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Barari is a local landscaping company I’ve been following for a couple of years. I’m a fan of their work, and they’ve done some really interesting projects. One that stood out to me is called Tree Den.

For the Tree Den project, they took a tiled-up garden with artificial turf and turned it into a vibrant desert sanctuary. Looking at the before and after photos, it’s hard to believe they’re of the same place.

Instead of covering the ground with artificial or real grass, they decided to embrace the sand as a natural, breathable surface. According to Barari, they wanted to celebrate the desert rather than fight it. They planted dense greenery along with mature trees to create a cozy and immersive space. Even the kids play area encourages hands-on exploration and digging. It’s a simple idea that I think is executed beautifully, and they managed to convince me that sand doesn’t need to be covered but can actually be a beautiful part of the landscape.

If you want to check out all the before and after photos of the transformation, head over to their website here.

I don’t have a dirt bike but I found out about this place in Kuwait that does decals and sells plastic body panels for dirt bikes. It’s very niche which is why I figured I’d post about it in case someone ever tries using google to find a place that does this.

The place is called MOTORRAD and their instagram account is @motorradkw

Qudra is a Kuwait-based freelance marketplace that connects freelancers with clients. I posted about them when they first launched last year, and now, a year later, they’ve expanded beyond Kuwait with a launch in Dubai to serve the wider MENA region.

Their platform connects talent in Kuwait and the MENA region with clients seeking services like graphic design, digital marketing, and interior design. The app offers secure payments, direct chat, and detailed freelancer profiles to help clients find the right match.

Since I last posted about them, Qudra has rolled out new features including Qudra Pro, a way for freelancers to verify their profiles, gain more visibility, and access exclusive opportunities. They’ve also improved payments, added better project management tools, and enhanced communication features based on user feedback.

If you’re a freelancer
Qudra lets you showcase your skills and get discovered by clients. Payments are secured before you start a project, and once it’s completed, the funds are released to you.

If you’re a business
Qudra simplifies the hiring process by providing access to a diverse pool of talent with a wide range of skills. You can also post a job listing with a specific budget and have freelancers reach out to you.

Qudra makes freelancing safe, efficient, and rewarding for both sides. Try them out joinqudra.com

Here are my favorite events taking place this weekend.

Thursday, October 9
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
Interstellar IMAX Screening
Astronomers Diwaniya

Friday, October 10
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
A Tribute to Whitney Houston
Interstellar IMAX Screening
BAKED Turns 4 Brunch

Saturday, October 11
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Ixir Wellbeing Expo
Resistance For Hope Exhibit
Pigment to Paint
Art & Frequency Gathering
in-between pop-up open cafe
Interstellar IMAX Screening
Conversations with Strangers 7.0
Mandala Flow Workshop
Korean Movie Night: Forbidden Dream
BAKED Turns 4 Brunch
KSP’s Fight Night 4

Camel racing is back for the 2025/2026 season, running from October to March, with races taking place every Saturday at the Kuwait Camel Racing Club. Since the weather is still hot during the day, this Saturday the races start at 5:30 AM with a total of nineteen scheduled. As the weather gets cooler, the races will start later in the day (check my weekly “Things To Do” weekend list for updated timings).

There’s no entrance fee, and you can either watch from the sidelines, drive up to the starting line to see the start, or follow the race around the track in your car (it can get a bit chaotic).

It’s really fun, especially if you’ve never been before. It’s never that busy, everyone there is pretty friendly, and it’s fairly easy to get to.

To find the location and entrance to the race tracks on Google Maps, just search for “Kuwait Camel Racing Club”.

Joe & The Juice is opening a new spot at Al Shaheed Park tomorrow (Tuesday, October 7). It’s right by the big lake in Phase 2 and feels like the perfect stop for a juice or a light meal if you’re walking around the park, out for a jog, or just hanging out with family or friends.

I passed by earlier today around sunset and the place looked great, with warm light coming in through the large glass windows designed to connect the indoors with the surrounding greenery. The interior seating is cozy, but since it’s in the park there’s also plenty of outdoor seating. You can sit overlooking the lake or catch the sunset from the other side.

The new location will be open daily from 5AM to midnight, making it perfect for early morning joggers. To stay up to date on their new menu items or locations, head over to @joeandthejuicekuwait

You’ve probably noticed this strange futuristic-looking building on your way to the airport (Google Maps). It’s always been kind of a mystery to me since, although there’s quite a bit of information about it online, there aren’t that many photos of it. This is the Amiri Terminal, also sometimes called the VVIP Terminal.
 
The Amiri Terminal was built to host reception ceremonies on a presidential level. Construction started back in 2007 and was completed three years later.

 
The terminal was designed by the firm TAEP who had to take into account Kuwait’s extreme temperatures and sandstorms. Since it’s difficult to plan a typical outdoor reception ceremony throughout the year, they came up with an alternative solution by designing the building around a huge reception hall.
 
The terminal was shaped by a large dome that allowed them to create a hall with a 24-meter-tall interior, helping eliminate the feeling of being in a closed indoor space. To further enhance the sense of openness, the ceiling was painted black and 250,000 fiber-optic light points were embedded into it to recreate the feeling of a desert night sky.
 
The terminal is made up of six buildings: the Amiri Hall, the glass reception area, the parking lot, baggage check, services, and the plane hangar.
 
The Amiri Reception Building consists of three floors. The first floor includes the protocol and reception halls, the dining area, the Amiri meeting room, a press conference hall, a hall for ambassadors, a protocol hall, a women’s waiting hall, and a multipurpose hall.
 

The ground floor houses the main kitchen, offices for the Amiri Guard, a screening room, a waiting room for journalists, a Civil Aviation staff room, a resting room for the plane crew, a rest room for the guests’ guards, a first-aid room, a security room, and offices for the Interior Ministry.
 
The second floor contains the guest wing and the operations room.
 
The glass dome on the outside which you can spot in some of the photos is part of the reception area. The first floor is connected to an air bridge, while the ground floor is for guests arriving on smaller planes.
 
To check out more photos, click here.

I usually post about brands and their products, but this one’s a bit different since it’s about the company behind the brands. You’ve probably never heard of SocialEats, but you’ve definitely heard of their concepts. SocialEats is a creative hospitality group that started in Kuwait in 2016 with its first brand, Chocomelt, and has since grown to multiple brands and over 30 branches across the GCC. Some of their brands include:

Chocomelt
A flagship dessert spot that’s been serving handcrafted creations for over 10 years across the GCC.

Chutney & Co
An Indian tapas concept bringing elevated Indian cuisine to Kuwait and soon Qatar.

B.Social
A creativity-driven brand for custom cakes and desserts made for every kind of celebration (including allergen-free).

The Neighbourhood
A nostalgic space built around good vibes and balanced food, and home to their award-winning matcha.

MoG
A specialty coffee concept known for its signature menu and attention to detail in every cup.

From Kuwait to the world, SocialEats is growing fast and going global with plans to expand beyond the GCC into the UK, Turkey, India, and Iraq. What started as a shared passion for hospitality has turned into a diverse portfolio of brands, from award-winning desserts and elevated Indian cuisine to specialty coffee and custom cakes. Check them out socialeats.com

Here are some of my favorite events taking place this weekend.

Thursday, October 2
Gahwa by The Avenues
Fullout Dance Workshop
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition

Friday, October 3
Gahwa by The Avenues
Speedcubing Nationals 2025
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition
Sunrise Yoga

Saturday, October 4
Gahwa by The Avenues
QERAT Jewelry Exhibition
Speedcubing Nationals 2025
SL Show
A Table of Cakes
Urban Sketchers in Blockat
The Cartoons’ Orchestra
Singapore F1 Qualifying Session
Coffee Painting Workshop
Back to School Chess Fest Competition
DAI StoryTime at Amricani
Blooms & Brews
Family Kayak Race
Matcha Workshop
Hardcover Binding Workshop
Sunrise Yoga

The new redeveloped Shuwaikh Beach is reopening tomorrow Wednesday, October 1st. The project is part of Kuwait Municipality’s efforts to enhance the leisure and recreational spaces in Kuwait. The 1.7km-long project got upgraded facilities, including a running track, bicycle track, mosques, and several main areas tailored to community needs like sports fields, recreational areas, and extensive green spaces.

I took a stroll around the park and although it’s not covered in trees like the original renderings were, there were plenty of grassy areas to sit and chill. Barbecuing isn’t allow but picnics are. I saw two main play areas for kids each located at opposite ends of the park. There were also two volleyball courts, two basketball courts and a small rock climbing area as well as some outdoor workout equipment.

There will be a 1km walkathon tomorrow as part of the official opening and that will take place from 4PM to 7PM. Here is the location on Google Maps. For more photos, click here.

Back in 2019, a small Bhutanese spot called Momo Zaa opened in Salmiya and quickly became popular for their delicious momos (steamed dumplings). Sadly, the pandemic hit the following year and they ended up closing. The good news is they’re now back, this time with a new name and a new location.

Lepo & Lemo opened this past August in a new location in Salmiya. I actually prefer this new location because it’s walking distance from my place, like literally a 10 minute walk which is great. The restaurant is small but cute, with a good amount of seating for the space, including some seating outdoors.

We were a total of three so we ordered a bunch of things to try:

Crispy Chili Potato KD 1.850
Veg Juma (Vegetarian Sausage) KD 1.850
Chicken Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.850
Beef Momo (Dumpling) KD 1.950
Kewa Datshi (Potato Chili Cheese Stew) KD 1.750
Norsha Pat (Stir-fried beef) KD 2.650
Steamed Rice KD 0.750
L&L Signature Fried Ice Cream KD 2.650

For some reason my food photography skills seem to get worse with age, but trust me, everything looked great and tasted even better. Like, unexpectedly delicious. It’s been a while since I last had their food, so I’d forgotten how good it was. Everything was full of flavor and by the end I couldn’t decide what I liked most. The sausage I think really surprised me with how good it was, but I’d say the beef dumplings were my favorite dish. The cheese stew was my least favorite but even that wasn’t bad, it’s just everything else was much better.

I try not to post about food unless it’s something special, and L&L is definitely special. Even if you’ve never had Bhutanese food before, their dishes feel approachable and not at all intimidating. They had some unusual items like noodles with laban, which I’m saving for my next visit, but the dishes I mentioned above are all pretty beginner friendly.

We were three people and the bill came out to KD 13.650. They gave us the dessert on the house.

If you want to check them out, Lepo & Lemo open from 3PM to 11:30PM and are located in Salmiya right behind the 4th Ring Road fire station (Google Maps). They’re also on Instagram @lepo.lemo

his is a super busy weekend. If you’re a fan of House of Dragons, Milly Alcock is going to be in Kuwait for the comic festival this weekend. Check out all my favorite events taking place below.

Thursday, September 25
Comic Festival Convention
Bugsha Market at Assima
Auto World Show
Pokémon Trading Event

Friday, September 26
Comic Festival Convention
Film Club: Hook
Bugsha Market at Assima
Song Circle & Cacao Ceremony
Auto World Show

Saturday, September 27
Comic Festival Convention
Girls Only Game Day at Cozy Den
Seeds of Connection
Brunch, beats & tote bags
AIESEC x Qesati : Re-Inventing Myself
Bugsha Market at Assima
The State Symphony Orchestra of Moscow
Basics of Astronomy
Visual Journaling Session
Literary Open Mic
Soof Wool Mill Tour
Book Club: Confetti & Ashes
Auto World Show

Photo from @hadoolalk

It’s been a few months since Jar’s, the pizza spot, opened and today marks the start of their next chapter.

I’ve posted about the owner of Jar’s, Abdullah AlJarallah twice so far (here and here). Initially when he was making and delivering pizzas out of a commercial kitchen as a side hobby, and then again when he eventually opened his spot in Hawalli. It was a small cozy hole-in-the-wall that just made pizzas and had a set menu. Now Jar’s is expanding with more seating, a larger menu and they’re making a few other changes as well.

In addition to pizzas, Jar’s is now introducing two highly requested items, steaks and pastas. With these new additions, they’re moving away from the set menu, so you can now order freely without limitations. Like with their pizzas, they’re using top quality ingredients and making as much as possible in house. So fresh tomatoes, and plenty of good aged cheeses. All your favorite pizzas are still there as well.

The second biggest change is the addition of more chairs and tables. Jar’s outgrew the small space, so what used to be indoor seating is now a larger kitchen with a small gourmet merch section, while a new seating area was built outside. With the addition of more seating, you no longer need a reservation, you can just walk in.

Since I’ve been posting about Abdullah and his pizzas from the very start, it feels like I’ve become his official documentarian along the way, and it’s been fun watching Jar’s grow. Swipe left to check out some photos of the new items and then make sure you head over to his Instagram account @atjars

There’s an interesting variety of events taking place this weekend, here are my favorites. As always, double check the event details with the organizers.

Thursday, September 18
The IMPROV Show
Miami Show 3.0
Al Hamra Career Fair
Korean Movie Night: Along With The Gods

Friday, September 19
John Achkar Standup Comedy
Welcome Lunch Potluck
Miami Show 3.0

Saturday, September 20
Stretch for a Cause
Floral Workshop: Contemporary Design
World Cleanup Day
Trios by Haydn, Mozart & More
Miami Show 3.0
Morning Paddle Cleanup Edition
Denim Charms Workshop
Soof Wool Mill Tours

I’m a fan of Jimmy’s smashburgers, but I was never into their old location. It reminded me too much of Supernova’s interior in London and it was also tiny. Their new spot, on the other hand, is hot.

Jimmy’s just opened a much larger branch in Shuwaikh and it was designed by TWENTYONE Architects. TWENTYONE gave the brand a completely new look that is an elevated take on the American diner. The heart of the space is the open bar where you can watch them smash and cook the burgers for you. Part of the reason for the open bar is also for the sounds and smells, they want the customers to hear the sound of the grill and smell the meat as part of the experience

I love the checkered flooring and the warm walnut wood, and I think the space finally matches the quality of their burgers. If you want to check out more photos of the interior, click here.

Photos were taken by Sarah Jamaan.