Category: Information

Last week I posted about a very cool initiative called Al-Arfaj where they created a badge of gratitude and recognition for those on the frontlines. The initiative quickly took off beyond their expectations, and demand for the badge exceeded production by a huge margin.

Since that post, I’ve been getting messages and comments asking where to get a badge, so I decided to compile the places into a list. There are now a lot of people producing these badges to help meet demand, but the list below is of the companies who first adopted the initiative, so these come from the initial batches produced by @alarfajflower. All available for free and include the information card.

% Arabica
Available at almost all branches to customers who make a purchase, though they go fast, so if they’re out just check back another day.

Crown Dental
Available to their patients for now until they get more stock.

Dabdoub
Included with every purchase.

Elevation Burger
They are available at different branches which change daily. They announce the locations on their Instagram and no purchase is necessary.

Pret A Manger
Available at their branches in Hamra, Sabah Al salem, Assima, and Messilah. No purchase necessary.

Rainforest Park Spa
Available to their customers for now until they get more stock.

Stock Room Coffee
Due to limited quantities they’re only giving them to their loyalty program customers at the moment.

Vol.1
Limited quantity available to customers at their branches in Downtown, Mishref, Salmiya, and Shuwaikh.

There are a couple more spots as well, I’m just waiting to hear back from them before adding them to the list.

This is a great initiative by a group who created a badge of gratitude and recognition for those on the frontlines, symbolized by Kuwait’s national flower, the Al Arfaj.

The Al Arfaj blooms in harsh conditions, which makes it a symbol of resilience and the ability to rise under pressure. It reflects the people on the frontlines who protect Kuwait and continue to give it strength, so that like the flower, the country comes back stronger.

The badge is meant as a simple expression of appreciation for those who sacrifice for Kuwait’s security, safety and stability.

It will be available for free to anyone who wants to wear one as a sign of support. Right now it’s being shared organically, but in a few days it will be available to pick up from different locations around Kuwait. If you want one, they’ll be announcing the locations soon on @alarfajflower

If like me you woke up from deep sleep at 2AM to a sound of an air horn, this is how you can turn off the National Warning Alert:

Step 1: Put your phone in airplane mode
Step 2: Turn on WiFi

This is the only way I found to turn off these alerts, switching off cellular. Every other way didn’t work including turning off “Critical Alerts” or the “KWT-Alerts” under notifications, at least on iPhones.

Turning your WiFi on is optional but the reason I’m suggesting you do that is so you can continue to receive WhatsApp messages or calls in case of emergency (from family and friends).

I’m not sure what percentage of the population switched off their phones last night but I imagine it was very high. These phone alerts should really be used only in extreme cases like when a tornado is about to hit Salmiya, or when Godzilla emerges from the sea.

Back in December, Kim Kardashian’s fashion brand Skims popped up in Kuwait for one week, and now the brand is back but this time permanently.

Right now they have a pop-up outside Bloomingdales in 360 Mall, except unlike last time where items were just for display and you had to order through the Ounass app, everything is now in stock locally.

The pop-up runs until April 20th, after which Skims will have a permanent display inside Bloomingdales. For now they’re only carrying the women’s collection, with no plans to add the men’s line anytime soon.

Si is a new Mediterranean restaurant opening on the first day of Eid, and it’s one of those places where once you’re there you kind of forget where you are.

Chef Marco of Vigonovo is behind the concept, and if you’ve ever met him you’ll know how charismatic and hard working he is. I first met Marco back in 2016 when he opened Vigonovo as a small spot in Salmiya. He started off with very limited resources, to the point that if I remember correctly, he had brought his small 4 burner stove from home to use in the restaurant. Since then Marco has had a pretty long journey, and Si is the result of all that hard work.

The first thing that caught my attention was the location. Si is located at C Club in Al Bida’a, with its own private entrance from the side. The first thing you notice once you walk in is the beautiful sea and garden area, surrounded by tall palm trees. It’s such a fantastic spot.

The restaurant itself is divided into three main areas, each with its own look but all with the same goal of creating a bright and energetic space that makes you feel like you’re somewhere along the Mediterranean coast. The food matches the setting, with a menu built around Mediterranean classics using fresh ingredients and simple flavors that Marco is known for.

I might be a bit biased since Marco is a friend, but the space really is beautiful and the food is really good. Si is opening on the first day of Eid (so tomorrow), and as part of their soft launch they’ll start with breakfast and lunch. They’ll eventually open for dinner as well. Opening hours are 8AM to 4PM, with the last order at 4PM.

Here is the location on Google Maps. If you want to book a table, they have a booking link on their instagram @sikuwait

Yesterday Shop & Ship sent out an email stating that due to the current situation in the region and the impact it has on their costs, they will be temporarily increasing their prices. A few moments ago those prices went into effect and below is a comparison between the old rates and the new rates. I’ve included both the basic price and the discounted price if you’re a Flex member.

0.5 KG

Old Price: 3.75 KWD
New Price: 4.70 KWD (+25.3% increase)

Old Flex Price: 3.65 KWD
New Flex Price: 4.60 KWD (+26% increase)

1 KG

Old Price: 6.90 KWD
New Price: 8.25 KWD (+19.65% increase)

Old Flex Price: 5.90 KWD
New Flex Price: 7.35 KWD (+24.6% increase)

5 KG

Old Price: 32.10 KWD
New Price: 36.65 KWD (+14.2% increase)

Old Flex Price: 22.30 KWD
New Flex Price: 27.75 KWD (+24.4% increase)

10 KG

Old Price: 63.60 KWD
New Price: 72.15 KWD (+13.4% increase)

Old Flex Price: 40.80 KWD
New Flex Price: 51.25 KWD (+25.6% increase)

20 KG

Old Price: 107.60 KWD
New Price: 143.15 KWD (+25.3% increase)

Old Flex Price: 77.80 KWD
New Flex Price: 98.25 KWD (+26.3% increase)

The cost increase for regular members is on average 21% while the increase for Flex members is around 25%. They probably tried to keep the prices as low as possible and so aren’t able to give Flex members the bigger discounts they used to offer.

They seemed to also have resumed shipping to Kuwait. Although I still have a package stuck in my US mailbox, a friend had his item ship on March 3 and arrive to Kuwait by March 10 (via Riyadh instead of Dubai).

I also noticed a lot of items on Amazon I had on my Wishlist that previously had free shipping no longer have it. Amazon is still offering free shipping on some items, though I’m not sure why it no longer applies to a large chunk of my wishlist. I did place an order for some items on March 8 that were eligible for free shipping but the order hasn’t processed yet and seems to be on hold.

I know a lot of people with pets have been wondering what the requirements are if they want to travel abroad with their pets. So to clarify things, I decided to head to the International Veterinary Hospital (IVH) and meet with their import/export department, who’ve also been getting tons of questions about this lately.

If you’re planning to travel with your pet by plane or drive across the border into Saudi Arabia, you’re going to need an export permit. That was a bit of a surprise to me since I assumed crossing into Saudi with my dog would be a casual thing since it’s a GCC country to GCC country trip, but it isn’t. According to IVH, before you leave Kuwait with your pet you need to apply for an export permit. The process takes around 10 days to get done and you can do it yourself or pay someone like IVH to handle it for you. I think the most important requirement you should check for right now is that your pet’s rabies shot is valid. If it’s not valid, you’ll need to wait 30 days after getting a new shot before your pet can travel. So if you’re thinking of traveling anytime soon, get this sorted beforehand.

Once the exit permit is issued for your pet, it’s valid for 2 weeks.

Another thing to consider is that you can only travel with a maximum of two pets. If you have more than two, you’ll need someone else traveling with you to register the additional pets under their name.

At the moment, direct flights out of Kuwait are not available, but you can drive to Saudi Arabia. If you’re considering driving, be aware that Saudi Arabia requires a pet import permit to enter. They have their own set of requirements, all listed on their NAAMA portal, and the good news is you can apply online.

Once the Saudi pet import permit is issued, it’s valid for 4 weeks.

Finally, when you’re ready to return to Kuwait, you’ll need to obtain an import permit. Unlike Saudi, this can’t be done online and needs to be done in person here in Kuwait.

This isn’t a complete list of everything you’ll need, but it should give you a rough idea of what to expect when traveling with your pet dog or cat.

For those wondering if there will be an air show again this year, there will be. The air show is taking place tomorrow, February 25, from 2PM to 3:30PM near the Kuwait Towers.

There will also be a military display near the Kuwait Towers tomorrow from 5PM to 12AM and on February 26 from 3:30PM to 12AM.

As of now, it doesn’t look like there will be any fireworks.

Happy Ramadan everyone. Here are the Ramadan timings you’ll probably need, if I missed any other important ones, let me know in the comments.

Banks: 10AM to 1:30PM (not including airport and malls)
Government: 8:30AM ~ 10:30AM to 1PM ~ 3PM
Car Registration Renewal: 10AM to 3PM
PACI: 10AM to 1:30PM (Kuwaitis) 2PM to 4:30PM (Expats)

360 Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM
Al Khiran Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1AM
Al Kout Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM
Assima Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 8PM to 1AM
Avenues Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 7:30PM to 1:30AM
Boulevard: 10AM to 3PM and 6PM to 1AM
Marina Mall: 10AM to 4PM and 7:30PM to 1:30AM
Salhia Complex: 10AM to 3PM and 8:30PM to 1AM
The Warehouse: 10AM to 4PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM

Cinescape: From 8:30PM
GrandCinemas: From 8PM
Sky Cinemas: From 8PM
VOX: From 7PM

Al Shaheed Park: 5AM to 2AM
Abdullah AlSalem Cultural Centre: 8PM to 12:30AM (ex. Sundays)

Co-ops: Most open 24 hours
Lulu Hypermarket: 8AM to 3AM
Sultan Center: Standalone stores open 24 hours

Ace Hardware: 10:00AM to 11:30PM
Bin Nisf: 8:30AM to 2:30PM and 8PM to 10:30PM (ex. Friday)
IKEA: 10AM to 4PM and 8PM to 2AM
Jarir: 10AM (Friday 2PM) to 5PM and 8:30PM to 1:30AM
True Value: Open 24 hours in Salmiya, 10AM to 1AM in Al Rai
Xcite: Open 24 hours in Al Rai, Fahaheel, Hawally, Salmiya

Illustration by @windowsofuae

The Kuwait Towers Garden, located right underneath the towers, is opening to the public for the first time. Previously, you needed a restaurant reservation or had to pay for access to the viewing deck to get into that area, but now the garden will be open to everyone.

Starting Ramadan and until May 14, access to the garden will be free. According to the organizers Hekaya World, the space will feature art, culture, and coffee. I passed by earlier today for a quick sneak peek and they were busy putting the final touches in place for tomorrow.

The acai spot Say Suco will also have a pop up under the tower with its own seating area.

The Kuwait Towers Garden has an instagram account if you want to check out, it’s @kuwaittowersgarden

I recently found out that the UAE cinema brand Star Cinemas is planning to open in Kuwait. They currently operate in two markets, the UAE and Oman, with over 150 screens across both. They’ve been around since 1964, although this is the first time I’ve come across them, which probably has more to do with me not living in the UAE than them not being very popular.

For their first location, they’re planning to take over the old Cinescape space at Al Fanar Mall in Salmiya (pictured in this post).

From what I’ve been able to put together, they won’t be competing directly with the likes of Cinescape or VOX. Instead, they’re likely to go up against smaller cinema brands such as Sky Cinemas and Ozone Cinemas.

I wasn’t able to get a launch date from Star Cinemas, but I do know they’re currently looking for F&B partners for their concession stand, so I’m assuming it’s happening soon.

Cinescape at Al Fanar opened back in 1997 and was the first cinema in Kuwait to be located inside a mall. The location was extremely popular in the late 90s and early 2000s, before eventually closing last October.

Last night, the winners of this year’s Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced in Abu Dhabi, and two restaurants from Kuwait made the list.

Cantina and Matbakhi both earned spots on the 50 Best Restaurants list, with Cantina ranking 18th and Matbakhi coming in 50th. Cantina’s ranking is pretty incredible and the highest ever achieved by a Kuwait based restaurant on the 50 Best list.

Previous Kuwaiti restaurants that made the list include White Robata in 2022 and 2023, and Bonjiri in 2023.

The Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants list was launched in 2022 and is published every year. Restaurants are voted for by 250 respected food and restaurant industry experts from across the region, all chosen for their knowledge and experience of the local dining scene.

For the full list of 2026 winners, click here.

The Kuwait-based advisory firm Ali Bahbahani and Partners recently released its annual Kuwait Automotive Market Report for 2025.

According to the report, 2025 was Kuwait’s biggest year on record for car sales, with 151,489 vehicles sold. The data is based on official vehicle registration figures from Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior, which go back to 2013. Last December was also the strongest single month on record, with 16,223 cars sold.

Other interesting facts:
– SUVs now make up 57% of the market, while sedans have fallen to 36%. The remaining 7% includes pickups, vans, and commercial vehicles.

• Toyota is still the #1 brand in Kuwait

• In 2017, Chinese brands sold just 681 vehicles in Kuwait. Last year, they sold 42,901, a 63x increase in only eight years.

• Japanese brands held 55% of Kuwait’s car market in 2013. Today, they hold 40%. Over the same period, Chinese brands grew from 0.5% to 28%.

• The top seven sellers in the budget-conscious segment are all Chinese brands: Jetour T2, GWM H9, Chery Arrizo 5, Changan Alsvin, MG 3, Omoda C5, and MG 5.

• Ten brands sold fewer vehicles in 2025 than in 2024, even as the overall market grew 16%. These include Geely, Lexus, Jeep, Ford, and Honda.

• Some brands rely heavily on a single model. For GMC, 72% of its sales come from the Yukon, while 70% of Jetour’s sales come from the T2.

• The Jetour T2 outsold the Nissan Patrol last year, a model with decades of heritage in Kuwait.

Finally, the top 10 selling cars for 2025. Seven of the 10 models are SUVs. Only one of the top 10 is Chinese, while the majority of the best sellers are Japanese. Here are is the list:

1.  Toyota Prado (7,650)
2.  Toyota Land Cruiser (6,379)
3.  Jetour T2 (4,309)
4.  Nissan Patrol (4,181)
5.  Nissan Sunny (3,880)
6.  Ford Territory (3,539)
7.  Toyota Corolla (2,951)
8.  Chevrolet Captiva (2,269)
9.  GMC Yukon (2,266)
10. Kia Sportage (2,177)

For more interesting stats, click here.

This is a pretty big moment for Kuwait’s music scene, and a huge moment for the band. LUMINA, the local alternative metal band, will be opening for the legendary Linkin Park this coming Sunday in Bahrain.

Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre, the Bahrain venue that recently hosted iconic bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses, has been actively pushing for local and regional acts to open major shows. LUMINA, being a female fronted band, felt like a natural fit for Linkin Park, who are now also female led.

I’m a bit jealous that they’re going to be backstage with Linkin Park so I can only imagine how surreal it must be for them to be opening up for them. The band members performing this Sunday are:

Latti – Lead vocalist, writer, and co-founder
Mando – Guitarist, composer, and co-founder
Aziz – Synthesist
Aziz Baqer – Drummer
Salem – Bassist and producer
Adel Qattan – Guitarist for the Bahrain show

Areej Saleh of artscene.me is their booking agent.

If you want to hear LUMINA’s music or find out more about the band, check out their Instagram @thebandlumina

La Petite Maison Abu Dhabi is hosting a 50 Best Signature Session in collaboration with MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, and they’ve invited a Kuwaiti chef to take part in the event.

Chef Basmah Marouf, best known for her concept Cantina, will be collaborating with an international chef on a one night only dinner on February 5. The evening will feature an exclusive four course set menu created especially for the event.

Being invited to take part in a 50 Best Signature Session is a pretty big deal, and since the event is being promoted by 50 Best, it does make me wonder if Cantina might have made it onto their Top 50 Best Restaurants list. We’ll find out for sure when the winners are announced on February 3.

For more info on the dinner, head to @lpmabudhabi. To find out next month if Cantina made it onto MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants, keep an eye on @menas50best.