Last weekend was pretty quiet, but this one has a few things happening, although mostly for kids. Below are my favorite events happening around Kuwait. As always, double check the event details with the organizers.
A few hours ago the Public Authority Of Manpower announced that starting July, expats need an exit permit to leave Kuwait. The permits can’t be applied for through the Sahel App.
Although it’s all over the news this can’t be true. Somewhere along the lines something must have been lost in translation because requiring all expats get a permit just to travel can’t be realistic.
Here is the Public Authority’s statement translated to English:
In an organizational move aimed at strengthening control over the movement of expatriate workers and ensuring a balance between workers’ and employers’ rights, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Yousef Saud Al-Sabah issued a ministerial circular obliging expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain a “departure permit” from registered employers before leaving the country.
The General Authority for Manpower announced in implementation of the ministerial circular issued by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the expatriate worker must submit a request for a departure permit to the employer, including his personal data and the specific travel date, using the official form approved by the Authority. These applications will be submitted electronically through the dedicated platform to ensure speed and accuracy in processing.
The Authority stressed that this measure aims to regulate the departure of expatriate workers, ensure their compliance with legal regulations, protect the rights of workers and employers, and reduce violations associated with leaving the country without prior notice. The Commission also called on employers and expatriate workers to fully comply with this procedure, and this circular comes as part of the government’s efforts to develop the work environment. This circular will begin on July 1, 2025. Source
Stores and gamers started getting their Switch 2 shipments yesterday since Kuwait customs reopened. I got mine yesterday morning and I know from a friend they’ve started popping up in Rehab as well although for 210KD. Geekay also had a few for sale for 235KD and they’re now available to preorder on their website for 205. Also, those who preordered from Alfuhod started getting their shipments yesterday as well.
My Mario Kart World cartridge is still on the way, for some reason Amazon shipped them both separately and I should be getting it tomorrow. But I managed to transfer everything from my Switch 1 to my Switch 2 yesterday and now have my original Switch up for sale.
Since I used my Switch 1 in dock mode 90% of the time, so far the Switch 2 feels very similar since I’m using my Switch 1 pro-controller. The biggest difference has to be the speed of the Nintendo store, everything loads A LOT faster, like sooo much faster, I can’t believe how slow the store used to be on the Switch 1 now that I look back at it. I downloaded the graphics upgrade for Zelda TOK but haven’t gotten around to playing it. I haven’t played Zelda in a few months so completely forgot all the controls and areas, need to figure it all out again.
If you got your Switch 2 already, let me know in the comments where you had ordered it from.
Back in the day when a new console came out, or a new game, you’d find it at Rihab Complex for sale a couple of days before the launch. These days are long gone now. I was there a few days ago asking stores about the Switch 2 and nobody had any idea when they were getting it.
In 2008, of the most eagerly anticipated PlayStation 3 games ever, Metal Gear Solid 4 was released in Kuwait ahead of the official release date in the US by a full 3 days. It was such a big deal that even Kotaku posted about it. In 2017 when the original Switch was launched, it was available for sale at Rehab before the official launch date. Photo below was part of the Kotaku article.
I was talking to the owner of Kuwait Center, one of the OGs in the business. He actually used to be the go-to Nintendo store back in the day and still has a ton of new old stock Nintendo stuff. He had no idea when he was getting the Switch 2. But he also told me that after COVID, with the new electronic systems they implemented for processes, it’s nearly impossible to clear items from customs on the same day which is why we no longer see as many games and consoles for sale before launch. Previously he’d run around getting all the paperwork he needed signed to clear the shipment quickly. Nowadays everything has to be submitted online and requests and approvals take longer.
So far it looks like the only place that was able to get an early shipment of Nintendo Switch 2’s in Kuwait was Game Store. Their shipment arrived on June 3rd and they delivered them already to their customers. A reader told me they sold for KD 240 each which is obviously a lot higher than the market price but not too bad if you just wanted to get the console before the official world launch.
Personally, I ordered my Switch 2 from Amazon.es. According to a recommendation from a reader I originally placed the order for one from Amazon.fr. But I then noticed that if I ordered from the Spain website shipping would be cheaper. I ordered the Switch 2 Console (not the Mario Kart bundle), and a physical copy of Mario Kart World. Both items were shipped to Kuwait with customs and everything came out to 516 euros, or KD 180. Might be a bit less since Amazon tends to refund me a bit back from the import deposit. That’s basically the same as the Nintendo official price for the console bundle in Saudi which is great.
The reason I didn’t order the bundle from Amazon.es is because I found out the European models get a download code for Mario Kart unlike in Saudi for example where you get an actual cartridge. I read the code would only be redeemable in the Nintendo stores of the country of purchase and if that’s true it would mean I would need to create a new Nintendo Spain account which I didn’t want to do. Plus I prefer a physical copy of the game anyway.
The Switch 2 was out of stock on Amazon.es for a few days but this morning they were back in stock. So if you want one just order one from there. If you order today they estimate it will arrive after Eid on June 15. Here is the link.
Yesterday, I came across a tweet by Sharifa Alshalfan, a member of the Kuwait Municipal Council, sharing a proposal that I think is a great idea for solving the current congestion in suburban areas. Sharifa tweeted that she had submitted an amendment to the residential building regulations, aimed at addressing the increasing number of cars in residential neighborhoods and their negative impact on the quality of life.
Currently, the regulations only allow the ground floor of a residential building to extend to the property line, while upper floors must be set back. Sharifa’s proposal seeks to modify the regulations to change this rule. The amendment would allow parking spaces to be added on the ground floor and make up for the lost space by letting the first and second floors extend out to the property line.
Key features of the proposal include:
Optional parking spaces within the plot: Giving property owners the choice to add parking without compromising living space above.
Automatic shading: The new design would provide shading for parking spaces through the upper floors’ extension, eliminating the need for separate canopies.
Improved pedestrian safety and greenery: The changes aim to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment and enhance the greenery in residential areas.
I had an architect help me create the image above to help visualize how this proposal would work. I’m actually surprised this wasn’t suggested before since it makes so much sense. According to Sharifa, the average 400m plot house can easily fit 6 cars.
Sharifa’s proposal is part of a bigger effort to update building rules to better fit our changing cities and make life better for people living there. According to her, it could take 2 months or longer to find out if this proposal is approved or rejected.
Sharifa is the co-author of “THE MULTIPLEX TYPOLOGY: Living in Kuwait’s hybrid homes”, a book on housing in Kuwait co-authored with Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Sarah AlFraih. If you’re interested, the book is available to purchase at That Al Salasil in The Avenues.
This came as a bit of a surprise, The Marafie Group of Companies announced that the B&O agency has been transferred to Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi Group (BNK Holding). I couldn’t find any details online on how long Marafie had the B&O brand in Kuwait, but it must be at least from the 80s since I remember going to their basement store in Zahra Complex as a kid. Link
I’m a pretty huge fan of the Bang & Olufsen brand, as long as it’s not battery operated that is. All my portable B&O units (BeoLit 12, BeoLit 15 and BeoPlay A2) stopped holding a charge a couple of years after buying them. My A9 on the other hand pictured above which I got back I 2013, still works perfectly. For all my B&O related posts, click here.
According to a thread on twitter by an exhibitor at the recently held Gold & Jewlery Exhibition, they had a diamond bracelet stolen from their booth.
Investigations by the Ministry of Interior revealed that two women were involved in the theft, stealing dozens of jewelry pieces worth hundreds of thousands of dinars from several stores at the exhibition. The stolen items included a diamond ring valued at over 30,000 Kuwaiti dinars from a well-known Kuwaiti store.
The MOI were able to identify the suspects and arrest them in less than 24 hours with all the stolen jewelry in their possession.
I hadn’t read about this heist anywhere else so thought it was interesting, and after googling found an Arab Times article with more information which you can check out here.
Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy store, just opened a new location at The Avenues. When Hamleys first opened in Kuwait back in 2020, I was a bit surprised they chose to open at The Gate Mall instead of The Avenues. I found that store small and too far out of my way to ever want to visit. But a few days ago, they opened their new location in Phase 1 of The Avenues, and I feel this is the one they should have opened back then.
The new Hamleys is bigger and more inviting although still tiny compared to the Hamleys flagship store in London. I think it’s also slightly smaller than the Fantasy Land store in The Avenues, but it’s filled with lots of toys including dedicated Hot Wheels, LEGO, Barbie and Play-Doh areas. There is also a Build-A-Bear Workshop inside the store.
The opening of this new store feels like a relaunch of the brand in Kuwait, since their Instagram account has deleted all traces of the previous store and positioned themselves as if they’re just opening in Kuwait for the first time.
If you want to check out the new store, it’s located on the ground floor of Phase 1 next to Foot Locker (not to be confused with the Foot Locker in Phase 3 or the one at The Forum). To make things slightly more confusing, Hamleys’ profile says they’re open in Avenues Phase 2, but the map on The Avenues website says Phase 1 🤷🏼♂️. Here’s their Instagram @hamleyskuwait
Pantera Furtiva is a Kuwaiti brand that was born from the owner’s (Yousef) fascination with minimalism and his appreciation for quality craftsmanship. The name, which means “stealthy panther” in Italian, captures Yousef’s style: quiet, powerful and built to last.
Yousef doesn’t believe in fast fashion, flashy logos or overpriced clothing made in sweatshops. He wanted to create pieces that last, are made ethically and can fit seamlessly into any wardrobe.
And his stuff is actually really cool, as evident from their first sneaker launch. Made from Grade A Italian leather and crafted by hand in Portugal, I think these sneakers look very clean and understated. They’re actually so my style, especially since the branding doesn’t stick out, but is still there if you look for it.
I also find it interesting how Yousef kept mentioning how important sustainability was to him and his team, and it’s also highlighted all over their website. Sustainability isn’t something that most of us have grown up with here and doesn’t play a major role in our lives, so to hear him talk about how crucial it is to his brand makes me want to start being more sustainable myself.
When it comes to the leather they use, Yousef makes sure to source it from a certified, environmentally conscious factory that avoids harmful dyes and mass production. Even the soles are made from recycled rubber, reducing the brand’s overall carbon footprint. Most of the packaging is also recycled, except for the thank-you card and bag, which Yousef plans to replace with recyclable versions soon.
If you’re traveling this summer, these shoes are the perfect pair to take with you since they go well with casual wear but also work if you want to go somewhere nice at night. They’re also 20% off right now, which makes them a pretty good deal.
I came across these images of the Kuwait National Assembly by accident. I had recommended a friend buy a book called “Jørn Utzon Logbook Vol. IV: Kuwait National Assembly“, which covers its construction but she told me it was sold out. I started searching for a copy for her online when I stumbled across images of the National Assembly I hadn’t seen before, not even in his book on the project.
If you aren’t familiar, the Kuwait National Assembly was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the same architect behind the iconic Sydney Opera House. His design was well thought out. He organized the main building complex in a way inspired by traditional Arabian bazaars. All the departments (offices, meeting rooms, reception areas, the library, Assembly Hall, and more) are arranged along a central street, similar to the layout of a bazaar. Each department is made up of modules of varying sizes built around small patios or courtyards, all connected to the central street by side alleys. The complex was designed to be expandable at any time by adding new modules, allowing it to grow outward continuously similar to bazaars.
The canopy, or tent-like shade at the entrance that gives the building its distinctive look, came to him after seeing a photo of two Arabs fishing on the shore under a small sail from their boat. The sail was stretched between two poles with a beam across the top, creating a simple shaded area. He loved the way the shadow looked and thought it would be a beautiful idea to use in the building.
Jørn’s Logbook Vol. IV focuses on the Kuwait National Assembly project and includes behind-the-scenes documents, original drawings, stories, and photos of the construction. It was published in 2008, and copies were still available as recently as 2019, but they seem to have sold out since then.
Majority of the photos I’ve shared in this post were taken from the Utzon Archive, the rest are from my copy of the book. If you want to check them all out and get access to the hi-res images, click here.
The photo above is the one I think inspired him since it was included inside his book.
The video above is also from their archive, I like it because if you forward around 2 minutes in you get to see a full 360 of the city from above. I think the video was shot from the old Kuwait Airways building.
Spa Time and Men Time were the first specialized luxury spas to open in Kuwait. Known for focusing on traditional healing techniques and body care, they’ve recently introduced two new treatments: a healing massage designed for Office Syndrome and another for tension in the lower legs and feet.
Office Syndrome is a growing health issue caused by poor posture, repetitive movements, and extended periods of inactivity, usually from long hours spent working at a desk or in front of a computer.
Some common symptoms of Office Syndrome include:
Muscle stiffness and body pain
Headaches or migraines
Numbness, tingling, or pain in the limbs
Eye strain
Poor circulation and fatigue
I relate to all of the above since I spend so much time sitting in front of a computer. This specialized treatment is actually recommended for people like me, as well as office workers, students, and even gamers.
The second treatment they’ve introduced, which you might also find interesting, is called Tired Leg & Foot Massage. This targeted therapy is designed to relieve fatigue, heaviness, and tension in the lower legs and feet. It’s ideal for people who stand or walk for long periods, travel frequently, or experience poor circulation and swelling in their legs. Sounds like the perfect treatment after a trip that involved a lot of walking.
I’m actually considering trying the Office Syndrome treatment myself, so if any of them also sound like something you’d be into, check them out. They have 7 branches around Kuwait, including in Al Muhallab, Avenues, Al Kout Mall, and Kipco Tower, so chances are there’s one near you. You can find out more on their website here.
The Scientific Center is opening its new expansion today, but I managed to get an early tour yesterday afternoon. First impression, wow, the view is incredible. I was there around 4PM, and the light was coming through the large glass wall surrounding the new area was casting beautiful shadows all over the interior. I wouldn’t be surprised if people went there just for the view.
The new expansion is massive, and I was given a tour of all the areas that are currently open. Some sections are still closed, with openings being staggered over the next year. The first area to launch is the World of Science, which spans three floors and features the following exhibits:
Kuwait, Earth & Universe Exhibit
Engineering Our World
Robosapiens Exhibit
There are plenty of interactive displays for both kids and adults that are fun and educational. The most fun for me was probably the paper plane building area, where you make a plane, load it into a machine, and launch it. My favorite section overall though was the Robosapiens Exhibit, which explores how humans and technology have evolved together. It had several displays that demonstrated the interface between technology and the human body, which I’ve personally always been fascinated by since I was a kid (I used to love the 80s cartoon Bionic Six).
I’d estimate the new expansion would take around two hours to fully explore with your kids, especially if they play and interact with all the different exhibits.
If you want to visit the Scientific Center, they’re initially limiting the number of visitors per day so it doesn’t get overcrowded. There are two ticket options, KD 5 and KD 6. Both give you access to everything, including the original Scientific Center and the new expansion. The KD 6 ticket also includes entry to the IMAX theater. Children under 2 enter for free. For more info, you can head over to their website tsck.org.kw
To check out more photos and videos, head over to my instagram @248am
I just read that the legendary Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado has sadly passed away. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest documentary photographers of our time.
In 1991, just after the Gulf War, Salgado documented one of the most devastating environmental disasters of the 20th century, the oil fires. His powerful black-and-white photographs of firefighters battling huge flames and smoke-filled skies. became iconic and captured the true cost of the war.
The images he captured in Kuwait continue to define how the world remembers the impact of the Gulf War. He published a book featuring those photos titled Kuwait: A Desert on Fire. To explore more of his work, visit his Instagram @sebastiaosalgadooficial.
Darkplace and Toast of London both star Matt Berry. Darkplace is hilarious, the whole thing is shot and acted like a cheap old tv show and I love it. Bad Thoughts was fine, most of the funny stuff I had already watched as TikTok clips. Zero Day I’m two episodes in and don’t really like it but trying to stick to it.
I also started rewatching Transparent again, used to really love the series and it still holds up really well. Super easy to binge watch as well.
Have you watched anything interesting lately? Let us know in the comments.
Movies at the Cinemas
The English movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:
If you regularly send money abroad, there’s now an easier and cheaper way to do it in Kuwait. Al Ansari Exchange recently launched a new app that lets you transfer money internationally directly from your phone, and based on what I’ve seen so far, it works really well.
You’ll need a Kuwait Civil ID and a local number to sign up, and the process took me less than 3 minutes to get started. Once registered, you can send money to countries like the UK, Europe, the US, and Canada using market exchange rates. The fees are low with transfers starting at 3KD with no hidden charges, and no sketchy buy/sell currency conversion margins.
The app allows bank-to-bank transfers for GBP, Euro, USD, and CAD, which is perfect for summer travel. You can even top up your Visa card from the app too. The app is really easy to use and it’s available in seven languages, including English, Arabic, Filipino, Hindi, Malayan, Tamil, and Telugu.
If you don’t want to use the app or don’t have a Civil ID, you can still visit one of Al Ansari’s 39 branches in Kuwait and transfer from there. With their recent $200 million acquisition of Bahrain Financing Company, they’ll soon have 80+ branches across the country.
Whether you’re sending money back home or moving funds for travel, it’s worth checking out. To find out more you can head to alansariexchange.com.kw
