Search: “ur”

The airline YouTuber Nonstop Dan recently flew Kuwait Airways and just published his part 1 of 2 review. The review goes as expected, nice first class seats, but subpar service and poor amenities. But, supposedly he was threatened not to publish the review and police got involved once he landed in Kuwait. He’s publishing the dramatic second half of the review after tomorrow so we will have to see what happens.

Nowadays I don’t believe anything I watch online since everyone is just trying to grab headlines. I don’t know anything really about Dan’s credibility so I don’t know how dramatic he usually is. I’ll have to watch his second video to see if things were lost in translation, or if the police did get involved etc. I guess he’ll be getting my views.

I don’t know how I only recently realized this but turns out there is a pretty big difference between the first gen Apple TV 4K and the 3rd generation one, even though they look pretty much the same.

I only found out after I installed tvOS 26 developer beta on my AppleTV. I didn’t notice any visual differences and then a few days later I read an article about how some of the new visual changes would only show on the gen 3 AppleTV. So I checked my model and realized it was the first generation from 2017. I didn’t really realize because at one point in time I upgraded my remote to the new one and so my AppleTV in my hands resembled the latest gen.

What I also didn’t realize was that there was a considerable upgrade to the Apple TV CPU from the 1st gen to the 3rd. So I went out and bought the latest AppleTV which is over 2 years old now and damn, the difference in experience is pretty big.

All the streaming apps start and run faster now, and even the streams start quicker. Not only that but Peacock for example seems to be streaming in 4K now when it previously wasn’t. Or maybe it was but the app processes the stream better now resulting in sharper footage? No idea but the whole AppleTV experience had just been a huge upgrade for me.

Usually I’m on top of everything Apple so quite surprised at how I was so unaware of this. I actually shouldn’t have bought the AppleTV now since it’s due for an upgrade soon, but figured I’d just sell it again once the new one comes out.

Provin is a local brand that sells high-quality supplements and herbal remedies. They carry around 100 brands, including some really popular ones like NOW, Goli, Thorne, Health Nag, Optimum Nutrition, Sundown, and many more.

A lot of people don’t realize that our extreme heat can actually degrade or spoil supplements if they’re exposed to high temperatures for too long. That’s why Provin is running a “cool” campaign right now.

Every order from Provin comes with a small ice pack in the box. If the ice pack is melted by the time it arrives, just take a photo and send it to Provin, they’ll sort it out for you.

It’s a simple but important initiative, especially in this heat. Getting your supplements delivered cooled means you don’t have to worry about them losing potency or going bad before they even reach you. Provin’s extra step gives you peace of mind that what you’re taking is as fresh and effective as it should be.

If you’ve never ordered from Provin or want to find out more, check them out at provin.me

Not a lot happening this weekend, but I did manage to find some activities that look pretty fun.

Here are my favorite things happening this weekend. As always, double check the event details with the organizers.

Thursday, June 26
Chapter Three: Literary Open Mic

Friday, June 27
Early Birds Book Club Meeting

Saturday, June 28
Second Chance Thrift Sale
Treasure Hunt Challenge
Girls Only Open Board Gaming
Lego Printmaking Workshop

Keeta, the giant Chinese food delivery service, is coming to Kuwait to compete with the likes of Talabat, Deliveroo, Jahez, and Cari. I hadn’t heard of Keeta until recently, but they’re the world’s largest food delivery platform, with over 770 million users, 98 million daily orders, and more than 7 million drivers.

I don’t think there is room for another delivery service in Kuwait, but they were able to do really well in Saudi, and quickly. It took them just four months after launching to become the third-largest food delivery platform there. So they might do the same here and push someone else out of the top three.

To capture such a large chunk of the Saudi market so quickly, Keeta replicated the strategy they used in China: ultra-low prices and no delivery fees. From what I’ve been told, they’ll be waiving delivery fees in Kuwait as well, at least for the first 12 months.

Their delivery speed roadmap for Kuwait is also ambitious. The initial plan is a consistent 25–30 minute delivery time across Kuwait, with phase two targeting under 20 minutes in dense areas. The long-term goal is a 15-minute “hyper-local” service.

Another cool feature they’ll have is Keeta points which you earn with every order. You’ll be able to convert those points into airline miles, hotel loyalty programs, or lifestyle memberships.

Being a Chinese company, they’re obviously very tech-focused. This past December, they launched a small-scale drone delivery service in Dubai, using drones to deliver food and medical supplies to Keeta delivery stations around the city. In China they’ve also been experimenting with autonomous vehicles and delivery robots. Not sure if we’ll ever get any of these here, but even if we don’t, their app and restaurant software system is supposedly one of the best.

They’re planning to officially launch in Kuwait this coming September, with a soft launch before with select restaurants.

I had a really hard time finding a Pro Controller 2 for my Switch 2 since they were sold out everywhere. But this morning I picked one up from Game Store. I saw on their instagram story they had a few in store but were not available online. So I got in touch with them by WhatsApp and they told me it was only available at Game Store Avenues and Kout Mall.

Thankfully I was able to purchase it and pay for it through WhatsApp yesterday, and just headed there this morning to pick it up.

As of this post they still have a few in stock and they’re selling them for KD32.9

I actually have the original Pro Controller 1 but Nintendo being Nintendo are only allowing the new Pro Controller 2 to wake up the Switch 2 from sleep mode. That means every time I want to play I need to reach behind my TV where I have my Switch 2 dock and turn it on before turning my controller on. Super annoying. With the new controller I’ll be able to turn it on from the controller itself like a normal gaming system.

Russell Peters, the popular stand-up comedian, is coming back to Kuwait as part of his Relax World Tour. This isn’t his first time performing in Kuwait, but the last time he was scheduled to come was in October 2023 and that show was canceled.

Fame Entertainment (@fame.entmt), the same company that recently brought Fluffy, Craig David and Blue to Kuwait are the ones who are bringing Russell Peters back. There will take place on October 20th so I expect tickets to go on sale at the end of summer. Link

Turns out Pret A Manger also opened in Terminal 4 of Kuwait Airport. They opened two weeks ago and took over the previous seating area for Shake Shack, on the ground floor of the departure area.

Thanks Yousef

Another surprisingly busy weekend, here are my favorite things happening. As always, double check the event details with the organizers.

Thursday, June 19
Yellow Balloon Festival
Entertainment Village

Friday, June 20
Entertainment Village
Introduction to Analog Photography
Songwriting 101: Ego Detox
Oil Pastels & Coffee

Saturday, June 21
Entertainment Village
Jam Session
Green Coffee
Eco Talks
DAI Story Time
CHESS SATURDAYS AT AMRICANI
Summer Solstice Women’s Circle
Brew & Bites Brunch

A couple of days ago, Wingstop started delivery in Kuwait through Talabat. They currently have just two locations open, so the delivery coverage is still limited. For now, they deliver to the following areas:

Bayan
Daiya
Dasma
Hawally
Jabriya
Mansouriya
Messila
Mishref
Mubarak Al-Abdullah
Qadsiya
Rumaithiya
Sabah Al Salem
Salmiya
Salwa
Shaab

They’re planning to open four more locations around Kuwait, with the next one expected to launch next month at Assima Mall. As more locations open, the delivery zones will expand. @wingstopkuwait

ERA is a new fitness and wellness club that opened a few months ago. I first found out about it because my wife was looking to join a gym and ended up signing up as a founding member. So when they approached me for this post, I already knew who they were.

ERA isn’t your typical large and busy gym. They describe themselves as a premium fitness and wellness hub. It’s an exclusive club designed for a limited number of members, offering personal training, a variety of classes, Pilates, private studios, consultations, workshops, retail space, and a smoothie bar.

I hadn’t seen the space until they shared photos with me, and after going through them, I decided to check it out in person. For the past couple of months, I’ve been thinking about joining a gym again since my old one shut down. I don’t like large gyms, I don’t like mixed gyms, and most importantly, I needed a place with personal training (the only way I’m going to work out is if someone forces me to). ERA ticked all the boxes, so I ended up joining too.

The team and trainers behind ERA are fairly well known, many of them having come from the now-closed Corniche Club. They’ve been working in Kuwait for years and genuinely love it here, which is reassuring because it means my PT or the quality of service isn’t suddenly going to change in a few months.

ERA is spread over three floors: a women’s floor, a men’s floor, and a floor for classes. The space has large windows that stretch from one end to the other and overlook the sea, so there’s plenty of daylight, which is something I really care about. I also liked the design, not just because it wasn’t dark and moody, but because it had a really calm and welcoming feel. That was another reason I ended up signing up.

I half-heartedly don’t want to promote the gym now that I’ve joined, since I don’t want it getting too popular. But they’ve capped the number of members, so I know it’ll never get too busy. If you’re looking for a new gym, you can check them out @eramembers.club

Design by @saccaldesignhouse, Photos by @mashkanani

Yesterday night, Alshaya officially revealed the location of the first Ulta Beauty store opening in the Middle East. The store will be located at The Avenues, in the spot where Dean & Deluca used to be, and according to a source, it’s expected to open this October. That will be followed by another Ulta Beauty store opening at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai later this year.

Ulta Beauty is known for offering a mix of luxury, drugstore, and indie brands all under one roof. Unlike Sephora, which focuses mainly on high-end products, Ulta carries everything from Dior and MAC to NYX and Maybelline. Another major draw is its in-store salons, offering services like haircuts, styling, facials, and brow treatments—something unique for a beauty retailer.

The Avenues location will be the first Ulta Beauty location outside the U.S.

The Ulta Beauty Middle East instagram account is also now live and you can check it out @ultabeautymiddleeast

If you’ve ever grabbed a bite from Trolley, chances are you’ve unknowingly tried something from Goodness (GDNS), their in-house fresh food and bakery brand. It’s a brand focused on fresh, affordable, and high-quality meals made for people on the go.

Their range is surprisingly pretty big since you’ll find everything from ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads to hot, freshly baked pizza and Arabian pies. The pizzas are Italian-style, made by an actual Italian chef, and ready in minutes. There’s even San Sebastian cheesecake if you’re in the mood for dessert.

They also have a popular Acai bowl that comes in a generous portion and is made with high-quality ingredients. I’ve also been told their chicken burger is a must-try since it’s their best seller, and that they recently added two new coffee options to the menu: Spanish Latte and Cold Brew. Both are priced affordably, with the Spanish Latte at KD 1.250 and the Cold Brew at just KD 1.

Goodness is currently available in most Trolley branches, with their bakery section already operating in a number of locations including:

• Abu Halifa
• Mansouriya
• Maseela
• Mina Abdullah
• Omariya
• Qurtuba
• Rahal
• Salmiya

More locations are being added regularly, but starting this week, GDNs Bakery is also available to order online through the Trolley app, Talabat, Jahez, or Deliveroo.

Next time you’re at Trolley, check out the bakery counter or the fresh food shelves, and if you’re curious about new releases, give them a follow. @Try.gdns

Human Rights Watch yesterday published an article accusing Kuwait of violating international human rights law with the new exit visa requirement. The article was written Michael Page, the deputy director at HRW in the Middle East and North Africa division.

This decision is an alarming step backward in Kuwait’s migrant worker governance. Instead of dismantling the kafala (visa sponsorship system) in its entirety, the Kuwaiti state is reinforcing it by putting migrant workers even further under the control of their employers and making them more vulnerable to exploitation.

There is no basis to Kuwaiti authorities’ claim that the exit permit will balance the interests of both employers and workers. Rather, the permit enables employers to trap workers in abusive situations and serves as a tool for retaliation.

The whole exit visa requirement decision is a really weird one which I don’t get. But then again, there are so many things that happen here I don’t get. Yesterday after posting the photos of Entertainment City under construction, I went through more of my old photos and still can’t understand how the whole place was demolished, trees and all, then just left as a barren desert with nothing in its place. There are so many things that happen here I don’t get, and this exit visa thing is just another one to add to the list and move on.

You can read the full Human Rights Watch article on their website.

Originally from California, Claudia Farkas Al Rashoud has been working in Kuwait since 1979, when she became the first professional female photojournalist for the Arab Times newspaper. Claudia still has all the negatives and slides from the photos she took and has been incredibly kind in digging through her archives to find images I’ve requested. I sent her a fairly long list of the most random subjects I’m interested in, and so far she hasn’t blocked me, which is good news!

The first batch of photos I’ll be sharing from her archive are of Entertainment City during its construction.

Claudia had taken photos and written a number of articles on Entertainment City for the Arab Times and other magazines. At the time, Entertainment City was the first theme park in the region and Kuwait’s most complex construction project, so it was big news. The design was handled by VTN, an American consulting firm, while construction was a joint venture between the Kuwaiti company International Contractors Group (ICG) and Castelli of Italy.

The park was divided into three main areas: Arab World, International World, and Future World. The contract was valued at KD 16,845,281, with around KD 1.8 million allocated to just two rides, Sinbad the Sailor and the African Boat Ride. Construction began in February 1979 and was commissioned by the Ministry of Public Works. At the time, it was one of the most ambitious and impressive projects ever undertaken in Kuwait. The park even featured Kuwait’s first railway line, which ran for two kilometers.

The photos she has are from different points in time, starting from the construction phase to after the park was completed. The aerial shots of the construction site were taken from the Space Needle in Future World. You can check out all the photos on my Instagram account.

If you’re interested in more of Claudia’s photos, her books are available for sale at the CAP Bookshop in Shuwaikh. Claudia is also the co-founder of Touch of Hope, the Kuwait’s largest animal shelter. @claudia_alrashoud