Vehicles run on a road during a dust storm in Kuwait City 2025 shows buildings shrouded in a dust storm in Kuwait City Palm trees are pictured during a dust storm in Kuwait City People walk by palm trees during a dust storm in Kuwait City We’re honored to be named Startup of the Year in Kuwait City Big thanks to HackerNoon for celebrating our journey at Kuwait Mart Kuwait Mart is a homegrown e-commerce platform built to serve customers across Kuwait with speed after months of development using a fully custom-built platform developed entirely in-house. Our mission is to bridge the gap between quality products and seamless online shopping offering a platform where customers can confidently explore tech Our vision is to become the most trusted marketplace in Kuwait—defined by transparency At its core, Kuwait Mart is about access We’re reshaping the e-commerce experience in Kuwait by building a marketplace that prioritizes genuine products without the usual friction that often comes with local online shopping Our long-term goal is to empower both consumers and suppliers within Kuwait fostering a more efficient and transparent digital economy tailored to the needs of the local market We focus on offering only verified products from reliable suppliers backed by clear warranties and exceptional customer service and a deep understanding of local shopper needs Kuwait Mart is built to be a platform customers can rely on—built for today Being named the Startup of the Year in Kuwait City validates not just our concept but the hard work and belief our team has put in since day one It’s a proud moment that motivates us to aim even higher in 2025 I’m proud of the people behind Kuwait Mart Everyone—from development to support—shares the same energy and belief in our mission We foster a culture where feedback is fast and innovation is encouraged at all levels Our biggest turning point was the day we integrated with a local payment gateway and went live Seeing the first orders come in—and fulfilling them successfully—proved that our system worked in the real world That early validation helped us move with confidence Don’t overbuild features based on assumptions speed matters more than perfection in the early days We’re seeing a clear shift toward platforms that offer localized service with high global standards Kuwait Mart is committed to staying ahead by closely monitoring user behavior and continuously improving every aspect of the shopping journey—from product discovery to doorstep delivery We see this title as a responsibility to set a positive example—through better practices we’ll use this recognition to open new conversations with partners and continue building trust within the e-commerce ecosystem in Kuwait We’re looking to onboard more official brand partners and launch a mobile app tailored for Kuwait’s fast-moving shoppers we plan to roll out smarter logistics integrations to further reduce delivery times From AI tools reshaping how we manage content and operations Rising costs and international uncertainty made us double down on local partnerships and operational efficiency—which HackerNoon has always stood out with its community-driven approach and transparency The exposure you give startups is meaningful but if your customers and team trust your product and your process you’ll always have a foundation to grow from 🏆 Want to know why Kuwait Mart was named Startup of the Year 2024 The winners will get a free interview on HackerNoon and an Evergreen Tech Company Newspage Visit our FAQ page to learn more Download our design assets here Check out the Startups of the Year Merch Shop here HackerNoon’s Startups of The Year is a branding opportunity unlike any other. Whether your goal is brand awareness or lead generation, HackerNoon has curated startup-friendly packages to solve your marketing challenges Wellfound:. Join the #1 global, startup-focused community we're not just a job board—we're the place where top startup talent and the world's most exciting companies connect to build the future Hubspot: If you’re looking for a smart CRM platform that meets the needs of small businesses, look no further than HubSpot. Seamlessly connect your data, teams and customers in one easy-to-use scalable platform that grows with your business. Get started for free Bright Data: Startups that leverage public web data can make faster, data-driven decisions, giving them a competitive edge. With Bright Data’s scalable web data collection businesses can grow from a small operation to an enterprise by harnessing insights at every stage Algolia: Algolia NeuralSearch is the world's only AI end-to-end Search and Discovery Platform combining powerful keyword and natural language processing in a single API Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Writing by Yousef Saba; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Freya Whitworth Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved These crypto miners are allegedly causing blackouts Kuwait is in a power crisis as summer temperatures are soaring Its growing number of citizens are pushing the power grid to keep cool while some power plants are experiencing maintenance delays Kuwaiti authorities allege that cryptocurrency miners are pushing power demand beyond the country's capacity leading to blackouts and a "major" power crisis Cryptocurrency trading is illegal in Kuwait the government's interior ministry said it "constitutes an unlawful exploitation of electrical power…and may cause outages affecting residential posing a direct threat to public safety." The government raid covered about 100 homes suspected of hosting crypto mining operations with some using more than 20 times the electricity consumption of the average Kuwaiti home Crypto mining is a power-intensive activity with one Bitcoin transaction consuming more than 1,047 kWh of electricity — about the same amount of power that the average U.S Researchers estimated that Kuwaiti miners were responsible for less than half a percent of global mining activities in 2022 Digiconomist founder Alex de Vries-Gao told Reuters "It only takes a very small share of the total bitcoin mining network to have a significant impact on the relatively small total electricity consumption of Kuwait." it's become an attractive area for crypto miners as power consumption is one of the biggest costs of their operation Kuwait's limited power reserves and expanding urban area mean these operations compete against residents and other businesses for electricity Given that the authorities ban cryptocurrency trading it makes sense for them to also crack down on mining operations reducing the lifespan of electrical appliances in our homes Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews Jowi MoralesSocial Links NavigationContributing WriterJowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021 where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics Bitcoin miners front-running tariffs by scrambling to ship thousands of machines before penalties hit Cryptominers allegedly made $100,000 from mining at an Airbnb for three weeks — guests ran up a $1,500 electricity bill Arrow Lake die shot shows off the details of Intel's chiplet-based design This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Kuwait (CoinDesk Archives) What to know: Kuwaiti authorities are cracking down on illegal cryptocurrency mining.The government aims to curb unauthorized power usage that has strained the national grid and led to blackouts.Over 60 individuals are under investigation and power has been disconnected from mining-linked properties.Kuwaiti authorities are cracking down on illegal crypto mining with over 60 individuals now under investigation as part of a sweeping campaign to root out unlicensed operations The country's Public Prosecution confirmed the investigations are ongoing and warned that more suspects could be identified in the coming weeks. The “security operation,” carried out last Friday, targeted residential properties across the country suspected of hosting mining rigs, according to local media STORY CONTINUES BELOWDon't miss another story.Subscribe to the State of Crypto Newsletter today. See all newslettersSign me upBy signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.The operation was coordinated by top officials including Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and Minister of Electricity Dr The government said it aims to curb unauthorized power usage that has strained the national grid and led to blackouts in some areas The Ministry of Electricity has begun disconnecting power from mining-linked properties Reconnection will only be permitted with clearance from the Ministry of Interior Officials are also conducting follow-up sweeps in various neighborhoods Kuwait has enforced an “absolute ban on all virtual asset/cryptocurrency mining activities” under a directive from its anti-money laundering committee that was backed by regulators including the National Bank of Kuwait. Francisco is a reporter for CoinDesk with a passion for cryptocurrencies and personal finance. Before joining CoinDesk he worked at major financial and crypto publications. He owns bitcoin, ether, solana, and PAXG above CoinDesk's $1,000 disclosure threshold. This work, USACE and Kuwait mission partners align on missile facility renovation, by Catherine Carroll, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. Remarks delivered by Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview 2025 in Kuwait: “Collective Action in Humanitarian Diplomacy”  Kuwait City, 4 December 2024                               His Excellency Sheikh Jarrah Jaber AlAhmad AlSabah – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Colleagues, asalaam aleikum. It is truly fitting that the launch of this year’s Global Humanitarian Overview is taking place here in Kuwait under the theme of humanitarian diplomacy.  Not only has Kuwait consistently ranked among the top donors of international assistance, but it has also placed itself at the centre of efforts to broker peace in the region. Rooted in the Islamic values of charity and solidarity, Kuwait has used its neutrality to push for greater cooperation between countries and across cultures. Time and again, it has used humanitarian diplomacy to raise funds, to advocate for those in need, and to nurture dialogue among warring parties so that we can reach people in their darkest hour. Never has the need for this kind of humanitarian diplomacy been greater. As this year’s Global Humanitarian Overview makes painstakingly clear, the world is gripped by one of the worst humanitarian crises of the modern era. 305 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Violations of international humanitarian law are rising. The number of people forced to flee their homes continues to grow. And humanitarian crises are more frequent, complex and longer lasting than ever. The causes are clear. Record levels of conflict and a rapidly intensifying climate emergency are fanning the flames of suffering around the world. When it comes to conflict, the world is struggling to contain more state-involved wars than at any point since the end of the Second World War. Civilians are being killed and injured in huge numbers as homes, hospitals and essential services are razed to the ground. More than 123 million people were forcibly displaced by conflict and violence by the middle of the year. This is the 12th year in a row that this number has risen. And the youngest in our societies are among the worst hit. One in every five children is now living in, or fleeing, a conflict zone. The wars of today are being fought with a callous disregard for human life and a lack of respect for international law. In Gaza, more women and children have been killed in the last year than the equivalent period of any other conflict over the past two decades. And in Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Sahel, Myanmar, Haiti and many other places, violence and conflict continue to devastate people’s lives. When it comes to the climate crisis, humanity is now hurtling towards catastrophe. Our collective efforts have failed to put a dent in rising fossil fuel emissions, which means we are now dangerously close to exceeding the 1.5 degree target set in Paris almost a decade ago. The impact of this inaction is heartbreakingly clear. Devastating floods in the Sahel, East Africa and Europe; drought in Southern Africa and the Americas; and heatwaves and wildfires across the globe. While everyone is affected, the least responsible are shouldering the lion’s share. As crops fail and food becomes too expensive, millions are being driven deeper into poverty and food insecurity. These twin perils – of climate change and conflict – are stretching an underfunded humanitarian system to breaking point. And the longer humanitarian crises last, the bleaker the prospects for those on the frontlines: •    Life expectancy in crisis hit countries is six years below the global average; •    vaccination rates are 20 per cent below average; •    maternal mortality rates double the average; •    and only 10 per cent of children finish primary school compared to 90 per cent globally. And yet, despite these soaring needs, humanitarian action remains woefully underfunded. Last year’s shortfall – less than 45 per cent of required funding – saw people pay with their lives, safety and health. Cuts to food and nutrition assistance left millions vulnerable to starvation and famine. Other cuts to water, sanitation and health care increased disease. And women and girls bore the brunt of cuts to midwifery, obstetric and newborn care, and essential support to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. We urgently need to plug the funding gap. For 2025, the UN and our partner organizations are appealing for $47 billion to assist nearly 190 million people across 72 countries worldwide. While it may seem like a lot, this sum pales in comparison to other global costs. It is less than 2 per cent of global military expenditure, 4 per cent of the global banking industry’s profits, and just 12 per cent of the money dished out to the fossil fuel industry in subsidies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and our partners have worked hard to cut costs and increase efficiency. Cash assistance, early warning systems, and innovations in procurement continue to create a leaner humanitarian system. And our work to empower local humanitarian organizations on the frontlines of the world’s crises not only cuts costs but vastly improves the delivery of aid. But nothing replaces the need for funding. Unless donors step up by providing full and flexible funding free from red tape and burdensome strings, we simply will not be able to meet skyrocketing humanitarian needs. The world’s crises may seem intractable, but I am buoyed by the simple fact that the two main drivers of the suffering we see today – conflict and climate change – are a direct result of human action. This gives me hope because it means that we humans have the power to act, the power to change course, the power to arrest the current cycles of catastrophe and disaster. To succeed we need to urgently address three priorities: First, we are calling for far more to be done to protect civilians and humanitarian workers. Violations of international humanitarian law are rising, fueled by a culture of impunity that has emboldened warmongers. Starvation, sieges and sexual violence are increasingly used as weapons while civilians, humanitarian workers, hospitals and schools are treated like legitimate military targets. Indeed, 2024 has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with at least 281 aid workers killed in the line of duty. International humanitarian law is designed to ensure a minimum of humanity, even in war. Instead, we see war justifying massive human suffering with few limits, if any. This is unacceptable. Second, we need to do even more to empower local organizations and first responders. That means building new partnerships with local humanitarian organizations and then fully resourcing them so they can lead the response to the world’s disasters. And it means redistributing power so that people on the frontlines, especially women, can guide humanitarian action. By including these people and organizations at every single level of decision-making we can ensure that our actions are shaped by their priorities, not ours. Third, we need greater collective action on humanitarian diplomacy, the theme of today’s panel discussion. Too often bureaucratic red tape, sanctions, counter-terrorism measures, fines and the politicization of humanitarian assistance blocks aid from getting where it needs to go. Humanitarians doing the hard work of negotiating access – the patient, painstaking trust-building and negotiation that it takes to get aid in – need greater, consistent support from across the system. Humanitarian diplomacy is also about placing humanitarian priorities at the very heart of negotiations between warring sides. This is how we ensure civilians are protected and international humanitarian law respected. Ladies and gentlemen, if the eye-watering levels of suffering we see around the world today have human roots, then we already know what it will take to reverse the course. We know what we’re capable of when we cooperate, how powerful we are when we act together. Now is the time to embrace difference and find common cause in our shared humanity. And so I urge everyone here today to join the humanitarian movement so that we can address needs, begin to really wrestle with the root causes of crises, and end the downward spiral of suffering. Dubai: Kuwait’s Directorate of Air Navigation activated all necessary safety measures in response to Sunday night’s severe weather, which brought cumulus thunderclouds, powerful winds, and sharply reduced visibility, Director Dawood Al Jarrah confirmed. Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Jarrah said the department acted in accordance with international aviation safety standards, as wind speeds exceeded 70 km/hr and gusts reached 85 km/hr. With visibility dropping below 300 metres, two incoming flights from Assiut and Cairo were diverted to Dammam. An IndiGo flight from Delhi was also rerouted, while another IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad landed safely at Kuwait International Airport at 11:41 pm A Kuwait Airways flight from Dubai managed to land at 11:06 pm, despite the adverse conditions.  The Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) temporarily halted operations at Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports in response to worsening weather conditions. Winds exceeding 82 km/h and drastically reduced visibility prompted the precautionary measure to safeguard both port workers and infrastructure. Operations at both ports resumed at 9:00am following an improvement in weather conditions. The KPA reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of maritime traffic, crews, and facilities in case of any emergency. Acting Director of the Meteorological Department Dharar Al-Ali told KUNA that satellite imagery and radar detected a dust storm affecting most parts of the country. “Some automatic monitoring stations recorded winds over 70 km/hr, with gusts exceeding 100 km/hr, reducing visibility to less than 1,000 meters and even to zero in some areas,” he said. Al Ali projected gradual improvement over the next few hours, though dusty conditions and light rain may persist into Monday. Al Ali warned motorists about hazardous driving conditions, especially on highways, and advised sea-goers to be cautious of waves rising beyond six feet. He urged residents to stay updated via official sources, including the Meteorology Department’s website and social media platforms. Kuwait dust storm disrupts travel as winds hit 60 km/hr Massive dust storm blankets Saudi region of Al Qassim Dust storm engulfs central Iraq, reduces visibility UAE weather alert: How to protect against dust storms Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox Dust storm in Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Police issue warning Massive dust storm hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan marking the start of a strategic collaboration to support the development of The Report: Kuwait 2025 UIC will serve as the publication’s principal financial partner contributing to the production of a comprehensive analysis of Kuwait’s investment landscape The partnership reflects Kuwait’s broader efforts to increase international awareness of the country’s evolving financial and investment ecosystem UIC will play an active role in providing analytical insights and facilitating access to key stakeholders contributing to the report’s in-depth research process UIC’s support will enable Oxford Business Group to conduct interviews and gather research across strategic sectors while members of UIC will benefit from year-long access to OBG’s global intelligence platform which provides data and analysis on over 35 markets worldwide said the collaboration aligns with their commitment to advancing Kuwait’s role as a leading investment destination “Our partnership with Oxford Business Group underscores UIC’s strategy to strengthen the local investment environment and increase Kuwait’s visibility among global investors By collaborating with an internationally recognised research platform transparent information that supports both domestic and international decision-makers,” he said highlighted the importance of engaging with key financial institutions to ensure robust coverage of Kuwait’s economic priorities “UIC brings deep insight into Kuwait’s financial and investment sectors Their participation will help shape a forward-looking analysis of market dynamics regulatory changes and investment opportunities as the country advances its economic diversification goals,” she said The Report: Kuwait 2025 will examine developments across sectors including financial services The publication comes at a time when Kuwait is intensifying efforts to support sustainable growth and private sector participation under the framework of New Kuwait Vision 2035 The report will feature interviews with high-profile public and private sector leaders and provide a data-driven overview of the investment climate and business outlook This collaboration supports OBG’s broader mission to deliver in-depth analysis across emerging markets and contributes to UIC’s strategy to enhance transparency and position Kuwait as a regional hub for business and investment Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and advisory company with a presence in over 30 countries It is recognised internationally as a distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on world’s fastest-growing markets Through its range of products – Economic News and Views; OBG CEO Surveys; OBG Events and Conferences; Global Platform which hosts exclusive video interviews; and The Report publications – as well as its Advisory division OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sector-level developments for sound investment opportunities and business decisions OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms the Bloomberg Professional Services subscribers Refinitiv’s (previously Thomson Reuters) Eikon subscribers please contact: Marc-André de Blois  Director of PR and Video Content Oxford Business Group E-mail: mdeblois@oxfordbusinessgroup.com 802 Publishing Pavilion Production City PO Box 502 659 Me’aisem First Dubai UAE 6th Floor 105 Victoria Street London SW1E 6DT Register to receive our Economic Updates: oxfordbusinessgroup.com/register            The press release is provided for informational purposes only legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability value or profitability of any particular security Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law its affiliates and the respective shareholders content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages Get insights and exclusive content from the world of business and finance that you can trust BSC Education, in partnership with Easy Apply Educational Consultancy, opened a new site on April 6 – located in the same building as Kuwait’s Ministry of Higher Education With its main focus on English Language training the college will deliver a range of programs It will also offer a series of classes providing professional training for career and academic success series created in collaboration with National Geographic Learning Mastery of the English language can unlock countless educational and professional opportunitiesBelinda Lewis BSC Education’s managing director Jenn Harris said that the new site marked “an exciting new addition to our growing portfolio of global colleges” “We are proud to be partnering with the professional and dedicated team at Easy Apply in this venture ensuring the BSC teaching methodology is accessible as an in-country program,” she said Easy Apply Education co-founder and managing director Abdullah Alaifan said that he was “confident” that the new BSC Kuwait school would be a success due to the language school’s “expertise and support combined with Easy Apply’s deep understanding of the Kuwaiti market” Kuwait’s UK ambassador Belinda Lewis said that it added to the “rich educational partnership between our two countries.” “Mastery of the English language can unlock countless educational and professional opportunities,” she added About The PIE News Regions 2025 shows buildings shrouded in strong dust storm in Kuwait City April 15 (Xinhua) -- A powerful dust storm swept into Kuwait from the west on Monday reducing visibility across the country and prompting health and safety warnings from authorities and is expected to reach USD 340 million by 2029 This report analyses the Kuwait data center market share It elaboratively analyses the existing and upcoming facilities and investments in IT It discusses market sizing and investment estimation for different segments.KEY HIGHLIGHTS Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors About ResearchAndMarkets.comResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets The moon is seen in the sky over Kuwait City Kuwait City attracts millions of international tourists annually looking to experience futuristic architecture and luxury Much of the city was built during the region’s oil boom over the last four decades Visiting Kuwait requires a visa for Americans and citizens of many English-speaking Western nations the country has been transitioning from a system where travelers apply for one upon arrival to an entirely virtual system 🗞️ 🌆 Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter 🗞️ 🌆 Kuwait is a small oil-rich nation in the Middle East Kuwait’s e-visa system, which functions similarly to the electronic travel authority required from certain nations but still requires travelers to present themselves to an immigration officer at the airport was initially launched in 2017 for citizens of a select number of countries While what are most likely technological rollout kinks are worked out citizens of these 53 countries will go back to the visa-on-arrival program in which they have to present themselves at an immigration checkpoint to clear customs at Kuwait International Airport (the tiny country only has two other airports that are used exclusively for military purposes).  Assuming a visitor does not have a record of criminal activity or problems with immigration this process usually takes just several minutes Other countries included in the 53 that can get visas upon arrival are European nations like France Middle Eastern neighbors from countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates can generally travel to Kuwait visa-free while citizens of other nations have to apply for a traditional visa at their local embassy or consulate You now have more options than everTo qualify for a visa upon arrival visitors must have a passport with at least six months left before its expiration date and a return ticket proving planned departure from Kuwait A specific date for the return to e-visa has not yet been announced With the number of North American travelers to the Middle East rising several local airlines have launched new routes to different cities In November 2024, United Arab Emirates-based Etihad announced a new route between Abu Dhabi and Atlanta (as well as flights to Toronto Hong Kong and Taipei among others) that it will start in July 2025 Qatar Airways also started running a flight to its 14th North American city with a pilot Doha-Toronto route on Dec The flight is run on a Boeing 777-300ER  (BA)  plane with 42 business and 312 economy seats Such flights are explicitly tailored to luxury travelers and have a high proportion of business and first-class seats Sign up today for the the latest cruising news, tips, and guidance from cruise aficionado and expert, Dan Kline! Sign up today for our free newsletter and you'll receive an exclusive report explaining hedge fund guru Doug Kass' winning investment style. given that several new luxury hotels have popped up in Kuwait in recent years In the end, I decided on the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait, and I’m so happy that I did so the stay cost me considerably less out of pocket On top of that, for booking through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, I received several extra perks, including a $100 food and beverage credit (well, more on that below, because there was a small issue there). I also have Hilton Honors Diamond status For what it’s worth, had I redeemed Hilton Honors points, my one night stay would have cost me 80,000 points. Based on my valuation of Hilton Honors points The Waldorf Astoria Kuwait has an unconventional location, as it’s connected directly to The Avenues Mall The Avenues Mall is Kuwait’s biggest mall the concept of a luxury hotel being attached to a mall sounds exceedingly unappealing But it’s a different story in the Middle East where malls are largely the social hubs where friends and families hang out in their time off and when social interaction doesn’t revolve around alcohol The Avenues Mall is probably the nicest mall I’ve ever been in so I liked the people watching (especially as I was staying on a Friday night It’s also great to have so many indoor walking opportunities (since it can otherwise be hot in the Middle East for much of the year) as well as access to endless food and beverage outlets the catch is that the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is otherwise isolated a bit from the downtown portion of the city as it’s located next to a major highway So while you can stroll out of the hotel and into the mall expect that you won’t be able to walk anywhere else it was only a 10-minute drive between Kuwait International Airport (KWI) and the hotel Since I was flying in first class on Kuwait Airways I was able to take advantage of the complimentary chauffeur service in both directions and escorted into the lobby and to reception The Waldorf Astoria has a stunning lobby — it doesn’t get much more elegant than this and is generally spotless and luxurious-feeling The check-in process was friendly and efficient The associate explained all of the hotel’s facilities and also said I had been upgraded to a king deluxe one bedroom suite presumably due to a combination of my Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts booking I was also given an envelope explaining the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts perks I saw that the unique amenity was reportedly up to $100 worth of limousine service it was clear that it was a $100 food and beverage credit I brought this to the attention of the front desk supervisor and she was able to apply the credit as I had been promised in writing by Amex she did claim that this was a problem on Amex’s end and they’ve been trying to get it fixed I hope that’s not actually the case — for what it’s worth I wouldn’t have booked this way if that were the benefit and other luxury hotels in Kuwait offer generic $100 property credits So I hope the hotel reconsiders that stance since this amenity would cause some people to book away from this hotel and I was assigned a room on the fourth floor The hotel has an atrium spanning all floors of the property The hallways had an equally luxurious design located toward the end of the hall and on the right The king deluxe one bedroom suites at this hotel are massive way bigger than your typical standard hotel suite and a dining table with chairs and a booth There was then a half partition separating that from the rest of the living room I feel like so many hotel rooms have boring interiors and I was amazed by the amount of attention to detail in the design Back near the entrance was the minibar setup There was a door separating the bedroom from the living room Then the main bathroom was past the bedroom Toiletries were from Acqua Di Parma, in individual bottles (which I like, though I was surprised that the brand standard Aesop toiletries weren’t offered here) The only thing about the room that didn’t particularly impress me was the view when you consider that this hotel is connected to a mall off a highway and the rooftop of the mall in the other direction I was brought a delicious welcome amenity with an obscene amount of sugar there was also a three-tier setup with all kinds of sweets plus two chocolate “bars” that had my Hilton Honors status etched into them I had a very favorable impression of the suite The gym was phenomenal — it had just about every cutting edge machine imaginable The Waldorf Astoria Kuwait has an outdoor pool on the second floor It’s not the biggest resort-style pool that you’ll ever find While I didn’t have the chance to use it, the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait has a full service spa, with eight treatment rooms, three hammams, and two vitality pools. You can find the full treatment menu here Ava is the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait’s Mediterranean all-day dining restaurant, and you can find the menu here The restaurant serves breakfast daily from 6:30AM until 11AM as it was included with my rate (and elite status) and I was the only guest there the entire time but I love how the restaurant opens up into the mall The stores in the mall don’t open until later in the morning so it’s kind of unique to sit here at breakfast and enjoy this deserted mall Breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait consists of a lavish breakfast buffet plus the option to order as many a la carte options as you’d like Breakfast buffets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia are simply on a different level and this breakfast perfectly exemplified that It’s not just the quantity of options The buffet had everything you could possible want I won’t even start to list the options because it had just about everything your heart could desire A friendly server was at my table immediately to offer me a drink of choice which was divine — it was as tasty as it was artsy I also decided to order the shakshuka from the menu easily the best that I’ve had in a very long time which is the signature bar and lobby lounge concept In the evening I strolled through the lobby and I saw just how lively Peacock Alley was to the point that nearly every table and couch was taken and decided to have something to eat and drink Live music is one of my favorite things in the world especially in settings I’d like to be in anyway and I could have listened to them for hours so I was always excited to see what they’d perform next You can find the Peacock Alley food & drink menu here I brought my laptop down here and enjoyed the ambiance while working though unfortunately the menu wasn’t particularly local So I decided to order the rye bread and prawns which was essentially a modified avocado toast with prawns While I only had dinner at Peacock Alley and breakfast at Ava the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait has a couple other food and beverage outlets that I should mention: The Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is a stellar hotel that I’d highly recommend I can’t say that spending a night at a hotel connected to a mall was ever on my bucket list but after staying at the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait I’m also so happy I stayed on the weekend since it made for some great people watching Malls are still very much a social hub in the Middle East so I felt like I was in the heart of the action What do you make of the Waldorf Astoria Kuwait Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" I don't think it's that unusual (or depressing) to enjoy staying at a hotel that is connected to a mall There are many higher end hotels connected to malls in the US that are very popular - just to name a few: Ritz Carlton Pentagon City Sheraton Boston (connected to Prudential Center) Mandarin Oriental Boston (connected to Prudential Center) Are there still those weird signs at Kuwait immigration letting you know that you won’t be allowed in the country if you’ve ever entered Israel I guess the pool view is more desired versus the highway view Not uncommon for the hotel to be next to a highway in the Middle East given how most places there are designed Yummy shakshuka- a fave of mine for breakfast or dinner Slice up a zucchine in there and it's even more veg friendly since you get Diamond for basically free each year with the CC What a benefit - loyalty has its privileges!! What a benefit - loyalty has its privileges!! how I envy thee for being so completely free of the "ravages" of intelligence To have the HH Diamond status through the incredible AMEX HH Aspire card at perpetuity (if that is even possible since the card can.. To have the HH Diamond status through the incredible AMEX HH Aspire card at perpetuity (if that is even possible since the card can be discontinued or its benefits changed) makes one a "Diamond for life" and NOT a Lifetime Diamond because the latter is Hilton Honors' de facto "most elite status" higher priority on room upgrades than "Diamonds for life"; and a "Diamond for life" will never ever be welcomed as "Greater than Diamond" at any Hilton property or have a coconut tree with a plaque bearing their name planted to commemorate their status check out the incontrovertible evidence at at then get a new tune because the one that you've been singing for years is Only fools spend a thousand nights “earning” what is functionally the same as freebie top tier status every year with a CC Looks a great hotel - I had thought about staying here when I pass through so good to hear you had a positive experience Hopefully the breakfast got busier after you left or that’s an astonishing amount of wastage I have noticed some of the hotels in the UAE have signs up at breakfast about size of portions and wastage proportions but most of the food in these pics isn’t even going to hit a plate so I imagine breakfast got much busier later and I imagine most leisure guests don't want to eat that early on a weekend This was exactly our experience in December 2023 and January 2023 We heading to LHR early in the morning on the BA 156 and they were kind enough to pack us a breakfast picnic basket (all complimentary) with freshly squeezed OJ and my experience was exactly the same—it's a really nice hotel Since I only had an evening in Kuwait before flying home I emailed their concierge team a few days in advance inquiring about a tour of the city They were able to organize a 4 hour tour of Kuwait upon arrival at KWI You hit the nail on the head when it comes to corporate branded hotel dining While I understand the need to cater to a wide international business clientele with standard items typically on offer (club sandwich it baffles me why more do not offer local cuisine and specialties People are seeking more authentic experiences and connections than ever and that includes local culture and food of the destinations they travel to I guess I'll have to read the entire review to find out Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe The comments on this page have not been provided approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered and I imagine most leisure guests don't want to eat that early on a weekend I don't think it's that unusual (or depressing) to enjoy staying at a hotel that is connected to a mall You have successfully joined our subscriber list Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. See more about our ethics policies here. Buildings are pictured during a dust storm in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Dec. 15, 2024. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Vehicles run on the road during a dust storm in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, Dec. 15, 2024. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy; Editing by Jan Harvey The value of real estate transactions in Kuwait grew 34 percent year on year in 2024 4,950 transactions were worth KD3.73 billion compared with 4,442 transactions worth KD2.78 billion in 2023 Only the country’s coastal strip saw a decline in transactions Residential transactions made up KD1.5 billion of the total with real estate contracts contributing KD1.2 billion of the total and commercial investments KD745 million The country continues to be an attractive destination for foreign workers Expats currently make up around 73 percent of Kuwait’s 4.3 million population, meaning competition for the country’s limited housing stock is strong In Kuwait the median apartment price to family income ratio stands at 7.5 while the same score for Saudi Arabia and the UAE hover around 3 and 4 has a ratio of 9.4 – making it more expensive relative to cities such as Luxembourg City lack of supply and longer time to build infrastructure have led to the surge in housing prices,” MR Raghu chief executive of Marmore Mena Intelligence a research subsidiary of Kuwait Financial Center AGBI registered members can access even more of our unique analysis and perspective on business and economics in the Middle East Already registered? Sign in I’ll register later Dubai Holding is to list its residential real estate investment trust (REIT) shrugging off local investor scepticism towards the structures and becoming the first initial public offering (IPO) on the Dubai stock exchange this year The investment conglomerate owned by Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dubai developer Gulf House Real Estate has launched Olaia Residences The upscale residential project is planned to open in 2027 and will consist of one-to-three-bedroom apartments and three-to-five-bedroom duplexes State-of-the-art amenities will include indoor and rooftop pools Dubai real estate developer Omniyat has raised $500 million to fund its sustainable developments The order book of the inaugural three-year green sukuk was oversubscribed 3.6 times The sukuk will be listed and traded on Nasdaq Dubai and the London Stock Exchange’s international securities market.  The pricing details were not given Property in the emirates emerges as a resilient safe haven amid tariffs MBS Global Investments and the Maldives government will jointly develop a $8.8 billion Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC) in the Maldivian capital city of Malé The freezone will have no corporate tax and tax-free inheritance in a bid to attract digital nomads entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals Amendments to land taxes in Saudi Arabia will make it more expensive for property owners to hold on to undeveloped land for long periods of time Changes to the White Land Tax Law in the kingdom Low-cost carrier Flynas will launch a share sale on the local stock exchange this month in the latest in a series of initial public offerings (IPOs) by Saudi companies The subscription to the will run from May 28 to June 1 partly owned by billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Goldman Sachs reduced its oil price forecast following decisions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies The bank now expects Brent crude to average $60 per barrel for the rest of 2025 and $56 per barrel in […] The Oman Investment Authority signed a preliminary agreement with Algeria’s finance ministry to establish an investment fund worth OR115 million ($299 million) The fund announced by the sultanate’s sovereign wealth fund will focus on mining food security and pharmaceutical industries The agreement was signed on the sidelines of […] Oman has toughened rules around licensing new petrol stations telling operators to install solar power and provide electric vehicle charging points and other facilities Industry and Investment Promotion has said it will not issue licences for new petrol pumps unless they fulfil requirements which include the provision of fuel Turkey’s annualised inflation has fallen for the eleventh month in a row reducing the chances that the central bank will hit its year-end target The consumer price index (CPI) rose 3 percent in April while the annual rate of inflation declined to 37.9 percent Manchester City may have lost its grip on the English Premier League title this season but Abu Dhabi has no intention of relinquishing its power in the sporting sphere The emirate has unveiled two major deals this month that underscore a strategic push to remain a dominant player in the fast-evolving sports business Iraq expects its non-oil sector to grow by 4 percent in 2025 after increasing by 5 percent last year the country’s finance minister said on Monday The budget deficit was ID 5 trillion ($3.8 billion) last year Taif Sami told the official Iraqi news agency Saudi Arabia and seven members of Opec+ will triple the volume of barrels they add to the market in June as part of the kingdom’s new strategy to squeeze quota-busting members and boost market share Saudi Arabia and seven other countries implementing voluntary cuts decided in an online May 3 meeting to add […] Higher-than-budgeted oil prices wiped out Oman’s OR640 million ($1.7 billion) deficit for 2024 although the IMF has warned that the Gulf state still faces economic challenges.  Oman posted a surplus of $1.4 billion last year as it sold oil at an average price of $82 per barrel Saudi hospital and clinic operator Specialized Medical Company (SMC) starts the process of selling shares to the public on Sunday – only the second IPO in the kingdom since Donald Trump rocked global markets a month ago with his April 2 tariff announcement It would also be the first Saudi hospital group to list its […] Iraq will install solar panels at the presidential palace in Baghdad as the first stage in a plan to switch nearly 6,000 public buildings to renewable power The project is intended to ease reliance on conventional electricity protect the environment and tackle a power supply gap caused by gas shortages and the […] State-controlled AD Ports Group and Egypt government-backed Suez Canal Economic Zone have signed a 50-year renewable deal to develop and operate a 20 sq km logistics and industrial park near the coastal city of Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea The Abu Dhabi-based ports operator will develop operate and manage the industrial and logistics zone in […] Kuwait has launched a plan to develop a new electronic system within its banking sector to prepare for the resumption of government bond sales to fund projects and shore up fiscal deficits The central bank of Kuwait invited representatives of banks to discuss preparations to launch the system that will give them easier access to bonds sold by the central bank or the finance ministry The system would also facilitate trading in bonds The cabinet is expected to shortly approve a debt law, which will allow the Opec member to borrow up to KD20 billion ($66 billion) over 20 years which sits atop nearly 101 billion barrels of proven oil deposits last sold bonds in 2017 – worth about $8 billion – before the debt law expired and which has since remained on the shelf due to persistent rifts between the government and parliament Noura Al-Fassam said last month that government borrowing would mainly be used to finance infrastructure projects The Oman Investment Authority signed a preliminary agreement with Algeria’s finance ministry to establish an investment fund worth OR115 million ($299 million) The fund announced by the sultanate’s sovereign wealth fund will focus on mining Turkey’s annualised inflation has fallen for the eleventh month in a row the country’s finance minister said on Monday Higher-than-budgeted oil prices wiped out Oman’s OR640 million ($1.7 billion) deficit for 2024 The sukuk will be listed and traded on Nasdaq Dubai and the London Stock Exchange’s international securities market.  The pricing details were not given Low-cost carrier Flynas will launch a share sale on the local stock exchange this month in the latest in a series of initial public offerings (IPOs) by Saudi companies according to the company’s prospectus as part of the kingdom’s new strategy to squeeze quota-busting members and boost market share Saudi hospital and clinic operator Specialized Medical Company (SMC) starts the process of selling shares to the public on Sunday – only the second IPO in the kingdom since Donald Trump rocked global markets a month ago with his April 2 tariff announcement The upscale residential project is planned to open in 2027 and will consist of one-to-three-bedroom apartments and three-to-five-bedroom duplexes.  State-of-the-art amenities will include indoor and rooftop pools State-controlled AD Ports Group and Egypt government-backed Suez Canal Economic Zone have signed a 50-year renewable deal to develop and operate a 20 sq km logistics and industrial park near the coastal city of Port Said on the Mediterranean Sea The Abu Dhabi-based ports operator will develop Oman has signed a 15-year agreement with Mexico’s Amigo LNG to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of its strategy to diversfy its clean energy sources the government-backed OQ Trading will purchase 0.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from Amigo’s export terminal in Guaymas Abu Dhabi’s Masdar said its Greek clean energy subsidiary Terna Energy has been delisted from the Athens stock exchange The UAE renewables major completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Terna Energy last month to accelerate renewable energy growth in southeastern and central Europe the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported whic is 70 percent owned by Saudi Aramco swung to a loss in the first quarter of 2025 but intends to push ahead with a capital expenditure plan worth up to $4 billion reported a net loss of SAR1.2 billion ($320 million) […] Kuwait is planning a series of new power projects to avert an electricity supply crisis during the hot summer months when demand peaks Minister Mahmoud Abdulaziz Mahmoud Bushehri quoted by the Kuwaiti daily Alseyassah on Tuesday said power consumption next summer will surpass the Gulf emirate’s generation capacity but a shortfall of around 1,000 megawatts will be offset through the Gulf power network which groups Kuwait with five other regional states Bushehri said supplies from the Gulf grid will allow Kuwait to avert electricity shortages next summer we have devised plans to expand existing power plants and construct a number of new facilities The operational life of some stations has expired and they need to be taken out of service This means we need to build new stations to replace those units,” the minister said Kuwait is consistently among the hottest countries in the world particularly during the summer months when temperatures can rise to as high as 54C and air conditioning units are in high demand Despite strong oil production and large reserves, the country’s power outages have been exacerbated by limited investment because of political deadlock Bushehri said Kuwait’s total electricity production will reach around 20,000 MW in three years when a range of projects are completed These new projects include renewable energy schemes that will allow Kuwait to attain a target of expanding the share of renewable sources to 30 percent of the energy mix within the next four years Green energy deals are the foundations for closer trade relationships It is a stretch to see how the current market can be regarded as anything but uncertain Oman has signed a 15-year agreement with Mexico’s Amigo LNG to secure liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of its strategy to diversfy its clean energy sources the government-backed OQ Trading will purchase 0.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from Amigo’s export terminal in Guaymas '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/kuwait-paradox-why-the-gulfs-most-liberal-autocracy-rejects-ties-with-israel\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=qFENdLxK6g_EE_EaBYgRrtt2jC_cSobhCjKb2jULndE-1746510057-1.0.1.1-OFiQcmlihsHCpWdL8ISwWZOAwR3C8Bmv_LTbyFRgw3U" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); Kuwait has moved a step closer to selling debt on the international markets again after the cabinet approved a draft decree that should help the country fund multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects Historically the country has had little need to borrow thanks to its oil revenue and relatively unambitious spending plans Kuwait last sold dollar-denominated bonds in 2017 (see below) Its debt-to-GDP ratio is less than 3 percent However, Kuwait has now embarked on wide-ranging reforms to diversify its economy. The cabinet has approved a new public debt law, known officially as the financing and liquidity law. An earlier law has expired The legislation will proceed to the emir – the ruler of Kuwait – for ratification and should be enacted during the next fiscal year Few details have been shared on the draft law, but an earlier version said the government could borrow up to KWD20 billion ($65 billion) over a 50-year period “We would expect to see strong demand for Kuwaiti bonds, considering a healthy credit rating and limited availability of outstanding government bonds in the market,” Sico Bank wrote in a note Monica Malik, chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank is also predicting “strong demand” for the bonds “It should be able to raise debt at very attractive pricing with a narrow spread to US treasuries,” she said In January, Kuwait’s finance minister revealed that about 370 projects with a combined value of $42 billion were listed in the country’s 2025-26 draft budget Work on some of the projects has already begun Raising debt will be crucial to financing these developments with Kuwait’s budget deficit ballooning to 8.4 percent of GDP It had a surplus of 11.7 percent of GDP in fiscal year 2022-23 according to the International Monetary Fund The IMF attributes the subsequent swing into deficit to lower oil revenue and rising government spending Malik explained that the lack of a financing law for nearly a decade meant Kuwait’s general reserve fund had to cover its budget deficit the general fund had depleted almost all its assets “This created a liquidity crunch,” said Malik “Even though Kuwait has very large reserves the inability to raise debt really complicated the funding of its deficit.” The debt law is the latest in a package of reforms from Kuwaiti policymakers. The government plans to impose a 15 percent tax on multinational companies Rules around foreign ownership of real estate are also being relaxed and the residential mortgage market may be opened up to local banks ending the monopoly of the state-run Kuwait Credit Bank.  Kuwait has one outstanding dollar-denominated bond according to S&P Global Ratings.  This matures in March 2027 and has a coupon is trading at 97.68. It is common for such debt to be trading below the bond starting price of 100; the price will usually converge towards 100 the nearer it gets to maturity The Middle East and North Africa is expected largely to avoid the direct impact of President Donald Trump’s new tariffs The spectre of a 20 percent US tariff taking effect in July is “difficult to ignore,” according to Racha Helwa a senior economist and director of the empowerME Initiative […] Saudi Arabia has various assets it could sell as the drop in oil prices pushes up the country’s 2025 budget deficit The country could also opt to plug the gap by issuing more debt or altering its spending plans Saudi Arabia’s debt-to-GDP ratio is only 29 percent You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed.