Search: “kuwait”

The ice skating rink used to be one of my favorite landmarks in Kuwait. As a kid in the 80s, I took ice skating lessons there, and by the early 90s, it became a popular hangout spot for me as a teenager. We’d listen to great music (there was a DJ), play arcade games, grab dinner, and, of course, skate. I always loved the building’s design—it was truly iconic. When I created the Kuwait Blogs app back in 2010, I chose the ice skating rink as the image to represent Kuwait. It felt less cliché than the Kuwait Towers, and its unique shape made for a perfect app icon.

The rink was designed by French architect Dominique Beau, whose firm won the contract in November 1977. It officially opened in March 1980, making it the first ice skating complex of its kind in the Middle East. Beau thoughtfully incorporated local culture into the design—the iconic structure was inspired by Bedouin tents, while the terracotta tiles on the interior and exterior walls were influenced by traditional Sadu weavings.

Sadly, the rink was demolished in 2020 to make way for a new ice skating rink as part of the Al Shaheed Park Phase III project. When I got a sneak peek of the new rink last year, I noticed a tribute area dedicated to the old one. It’s a mini museum showcasing parts from the original rink, including terracotta tile wall patterns, ceiling beams, original seats, and other artifacts. Interestingly, the minaret of the Phase III mosque was built using beams from the old rink. Still, I wish they had preserved the original rink instead of replacing it.

I’m usually pretty good at digging things up, but I’ve never managed to find photos of the rink during its construction. Thankfully, Laila Al Hamed from @zericrafts and Huda Abdulmughni from @studio.khemiae spent over a year working to get their hands on some very rare photos. These came from the French architect, Dominique, and an engineer who worked with the Al Kharafi Group during its construction. I’ve shared some of the photos before but I’ve now uploaded them to my Flickr account in their original size and unedited. You can check them here.

This is just a quick update to my previous post relating to the opening of Popeyes in Kuwait. According to my contact there, the opening date of their first location has now been pushed back to January 2025.

Popeyes operated in Kuwait until closing in 2014, and now the Saudi food company Tanmiah is bringing it back. They’re opening two branches in Kuwait initially, one in Divonne Complex in Abu al-Hasaniyah, and the other in Sky Mall in Dhajeej.

Get ready for the Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival, a massive 70-day initiative aimed at boosting the local economy while delivering an unforgettable shopping and entertainment experience. Whether you’re a local, resident, or Gulf tourist, this event has something for everyone.

What’s It About?
The festival’s goal is to stimulate Kuwait’s economy by enhancing commercial, tourism, and entertainment activities. From massive discounts and exclusive offers to exciting giveaways, the festival ensures every outing is a rewarding one.

Who’s Involved?
Expect participation from shopping malls, retail stores, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and even cooperative societies. It’s a collaborative effort that brings together all sectors, including aviation, hotels, and small businesses, to offer something truly unique.

Why You Should Visit
The Kuwait Shopping Festival isn’t just about shopping—it’s a celebration of local culture, economic growth, and community spirit. It’s designed to support small and medium enterprises while creating a vibrant atmosphere that encourages domestic tourism.

Whether you’re looking for great deals, family entertainment, or a reason to explore Kuwait’s rich commercial and cultural offerings, this is the time to dive in.

Let the festivities begin! Keep an eye out for more updates and exclusive offers @yahalakuwait

Contrary to what some new media outlets are reporting, Wicked wasn’t technically banned in Kuwait. According to a contact at Cinescape, the censors requested cuts to certain dance scenes, unrelated to any LGBTQ+ characters. The studio refused these edits, which is why the film isn’t being shown in local theaters.

So similarly to when Barbie was released, if you’re in Kuwait and want to watch Wicked, you’re going to have to drive to Saudi to do that. Here are the three closest cinemas currently showing the movie:

Vox Cinemas
Location: Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 2 Hours and 13 Minutes from borders

Muvi Cinemas
Location: Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 2 Hours and 24 Minutes from borders

AMC Cinemas
Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 3 Hours and 24 Minutes from borders

Alternatively, you can also just wait a bit until the film becomes available to rent and stream online, although that might not be as fun as a roadtrip. If you’ve never driven to Saudi before, it’s super easy and the roads are in great shape. You also don’t have to worry about visa since any resident of Kuwait can get one.

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

Al Waseet Pools has been Kuwait’s leading swimming pool company for over 40 years. As Kuwait’s first pool specialists, they have built a legacy of trust, becoming the go-to name for everything swimming pools.

Recently, Al Waseet completed an exciting new project, a slight departure from their usual work, they installed the largest hydrotherapy pool in Kuwait.

Hydrotherapy swimming pools are specialized pools designed for therapeutic exercises and relaxation, commonly used for physical rehabilitation, pain relief, and stress reduction. These pools are usually heated to a comfortable, consistent temperature which helps to relax muscles and improve circulation. The water buoyancy reduces the weight and strain on joints, making it easier and less painful to perform exercises and movements, which is especially beneficial for people with conditions like arthritis, back pain, or mobility issues.

The hydrotherapy pool was installed at the Retirees Wellness Center, Thukher, part of The Public Institution for Social Security. It features state-of-the-art aquatic therapy equipment, including underwater treadmills and bikes, resistance jet technology, support bars, handrails, and more.

This is a project they’re especially proud of, given the benefits it will bring to retirees. For more information on Al Waseet, or if you’re considering a pool for your home or a maintenance contract, visit their Instagram account @waseetpools or website waseetpools.com

Found these two photos in an Aramco Magazine from 1969 with the following caption:

The young, tiny state of Kuwait has an ambitious program of special education for the handicapped. The Blind may complete a program of arithmatic and reading and writing in braille with training in leather work or manufacturing wicker furniture.

Made me wonder if we have a similar program today.

Photos by Khalil Abou El Nasr

Thanksgiving is coming up so I’ve put together two lists, one of restaurants that are serving Thanksgiving dinner, and the other of restaurants that have Thanksgiving dinners to take home. Last year there were more options for dine-in but this year, as of now, it looks like it’s only Radisson Blu. Update: More dine-in options have been added.

If there is a place you know serving Thanksgiving dinner that I haven’t listed, let me know so I can add it to the list:

Dine-In
Little Ruby’s
Radisson Blu
Santolina at SVN (for members and their guests)

Take-Out
Baker & Spice
Dean & Deluca
Four Seasons Hotel
Little Deli
Madison & Heig
Monoprix
Paul
Radisson Blu
Santolina at SVN
Sawsan
Sultan Center
Symphony Style Hotel

Gamzland is a new indoor amusement park that is opening at HOMZ Mall in Dhajeej next month. This is going to be the largest indoor amusement park in Kuwait and will have entertainment experiences for families and adventure lovers of all ages.

The official opening is on December 15, 2024 and will include special giveaways. So mark your calendars from now if you don’t want to miss this celebration.

If you want to stay posted on the opening event, follow @gamzlandkw

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

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

This is pretty shocking news but by the end of March 2025, British Airways will be axing its Kuwait London route. British Airways has been flying to Kuwait for over 92 years, since before British Airways was called British Airways.

British Airway’s first flight to Kuwait was in 1932 when Imperial Airways landed in Kuwait for the first time. Imperial Airways merged into British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1939. BOAC in turn merged with the British European Airways (BEA) in 1974 to form British Airways. So Imperial Airways is technically British Airways.

It seems the main reason for the route cancellation is problems with Rolls-Royce engines that power the British Airways fleet. The airline is having issues with the serviceability of their engines and so the Kuwait – London route is no longer viable for them.

I personally stopped flying BA to London since T4 opened. But, BA were my go-to airline to fly to Los Angeles since a number of times I was able to fly business class for around 1,000KD round-trip. Compared to airlines like Emirates and Qatar Airways that charge around 1,700, it was a really good deal.

So far in less than 2 years, KLM, Lufthansa, and now British Airways have canceled their Kuwait route. I don’t believe there is any European airline that now flies to Kuwait direct. Now I’m concerned.

According to a source familiar with the project, Popeyes, the popular fried chicken chain, is opening their first location in Kuwait at the end of this month. I sadly don’t have an exact date, it was hard enough to get just this info from them.

Tanmiah, the Saudi food company that owns and operates Popeyes in Saudi Arabia are opening two branches to begin with, one in Divonne Complex in Abu al-Hasaniyah, and the other in Sky Mall in Dhajeej.

Popeyes used to operate in Kuwait until they closed down back in 2014, so it’s been nearly a decade since they were last here. The new Instagram account isn’t live yet, but I’ll update this post once it is.

Al-Rai Media Group is entering the entertainment industry by launching a mega musical project, ‘The Spirit of Kuwait,’ in partnership with Kaif Production.

‘The Spirit of Kuwait’ will be a Kuwaiti heritage-based musical work presented in orchestral form with a modern twist. It will also be the largest artistic orchestra in Kuwait, comprising nearly 100 musicians and featuring some of the country’s top musical talent. The orchestra will be led by maestro Dr. Ahmad Al-Oud, with Salman Al-Amari and Abdulaziz Al-Mesbah as the primary vocalists. Maestro Mohammed Salem Al-Qahoom, one of the Arab world’s most prominent composers and orchestrators, will orchestrate the musical pieces.

Alongside this all-star roster, the show will also utilize the latest in concert technologies. It is expected to last an hour and a half and will feature state-of-the-art audio-visual systems to immerse the audience in a captivating experience, blending traditional Kuwaiti heritage with modern artistic innovation.

The first performance of ‘The Spirit of Kuwait’ is expected to be in May 2025. To stay posted on this project, you can follow @alraimediagroup and @kaif_kuw.

For more information, read the articles below.
Article 1
Article 2

The Kuwait Pavilion at last year’s International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale was titled Rethinking Rethinking Kuwait (pictured above). The project was an ongoing investigation aimed at rectifying the effects of modernist urban planning, which led to the erasure of much of Kuwait’s historic built fabric.

That same pavilion has now been moved and reinstalled here in Kuwait. This is the first time this has happened; usually, if you miss the pavilion in Venice, you’re out of luck. But this year, they decided to pack up the exhibition and bring it to Kuwait, where it’s currently on display at the Yarmouk Cultural Center – Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah.

The pavilion examines Kuwait on a national scale, with a focus on Kuwait City as a prototype features over 30 Kuwaiti exhibitors.

If you’re interested in checking it out, it’s open daily from 10 AM to 7:30 PM, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it’s closed. For more information and photos head over to @rethinking.kuwait