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Internations released their list for “The Best and Worst Countries for Expats in 2025” and Kuwait once again is at the bottom of it. They have a section dedicated to why that is and it’s for all the reasons you expect, weather, pollution, lack of a nightlife, and lack of good public transportation:

An Insular Society in Kuwait (46th)

No stranger to last place is Kuwait in 46th. Not only are the Quality of Life and Ease of Settling In Indices also in last place, but so is expats’ overall happiness with their life in Kuwait (46th). And at 10 percentage points higher than the global average, 17% of expats plan to leave the country within a year.

The majority of respondents (70%) moved to Kuwait for job-related reasons (vs. 36% globally); in fact, 93% are working full time (vs. 56% globally). Yet the Working Abroad Index is in the bottom 10 (38th). Although the state of the economy is strong (8th), expats aren’t satisfied with their job security (45th) or work–life balance (44th) and don’t agree that they’re paid fairly for their work (44th).

Indeed, 38% of expats in Kuwait don’t feel their disposable household income is enough to lead a comfortable life (vs. 31% globally). And around the same share as the global average is satisfied with their financial situation (56% vs. 54%). So although Personal Finance is Kuwait’s best-performing index, it’s in a below-average 29th place.

Expats’ biggest concern before moving was the climate & weather (43% vs. 16% globally). Once there, about half (49%) give this factor a negative rating. And there’s no pleasant natural environment (46th), urban environment (42nd), or good air quality (44th) to distract from the desert heat. Other subcategories of the Quality of Life similarly disappoint with the lack of culture & nightlife (46th), public transportation (39th), and opportunity to travel (42nd). The availability of healthcare (26th) and the dining options (24th) are at least less dire.

For the full article, click here.

Looks like there are more Switch 2’s in Kuwait than people actually want them. I was at Xcite Avenues yesterday and noticed they’re now selling the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle for KD175, and the console only version for KD150.

Blink are selling the combo for slightly cheaper at KD173 as well and I’m sure there are probably even cheaper prices elsewhere. So if you wanted to wait till prices dropped to something reasonable, you’re in luck.

Update: Game Store selling the combo for KD170

Back in February, the second phase of the waterfront project opened up. The second phase starts at the Swimming Pool Complex near SVN resort and ends at Green Island, while the first phase of the project starts at Green Island and ends just past the Kuwait Towers.

Since the full waterfront opened, I hadn’t ridden it from end to end. But this morning, I did go out for a ride and noticed a bunch of issues.

First, the good stuff. The bike path is amazing. It’s a massive difference from the path I used to ride. Back in 2020, I sold my mountain bike and got a road bike. I loved the bike but was kinda regretting not getting a mountain bike, since without any suspension and with skinny tires, it was a pretty rough ride in some areas. The new bike path, on the other hand, is super smooth, and my bike is perfect for it.

I think that’s the only good thing I have to say about it. But I do have a lot of negative opinions I want to vent about.

There is no shade. ANYWHERE. Like, nowhere at all. I used to park my car outside the Swimming Pool Complex parking. It was a shaded lot, but it’s not anymore. They removed all the shaded parking, so I now have to park further down at SVN where it’s shaded. Not that big of a deal, but I don’t understand the thinking process here. It’s as if the people who worked on the project have never been to Kuwait before.

Car shade aside, there isn’t any shade for humans either. They removed all the large trees, so no tree to stand under and catch your breath. Weirdly, they also removed all the shaded cubicles which people used to chill and BBQ under (at least in the second phase of the project). Why?

I rode my bike this morning from SVN to Green Island, and the only shade I found was the shaded pathway that takes you into Green Island. What do they have against shade? I don’t get it.

I wish they had cool-down areas along the way. Like a bit of shade and maybe a water fountain. I love that they’ve fixed up the waterfront, but I feel like the people who worked on it had never engaged with the waterfront before or have never been to Kuwait.

I remember when I first posted about the first phase completion, a lot of people complained about how the benches don’t have any back support. And I remembered that when I used to ride my bike, I used to see a lot of people chilling on the benches, talking to each other, maybe reading a book, or just staring into the horizon. You can’t do that anymore. It’s like they don’t want people to spend time at the waterfront, and there’s a term for this:

Hostile Architecture.

The architects of the new waterfront designed it in a way that purposefully changes the behavior of the previous “customers” (not sure thats the right word but you get what I mean). So for example, instead of providing comfortable seating for the people who used to spend hours sitting and reading, those people now have to find another place to sit due to the lack of comfortable benches. Instead of creating an area for summer runners and riders to cool down and take refuge from the sun, they designed it in a way that makes the waterfront hostile to summer daytime users.

I love the bike path and will continue to use it, but all I’m asking for is for a bit of shade (something like the photo above) and water fountains.

The 61st exhibition by the Palestinian Culture Center kicked off today, celebrating the heritage, resilience, and artistry of Palestinian women.

The center has been active in Kuwait since the early 1970s, and each year they host this exhibition to help keep Palestinian culture alive while supporting underprivileged women and children in refugee camps.

The exhibition features handmade embroidery, ceramics, traditional foods, and books for sale. Every item reflects the rich culture of Palestine and supports the women who continue to preserve it with care.

Date: Thursday, May 15 to Monday, May 19
Time: 10AM to 8PM
Location: Women’s Cultural and Social Society (Google Maps)

For more info, head to @palestiniancc

The Palestine Film Festival 2025 opens tomorrow (Sunday, April 6) as part of the “All Eyes on Palestine” visual event happening in Kuwait this week which also includes the “Gaza Habibti” photo project.

“Gaza Habibti” brings together the work of 25 photographers from Gaza, capturing moments of hope and everyday life in a place still fighting for freedom and dignity. Their photos will be part of exhibitions taking place around the world, with all proceeds going to support photographers in Gaza. This event is taking place at @capkuwait and opens April 6 and will be on view until April 12.

The Palestine Film Festival Kuwait on the other hand is a volunteer-run, non-profit initiative that celebrates Palestinian life, art, and culture. The festival features a curated lineup of films, from documentaries to shorts, all highlighting the resilience and spirit of the Palestinian people. This year the films will be showing at CAP Theater and AUK.

There is also a poetry night taking place on Thursday.

All events are free and no registration is required for any of them.

Follow @palestinefilmfest_kuwait and @capkuwait for more details.

I visited Nasco a few months ago while looking for the local USM dealer because I needed a console for my living room TV. USM is a modular furniture brand you’d probably recognize if you saw it since it’s fairly popular and has a unique look. When I visited back in October, they had unofficially opened their new location, but since then, they finally held their official inauguration.

The new Nasco showroom has a sleek, premium aesthetic with high ceilings and diverse spaces. The building interestingly was originally a glass factory before being repurposed into a multi-brand showroom, designed by Flaviano Capriotti Architetti. The Nasco building also houses Gourmet Grocers, which I previously posted about. Gourmet Grocers is a high-end boutique offering a curated selection of premium gourmet products to quality-focused customers.

My favorite part of the building though is the area they call The Pavilion. It’s a bright inner courtyard infused with greenery that creates a seamless connection between architecture and nature.

Inside, the showroom is divided into two main areas, the Poliform showroom and the Nasco Interiors showroom. The Poliform showroom features the brand’s latest collections, from sleek kitchen units to sophisticated wardrobe systems, while the Nasco Interiors showroom offers a curated selection of luxury brands, including: SieMatic, Meridiani, Bellavista Collection, USM, de Le Cuona, Oluce, along with a wide array of textiles and fabrics.

The showroom is more than just a display—it’s an inspiration hub, demonstrating how these elements come together to create stylish, cohesive interiors for a range of tastes.

For context, Nasco Group has been around for over 30 years, operating in Kuwait and the UAE. They’re well-known for exclusively distributing premium lifestyle products across home interiors, gourmet foods, and even brands like Nestlé Nespresso.

The new Nasco building is located in Shuwaikh, on the same street as Ananas and Al Tilal Complex (Google Maps). They’re open Saturday to Wednesday from 9AM to 7PM and on Thursday from 9AM to 5PM. For more information, head to @nasco.group, @nascointeriors, and @gourmetgrocers.

Boutiqaat has inaugurated the YaHala Shopping Festival’s draws, “Ya Hala,” by launching its first-of-its-kind raffle draws. The winners receive a variety of rewards, including 12 luxury cars, $100,000 in cash distributed among 100 winners, and 100 shopping vouchers worth 100 Kuwaiti dinars each, provided by Boutiqaat under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce.

Commenting on this occasion, Ali Al-Tayyar, Public Relations Manager at Boutiqaat, stated: “The strategic partnership between Boutiqaat and YaHala stems from Boutiqaat’s commitment to supporting Kuwait Vision 2035 in achieving comprehensive and integrated development across various sectors of the country.” He highlighted Boutiqaat’s role in boosting the local economy and Kuwait’s tourism sector, emphasizing that the grand draws launched under the Boutiqaat name are only the beginning and that the festival will continue to introduce more exciting draws.

Al-Tayyar further explained: “Boutiqaat’s participation in the region’s largest shopping festival presents an ideal opportunity to strengthen engagement with its customers across the GCC. The “Ya Hala” draws are not limited to customers within Kuwait, but extend to customers across the Gulf, enabling them to seize winning opportunities by taking part in the festival draws.”

The festival’s offers and events have received tremendous engagement and enthusiastic participation from audiences across Kuwait, with positive feedback from customers, who have shown great interest in the festival’s exclusive deals and exceptional discounts.

Additionally, Boutiqaat’s exclusive offers within the “Ya Hala” festival will continue for 70 consecutive days, filled with ongoing draws. The company is hosting various events and discounts in partnership with “Ya Hala” to provide winning opportunities worth over $1 Million in cash prizes, 120 luxury cars, and many other valuable rewards and gifts.

Ya Hala, the biggest shopping festival in Kuwait’s history, kicked off a few days ago. I was at The Avenues and noticed tons of shops offering discounts. It’s super easy to tell which ones are participating in the festival by the Ya Hala stickers stuck outside on their displays.

For the next ten weeks, every 10 dinars you spend will earn you a coupon for a draw. Each week, you could win one of 12 cars or a share of $100,000, divided among 100 winners.

Stay updated on the festival by following @yahalakuwait and @whatsonyahala

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

A couple of days ago, the Erab International Festival, the largest equestrian event in Kuwait, kicked off. This year, the festival is even bigger, running for 10 days from November 21 to November 30.

The festival features four main equestrian shows:

• Working Equitation
• Sword & Tent Pegging
• Dressage
• Arabian Horses Pageant

In addition to the equestrian shows, there’s a wide variety of entertainment for both adults and children. The organizers have brought in three street performers from Covent Garden in the UK to perform throughout the festival. These are the same talented performers you might have seen while wandering around Covent Garden, now here in Kuwait for this event.

In addition to the Covent Garden performers, the festival features food stalls, a mini zoo, various VR experiences, and even a comedy show.

The event is being held at the Bait Al-Arab Stables near Murouj and runs daily from 3 PM to 10 PM. For tickets and the full schedule, visit erabfestival.com

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 powerful exhibition and one of the largest in the region, will feature the artworks of more than 100 global artists who have generously donated their art to support the Intisar Foundation mental health drama therapy programs in Palestine and to stand as a unified call for Peace in the Arab world.

Opening Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00PM.
Location: Contemporary Art Platform (Location)

Ten years ago, Kuwait held the largest sand sculpture festival in the world, the Remal International Festival (@remalfest). The festival took place at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds and covered an area equivalent to six football fields. Now a decade later, Damon Langlois, the creative director behind the project is releasing a book called “Stories in Sand” that documents his experience.

Damon was a five-time world champion and Guinness World Record holder for the tallest sand castle before getting hired to come to Kuwait and lead the project that would be based around the Arabian Nights. He spent over seven months researching and designing the scenes before bringing together 72 of the world’s best sand artists to reimagine the stories from 1001 Nights.

The sculpture park was constructed out of only sand and water, it was a major artistic feat, and extremely risky. The artists were all reminded of this when the park was destroyed by a devastating three-day storm halfway through the build. At the time, it was the worst storm to hit Kuwait in over 50 years.

I remember reading that “some” sculptures had been damaged, but now I realized how bad it really was. The destruction caused Damon and his team to feel defeated after all the hard work had been washed away. But, they were able to recover and complete the project, and the park eventually opened in January 2014 before closing 4 months later in April.

Damon’s book “Stories in Sand”, is part art and part storybook. The initial print run is set at only 260 books and contains 276 pages filled with behind the scenes and final creation photos and stories. There are limited copies of the book so if you want one you need to act fast. I’m assuming they will get sold out quickly after this post which is why I already ordered my copy. The book doesn’t ship to Kuwait directly so I had to put my Shop&Ship address instead.

If you want to pre-order a copy, here is the link to the Kickstarter.

For my old posts on the Remal Festival, click here.

Last week a video popped up on my feed that I thought was fascinating. A guy called Hamad AlMuzaini (@hamad.muzaini) had spotted a little piece of architecture history at a scrap yard in Amghara, the Maison Bulle (Bubble House) by French modernist architect, Jean-Benjamin Maneval.

The Bubble House which was conceived in 1963 is considered to be one of the most successful designs for “futuristic plastic houses“. Only 300 of these prefab homes were ever built and so it’s pretty incredible that not only did one end up in Kuwait, but the fact that it survived and is in fairly decent condition is a miracle.

Hamad is an architect and designer who lived and worked in the US for roughly 13 years. Most of his work experience revolved around modular and prefabricated construction, which is why when he spotted the Bubble House roughly two years ago, he immediately recognized that it was a novel system and had immense value. But, Hamad only realized recently what he had spotted when an account he follows posted a similar Bubble House. So Hamad went back to Amghara and called the number of the scrapyard asking if it was for sale. From there he purchased the house and started planning its relocation.

Most of the images online consistently depicted the Bubble House set against nature, making a really beautiful composition of something quite futuristic. So he decided to move the Bubble House out of the scrap yard and onto his family’s farm.

Currently Hamad is focusing his efforts on restoring the structure without permanent and damaging procedures. He wants to restore it as close to the original as possible but without an interior layout, leaving it as an open floor plan. He hopes to one day host events with some community engagement surrounding the Maison Bulle, but for now his focus is to restore it.

How the Bubble House ended up in Kuwait in the first place is still a mystery, but at least it’s in good hands right now.

The Palestine Film Festival Kuwait kicks off tomorrow, (Thursday, April 25th) as part of the Palestine Days event that’s taking place this weekend at the Contemporary Art Platform in Shuwaikh.

The festival is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Palestinian life, art and culture, and they will be showcasing a curated selection of feature films, documentaries and shorts.

In addition to the films, there will also be book launches, talks and an exhibition by the Palestinian Cultural Center in which they will be selling beautiful, artisanal Palestinian products.

The event and screenings are free, but registration is required for the films as seats are limited. Find the registration form in the festival’s bio @palestinefilmfest_kuwait