounds and soft play areas.

Cozmo is constantly expanding with new locations and recently started rolling out a new look with the first one having just opened in Jahra. They have 50% off all the games there every day right now if you want to check it out.

What’s great about Cozmo is that you can load your card with any package amount, get a bonus to use on all games, and keep the balance for your next visit. For example, pay 30KD and get a 30KD bonus. And for an exclusive February offer: pay 50KD and get a 75KD bonus.

No matter what kind of vibe you’re looking for, whether it’s a casual game night, a high-energy arcade session, or a fun day out with the family, Cozmo has it. For more info check out their accounts @cozmogroup, @cozmo.black and @kidzonekuwait

Don’t forget to get your loved one a Shani today. shaniday.com

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.

This past week I haven’t really watched much, mostly episodes of Dexter: Original Sin and Old Man. The first episode of the new season of The Kardashians came out last weekend but it was pretty boring. Today the new season of the locally produced The Exchange comes out so will probably watch it.

I’m traveling next week to Sri Lanka so trying to save shows for the long flight so my TV life is going to be pretty boring till then.

Let me know in the comments what you recently watched or planning to watch.

Movies at the Cinemas
The movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:

New This Week:
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (7.1)
Captain America: Brave New World (5.9)
The Gardener (4.1)
William Tell (6.3)

Other Movies Showing:
A Complete Unknown (7.7)
Den of Thieves 2 (6.6)
Dog Man (8.4)
Fargo (classic) (8.1)
Flight Risk (5.6)
Kayara (5.9)
Love Hurts (N/A)
Moana 2 (7.1)
Mufasa: The Lion King (6.7)
Paddington in Peru (6.8)
Presence (6.7)
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (7.5)
The Bayou (4.9)
The Prosecutor (7.2)

The numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at the time of publishing.

Here are my favorite things happening this weekend. Due to the weather, check the event accounts for any cancellations.

Thursday, February 13
Gulf Bank Family Day at Khiran Mall
Jazz, Crêpes & Art
Kuwait International Food Festival
The Improv Show
Youm Albahar Festival
Father Daughter Date Night
The Promenade Market
Gardenia Outdoor Living Pop-Up

Friday, February 14
Kuwait International Food Festival
Vintage Movie Posters Exhibition & Auction
Youm Albahar Festival
The Promenade Market
Wellness Market
Gardenia Outdoor Living Pop-Up
Let’s Go Hiking
Kuwait Cats Club Show 2025

Saturday, February 15
Kuwait International Food Festival
Vintage Movie Posters Exhibition & Auction
Youm Albahar Festival
Makers Market
The Promenade Market
Wellness Market
Gardenia Outdoor Living Pop-Up
Kuwait Cats Club Show 2025

The British boy band Blue is coming to perform in Kuwait on April 10 and 11, and tickets will be going on sale tomorrow (Thursday) at 6PM.

Blue, known for early 2000s hits like All Rise, One Love, and Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, will be performing at the National Theater at JACC.

Tickets start at 20 KD and will be available on jacc-kw.com

The Gulf Bank Al Danah Millionaire draw for KD2,000,000 is taking place in Khiran Mall this Thursday, February 13th. They’ll be holding various activities and concerts on that day including

• Competitions with prizes
• Interactive games
• Kuwait Television Band will be performing
• The Backstage Group will have performances
• NEO the mascot will be there all day
• Q&A with the audience and prizes
• KD2,000,000 winner announcement

The event is from 4PM to 8PM and is open to everyone, especially families and kids. So if you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids this weekend, this is it. @gulf_bank

I noticed today that they’ve started demolishing the original KTV buildings on the Gulf Road. I don’t know why but I always imagined refurbishing the block and turning it into something like AlSerkal Avenue in Dubai, large spaces housing art galleries, cafes, lifestyle shops.

I’ve heard they’re planning to build a large gym on that plot, not sure how accurate that info is but it would suck if thats why these buildings were demolished.

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.

There is a beautiful pop-up taking place starting today until February 25th at the Kuwait National Museum. The Gardenia Pop-up is an outdoor living exhibition and this year they’re holding it inside the National Museum courtyard, a venue I’m totally in love with.

The pop-up features art, design, plants, food and music amongst other things. It’s really well put together and if there was an award for the best market venue of the year, they’d easily win.

Entry is free, there are lots of cafes spread out both inside the museum courtyard and around the museum. Definitely pass by and check it out. They’re open from 10AM to 10PM but I highly recommend visiting during the daytime because of the way the sunlight casts beautiful shadows through the museums floating shade.

For more info on the pop-up, head to @gardenia.popup

Rebels Air Nuts is a new revolutionary snack that just became available in Kuwait. It’s considered revolutionary in the snack industry due to its unique production process and innovative approach to healthy snacking.

Unlike traditional fried or baked snacks, Rebels Air Nuts uses a new air-puffing process that removes the need for added oils and fats while maintaining a crunchy texture. This makes the peanut lighter, crispier, and healthier compared to regular peanuts and other nut-based snacks.

The snack was developed in Spain and comes in three flavors:

Hot Chili: A spicy option for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
Sour Cream: A milder, tangy flavor.
Sal & Pimienta (Salt and Pepper): A classic savory combination.

They sent me all the flavors to try and my favorite was the Hot Chili. Looking at the snacks it’s hard to imagine they started off as regular peanuts, it actually reminds me of popcorn, like they’ve made peanuts pop. The snack isn’t as brittle as popcorn, and it’s also more crunchy. I took some photos of it in my hand so you can see how big they are as well.

The brand is being introduced in Kuwait by the company Dunes of Kuwait who also brought the healthy and popular ‘Greenback’ plant-based protein bars to Kuwait (they also taste really good).

Rebels Air Nuts will initially only be available on the Dunes online store ‘Swap It‘ before becoming available in other stores around Kuwait. So if you want to try these new snacks, head over to @swapit.kw