Life in Kuwait Blog

Kuwait's falafel Rule

2026-06-09T19:31:37.387+03:00

I found this from AK Vlogs - The falafel law that most people know about in Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber put these laws into place 'so Kuwait's lowest earners would always have access to a good meal' This also applies to the 'khubz' pack which remains at 50 fils. I always knew there should be 2 pieces of falafel but now that I think about it the falafel places I go to only use one piece now.

The best years of living in Kuwait was when I arrived in 2004 until 2006 when he passed, how I miss those days!

House of Amin - Kuwait City Demolished

2026-06-06T20:20:00.000+03:00

The first time I came across this house was in 2014 while driving around the area taking pictures of old Kuwaiti houses which is a hobby of mine. I've tried to photograph every house I could find in hopes of one day publishing a book containing photos of old Kuwait. I came across a post from an Instagram page @islandofthewell in which I found out the house had been erased from existence.

The IG page also mentioned a post from Jean Poulalier photography website with some information on the house:

"-The House of Amin, a famous estate in the heart of Kuwait City, is now abandoned because three families proclaim ownership and the case has remained open for years due to its unique complexity. The rooftops are deteriorating but the house, built of concrete instead of traditional mud-bricks, still stands as a prominent symbol of Kuwaiti heritage and innovation."

Once again greedy fights over land and money have once again destroyed something that used to be so beautiful.

It was old, falling down but still beautiful and should've been saved!

At the time I visited in 2014 there was no highway surrounding it so it was a secret location that only few knew about or wanted to explore.

As you can see from the pictures this house was massive! A huge courtyard surrounded by rooms, upstairs were more rooms. I wish I could find pictures of it when it was lived in.

And this is what's left of it....

You can make out some of the blue from the marble columns that once stood in the courtyard, a few pieces of the flooring and that's it.

Masquerade shop in Boulevard closed

2026-06-04T19:27:39.628+03:00

Every time I visited Boulevard I would always stop by Masquerade to see what was the latest costume theme they has going on. I went to Boulevard recently and saw the shop closed down. I think they have another location but this one was always a fun one to stop by.

Before

Today

You can find out more about their remaining location on their IG.

Last pictures of Sharq Mall (Souq Sharq)

2026-05-24T15:02:00.000+03:00

I visited Sharq Mall for some pictures before it was closed, I have a lot of memories. Marina and Sharq mall were the place to be when I moved to Kuwait in 2004. I remember trying to find parking on the weekends which was nearly impossible. Walking along the seaside, enjoying the many events held there, what a time to be alive! There used to be a tiny shop there selling cassette tapes, we picked up a few of them back then.

I made a post about the mall back in 2014 noting some changes that came when Avenues opened up, Marina and Sharq mall were left behind.

Here's a video from four years ago.....

Kids Land in Sharq Closed

2026-05-20T13:50:00.000+03:00

This is an old entertainment place for kids; I know about it because my classic car garage was in front of it. I used to see schools and nurseries bring busloads of kids to hang out there. As time went on and shops began to close in the Awqaf complex I knew it was only a matter of time before it too closed.

It was full of old retro games, some broke, some so old the color was gone but I'm sure a lot of memories were made here.

I came to the garage and found out it was closed when I went to use the bathroom. I went inside to take some pictures until the security started coming.

I don't have any idea of what the Awqaf building will turn into, I watched as the Indian restaurant where we would get lunch closed, tailor shops gone and the offices connected to the building shut down.

Matcha Matcha

2026-05-18T13:34:45.019+03:00

As everyone knows, Matcha has become the new craze in Kuwait. Men, women, old and young alike are gathering at this new spot in Abu Halifa. It's a cute, green shop serving matcha drinks and related desserts. There are so many mixes to try, we got the regular matcha and recently my daughter tried the salted banana matcha but you couldn't taste any matcha.

Cute theme but really crowded all of the time

This was like a matcha tres leches cake, really good!

You can watch them as they weigh the matcha and mix it before mixing it all together

Outside sitting area is very colorful

I really like the regular matcha but I've discovered that after drinking I don't sleep so I have to limit my matcha serving to a sip here and there.

Ahmadi Employees in the 60's

2026-05-13T19:32:46.284+03:00

I found this on Facebook and thought it was a cool picture and story:

“This photo was taken in the 1960s in Kuwait, during my grandfather’s years working with Kuwait Oil Company (standing first from the right). We don’t know the occasion, venue, or who many of the people in this picture are — but this image feels like a beautiful snapshot of early oil-era Kuwait, when people from many different countries and cultures lived and worked together in places like Al Ahmadi.

“During that period, KOC’s Ahmadi township had clubs, cinemas, social halls, and community gatherings for employees and families from around the world.

“I’m sharing this with the hope that someone, somewhere, may recognize a face in this photo — perhaps a father, grandfather, grandmother, family friend, or colleague who once worked in Kuwait during those remarkable years. If this picture feels familiar in any way, please comment or share. It would mean a lot to reconnect even a small piece of this history.”

The great storm of 2026

2026-05-04T14:30:00.001+03:00

I remember the great sand storm around 2009 or so and that was scary. This day my daughter and I went out for lunch in Abu Hassani. Afterwards we drove around the area looking at houses, it started raining so I decided to head to the beach to get some lightning videos.

I started recording and the sea was a little rough, then it got crazy and I was trapped under the covered area by the beach.

It got harder and harder, my circle got smaller and smaller as I looked for an escape

After 15 minutes of pelting rain I decided to make a run for it to my car, running through 2 inches of water until I reached my car, shoes and socks soaking wet. There was police on the main road blocking some flooded lanes, I remember one storm that flooded Salwa and since we were beside that area I got to the highway as soon as I could to get home. I know how the highways flood, thankfully we made it home as I watched videos of the same highway we took home flooded down to one passing lane.

Maya Restaurant

2026-05-01T20:56:00.001+03:00

As a lover of Mexican food it can be difficult to find a good burrito in Kuwait. I think Maya has some of the best birria tacos and that says a lot coming from me. This little restaurant is cute and cozy with an outside seating area as well. I wanted to try it all, burritos, tacos and sides. I ordered the beef burrito with cilantro rice, birria tacos and twister fries. Birria tacos were soooo good and with the consume, wow that's some good stuff.

The burrito was good but I would have carne asada or birria instead of hamburger meat. Next time I will try the quesadilla and chicken burrito.

Behbehani House Complex 2026

2026-04-29T20:11:00.001+03:00

I had some free time and was in the area when I thought I would check on one of my favorite Old Kuwaiti areas, the Behbehani Housing Complex. You can find my 2013 post for more details and old pictures about the houses. It really makes me sad to see it in this shape. Where we used to visit @shatea_alwateya (you can find pics of the restaurant on their IG) all the time, I loved the old decor. It was one of the first Kuwaiti restaurants I went to when I came to Kuwait.

This restaurant had menus from a restaurant called Abd el Wahab but I remember it being Bait 7?

I remember going to this place for sheesha and it was sooo crowded with people, I was always nervous going down those slick glass stairs.

2013

2026

It really breaks my heart to see the condition of it now! It's part of Kuwait history yet they let it die!

Alia and Ghalia Towers - What happened?

2026-04-27T20:11:00.001+03:00

I finally stopped by the towers to see what happened to them after noticing all of the restaurants and cafes had closed down. I tried to find some answers from the security but he didn't had no clue. The only company name on the building was KREIC - Kuwait Real Estate Investment Consortium. There were some letters on the board about paying rent, I visited their website and IG but no details about the Towers.

The gym is still there in the basement where the bowling alley used to be, does anyone remember that place? Cheap bowling and pool tables in a dark basement, good times! I remember when we wanted movie CDs we would go to one of the shops that burned them in the basement while you waited. How I miss the old days of simply having a shop that looked like it sold authentic CDs but they had a burner hidden.

Villa Akbar 2026

2026-02-14T21:02:00.000+03:00

It's that time again, Villa Akbar update, the last one was in 2015. The property has not been touched, it looks like the haunted mansion from Disneyland now. The gold no longer shines and only the pigeons are enjoying the house. The area around it is no longer an open dirt lot, it's surrounded by brand new villas.

I found the parkin area across from the house, last time there was a security guard yelling at me so I didn't see it but now no one is there. Abandoned Porsche, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin DB 11!! It's so crazy!

Here is a message from the 2015 post about the house:

-This house was originally going to end up being a gorgeous house, but after buying the land and started the foundations building, the owner's brother went through some legal work to not only seize the land but most of the guys savings. I know this because the original owner is actually my uncle and its still saddens me when ever i pass the house because not only did it ruin a part of my uncle and his familys life it also ruins the eyes of the people who see it-

My daughter swears she saw someone in the house pass by the window, maybe it is really haunted?

Villa Akbar 2010

Villa Akbar 2015

Wk wk 965 Restaurant

2025-10-09T16:02:00.000+03:00

A friend invited me have lunch, we ended up at Wk Burger which is a weird name for a restaurant. From the outside it looked like a cute place. With the inside it reminded me of a cross between McDonalds, Checkers and In n Out.

There's a timer, you have a choice of a free side of fries or try to stop the timer at 10 seconds and win an Iphone.

Inside was nice and open with a lot of sunshine

Here's where the problem started. The food. Expensive with small portions.

Nacho plate 3.950 KD

I thought there were chilli cheese fries, turns out it was jalapenos, cheese, something with hamburger meat pieces and a sweet sauce

Chilli Cheese fries 1.950 KD

Charcoal 'thick'? burger - 2.450 KD

I ordered a Philly cheesesteak sandwich it was tiny, wet and ok at best, it was on a sesame seed bun that was a little bigger than a hotdog bun

Philly cheesesteak 3.650 KD

The total was 13 KD which is a lot for small portions

Honestly this is why I don't try these random burger shops, they try to compete with franchises by charging the same prices but the size and quality are no where near the same. I would have rather gone to 5 guys for around the same price.

Amentum company loses contract, Americans are Leaving

2025-09-28T18:00:00.002+03:00

I saw one of my old co-workers from Arifjan and asked him about the base. I had heard from my neighbor that Triple Canopy security was no more. My friend said that Amentum lost their contract and today I saw another old co-worker who works with Amentum, he told me the Americans will be leaving on Sept 30th and he will retire after 21 years of working 12 hour days/6 days a week.

I found an article from 2022 in which Amentum and 3 Kuwaiti companies were being investigated for abusing the TCN laborers. I worked for KRH so I know how those guys used to live 9 people deep in a single apartment with 1 bathroom that was horrible, they worked hours/6 days a week and made 80 KD a month. KRH made so much money off of the contracts, that's how they built their empire. I saw a board saying REH (part of KRH) will be rebuilding Souk Mubarakiya?

I also found a recent article from October 2024 which says Vectrus had protested the contract award to Amentum and that the military had sustained the protest, either way it looks like Amentum is out and how much longer will other US contracting companies last, only time will tell.

Abdali farms closed this Season???

2025-09-26T19:34:00.002+03:00

I saw this on Tik Tok, has anyone else heard of this? Looks like the ministry has shut down the farms and entertainment this season?

There is little to do in Kuwait and now more activities have been taken away, the only ones left are the expensive places like Winter Wonderland or the beach games. It's as if the ministry only wants to allow the money making government ran places. Kuwait is trying to promote tourism when people who live here leave at any chance and what little fun we had has been taken away, I miss 2004 Kuwait!

Chipotle opening in Marina Mall

2025-09-01T20:55:00.000+03:00

It looks like Chipotle is opening soon in Marina Mall right in front of the escalator that goes down.

What happened to TIES and the AWARE Center?

2025-08-28T00:00:00.011+03:00

I was going through my links and I found that TIES and the AWARE Center have disappeared which is sad because they did a lot for the expats who wanted to learn about Kuwait. TIES was more religious and offered religious programs, religious classes in English and tours.

The AWARE center offered programs, activities and tours for everyone in Kuwait. The last post for the AWARE center was November 2024 and then nothing, the Google location says permanently closed. They had been located in Surra for a long time then moved to Funaitees. It was non-profit, non-governmental and non-political NGO. I do remember them being backed by the ministry of Awqaf so maybe the government decided they didn't need the centers any more.

I had attended a lot of events from AWARE center, they were always offering tours which included transportation for a small fee. I visited a few Kuwaiti dwaniyas and interesting tops of chat gatherings. I can't find any information on when or why they closed?

Update:

I ran into the British lady who worked for AWARE center today and she told me that they shut down in May because the government said they can't be in Kuwaiti housing area. They had been located in a Kuwaiti house in Surra until they moved to Funaitees. It has been difficult both financially and trying to find a commercial location. I hope they can find a place and bring back their program in the near future.

Shadeness Make-Up Vending Machine

2025-08-25T00:00:00.001+03:00

In USA there are so many different kinds of vending machines, from food to Labubus and now there's a make-up vending machine in Gate Mall from Shadeness Kuwait. From their IG account it looks like there might be a few vending machines around Kuwait.

They are also known for their first ever drive-thru make-up location in Shuwaikh close to Ananass restaurant.

New Wingstop Kuwait locations

2025-08-23T00:00:00.001+03:00

The first Wingstop location in Kuwait is in Bida and now there are two more locations opening soon:

Liwan Mall in Egaila

Liwan Mall is a surprising location as that mall is dead, it's beside Gate Mall and everyone knows how crowded that parking area gets.

The second location is in Sea View in Abu Halaifa

A slightly better location with more foot traffic but horrible traffic and minimal parking. You can easily get stuck inside that area. I really thought they would open a branch in The Warehouse, Gate Mall or Al Kout considering they are malls and have plenty of parking. I wonder where the next locations will be?

Junky Burger ,In-N-Out Dupe? Or?

2025-08-20T15:22:00.000+03:00

My mom spends a lot of time on Instagram and came across a supposed dupe for In-N-Out restaurant, or so they claim. We are from California and my sister's first job was at In-N-Out so she knows the secrets and how things are done. It's called Junky burger and their IG page is full of videos and pictures of In-N-Out type burgers and fries, even the menu is from In-N-Out. Last night we gave it a try, I'm the one that never tries new things from social media because I'm always disappointed.

Here's their menu from IG

My mom and daughter ordered regular single size burgers while my other daughter and I ordered ''Animal Style'' with mine having no sauce. The sauce they use for IN-N-Out is a thousand island type sauce and I hate it. ''Animal style'' is a cheeseburger prepared with a mustard-grilled patty, added pickles, extra spread and grilled onion topping, we ordered regular fries. You can only order by whatsapp and when you click on the above link for the location a juice shop appears, maybe they replaced the shop?

There isn't any info about delivery charge, their location is Abu Fateira and we are in Egaila, the charge was 1 KD. After a while the food was delivered, I'm assuming by the owner as the guy who handed me the bag was Kuwaiti? I opened the bag and this is what we got for 12.800 KD:

The picture above is of the regular single burger, the sauce is only ketchup and mayo mixed together, not the same sauce as In-N-Out by any means. As for my ''Animal style'' there was grilled onions, no mustard to be found or tasted and the fries were just normal frozen ones. In-N-Out make their fries from fresh hand cut potatoes, my sister told us the stories of how many hours she used to make their fries. Maybe, just maybe it might be a little better if you pick up your order but I won't be trying it again. IF you want to try them their IG is junky_burger

When I looked closer at their IG posts I figured most of the videos are of actual In-N-Out burgers from USA and a few Kuwait videos mixed in. I was hoping it was true but nope, just a regular no frills burger.

Wingstop in Kuwait

2025-07-25T18:31:00.000+03:00

For my daughter's birthday my mom took her to Wingstop for lunch. I've never been to Winstop so this was new for me. I usually get wings from Buffalo's on Monday for their buy one get one free special, we visited the Bida location. There's a variety of spice blends with different heat levels, it would be nice if you could taste test them beforehand as the names don't give flavor details.

I got the hot buffalo sauce and lemon pepper wings, my daughter got the boneless with barbecue sauce and my mom got parmesan cheese. The hot buffalo sauce was actually mild, but the other flavors were much better than Buffalo's.

My mom ordered a strawberry milkshake, it wasn't pink, I didn't see any strawberry pieces, I think 5 Guys milkshake is better.

The fries were just frozen fries, nothing special unless you want to add cheese or sauce

Surprisingly it was really good overall and I would visit again. It's an American franchise but the word 'flavor' is written with the British version 'flavour' which is kind of weird.

MADANG Korean Cultural Center - Game Night

2025-07-20T20:16:00.002+03:00

It was my daughter's birthday so our family friend invited us to hang out and play some Korean games with MADANG in Mishref. I thought it might be all young kids, we were 2 adults and 3 teenagers but it was actually a mix of ages. We started off in a room coloring our wooden blocks and designing our Ddakji folded paper which as I have read, was featured in Squid Games. It's a folded paper with carboard middle, players take turns throwing their 'tile' at the opponents 'tile' to try and flip it

This is our Ddakji class

Our instructor

Yutnori Game

Some brochures about Korea, they also had some Korean skin care products selling with a discount

We also played Biseok which involved our colored wooden 'rock' we made. We used it to play Biseokchigi - a few games which involved taking out the other opponents 'rocks' in three different game styles.

Lastly we played Gonggi also known as Korean Jacks or Knucklebones, we used gonggitdol (small plastic stone shaped toys) to throw in the air and pick up the ones on the table. I must admit it was a really great event and I may look into the other various types of events they have like cooking, K-Pop night and Korean movie nights. You can find all of their information on their IG @madang.kw

Better Books Closing for Good

2025-07-18T20:06:00.000+03:00

Almost everyone knows about the Better Books Store, it's been around for ages. I've donated books and bought books from there. Sadly, it will be closing, the last days are July 19-24, 2025. There is a big sale going on this weekend for book lovers.

Some of the proceeds from the book sales will be going to charity. The store had recently moved to a new location but the owner has lost her Kuwaiti nationality and according to Kuwait laws only a Kuwaiti can have a license to sell books.

Aventura Mall

2025-02-02T12:00:00.001+03:00

"KUWAIT CITY: Capital Governor Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah stated on Wednesday that the Aventura Mall project represents the future vision of development projects in Kuwait. He emphasized that the project will serve as a pioneering marketing and entertainment hub, benefiting both citizens and residents across the country.

Sheikh Abdullah made his remarks following an inspection tour of the Aventura Mall investment project, located in Jaber Al-Ahmad Residential City. He was accompanied by Walid Al-Shariaan, CEO of Kuwait Building Company, Project Manager Engineer Sami Al-Abdul Ghafour, and several engineers involved in the project.

The Capital Governor highlighted that the Aventura Mall is a unique entertainment and commercial destination that will become a key addition to Kuwait's shopping landscape. He noted that it will offer a high-quality experience, providing comfort, variety, entertainment, and shopping for all members of society. The project is expected to rival the best shopping destinations both locally and regionally.

In a similar statement, Walid Al-Shariaan, CEO of Kuwait Building Company, praised the Capital Governor’s visit, calling it a significant endorsement for sustainable and pioneering community projects. He emphasized that the Aventura Mall project represents a strong partnership between the public and private sectors.

During the tour, a visual presentation of the project was provided, outlining the stages of construction and the facilities being developed. The attendees were also given a brief overview of the project’s progress from the project’s management team.

It is important to note that the Aventura Mall project is an investment initiative led by United Buildings Company, in collaboration with the National Industries Group and the Privatization Holding Company. The project aligns with Kuwait’s future vision for development and aims to make a significant contribution to the country’s commercial and entertainment sectors.

Avenues Phase II- Bahrain, Avenues Riyadh, Avenues Khobar coming soon!

2025-02-01T12:00:00.001+03:00

According to Mabanee PDF it looks like the Al Shaya empire is spreading across the GCC. The expansion of the current location in Bahrain and the new locations in Saudi Arabia. I guess GCC people will no longer have to travel to Kuwait to enjoy The Avenues.

I've been to the one in Bahrain many years ago, it was just a mini version of Kuwait.