Kuwait Things to Do

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If you ask a taxi driver to take you to the fish market, this is likely where he will go. It isn't the traditional one, but it is nonetheless an interesting place to go. There are far more stalls here than in the one in Mubarakiyya and you are more likely to see weird and wonderful species of fish here than in the heritage souq. Unfortunately, there is little historical or remarkable about the building or the practices at this market. It is a fully modern building with a section for dry goods and non-fish produce as well. My favourite part of the experience, however, is likely the outside, as you can watch the fishing boats come in if you're early enough. Many other things in Kuwait are quite modern, but the fishing boats still have a bit of the mystic the Arabian Gulf.

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Kuwait has a number of markets and not all of them are traditional. In fact, because "mall" and "supermarket" are all pretty much translated as souq, they end up being retranslated into English as market, giving visitors the impression that there are far more "markets" (in the mystical Eastern way) than there actually are. This market, in the centre of Mubarakiyya market, is the real thing and the traditional fish souq that people often talk about. In truth, there's not much here that is very traditional, except that the shrimp auctions, which are supposed to be something to witness. There are also various types of fish here that I haven't seen before and it is rather fun to see what you end up eating if you visit one of the restaurants in the souq. Photography is allowed, you just have to be courteous and ask the people before you take a few shots.

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I'm willing to venture a guess that anyone who is serious about displaying and promoting his nation's art and culture would never consider a vacant, desert lot the appropriate location for a Modern Art Gallery. Unfortunately, that is exactly where Kuwait's Museum of Modern Art is located. Similar to the Maritime Museum, I could not find a time when I was not working that this particular gallery was open. The signs out front and the general state of the building didn't inspire much confidence that the collection would be spectacular, but at least you can get a notion of some of the traditional artifacts from the area outside of the museum. If you would like to see one of the exhibitions, try to make it in on a weekday (Sunday to Thursday) during business hours.

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The Maritime Museum is one of the few locations in Kuwait where you can actually learn about the country's pre-oil history. Unfortunately, the Museum seemed to be closed every time I was able to visit it (short of skipping work, I don't think there was a way to be able to get into the building). Nevertheless, I was able to check out the various ships on display out front of the building. The basis for Kuwait's economy before oil was pearl diving and maritime commerce, so it is no wonder that Kuwaitis hold their maritime tradition in high esteem. The ships out front are pretty cool, though. They are wonderfully preserved and, as such, great photo opportunities for anyone tired of malls and skyscrapers.

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Mesjid as-Souq al-Kabiir (the Great Market Mosque) is one of my favourite mosque in Kuwait City. The building is actually quite close to the Grand Mosque, but its decoration and design is many times more impressive and pleasing than that of the Grand Mosque. I'm not sure if this building is older or newer than the former, but I would guess that it is, and that many of the country's religious structures were not as badly affected by the Invasion as the secular ones. The design of this mosque is rather interesting because of the juxtaposition of white and taupe masonry and the incorporation of flourishes that are more reminiscent of Spanish or Portuguese colonial architecture than the Arabian Peninsula's traditional mosques. I didn't go inside to see if the same style is incorporated in the interior, but I was burning with curiosity to see the inside.

Kuwaitis love their towers, which is one reason why it seems like Kuwait's skyline is a mix of single-story buildings and skyscrapers. The Dar al-Awadi (House of Oases, I think) is the third-tallest structure in Kuwait, at least until the new building beside the Marriott Courtyard is completed. This structure was finished in 2005 and, like all other buildings, has a shopping mall at its ground floor. The tower is 171 m tall and has 35 floors, with supposedly exquisite views of the Gulf from the 35th floor. It's filled with offices and commercial space, so I don't believe that you can actually go in and take in the view.

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My tip on the exterior of the Kuwait Towers deals with more of the physical attributes of this landmark. Inside the the main tower (the only one you can enter), you'll find two distinct areas for visitors. The first is the restaurant, which is open for brunch on the weekends, as well as lunch and dinner on other days. The restaurant isn't revolving, so don't expect to be able to see all of Kuwait while you eat. You can, however, get fairly good views of the city depending on where you're sitting. The food here is decent, with a brunch buffet that features both Middle Eastern and Western dishes. Higher up (at 125m, I believe) there is a viewing platform and café. The lower part of the platform includes pictures and explanations of the destruction caused by Iraqi forces during the occupation in 1990, including damages to the Kuwait Towers. The upper part of the platform (where there are a café and gift shop) allows you to see almost all of Kuwait City and have views out to the Gulf. Unfortunately, the windows aren't always clean, so it's not all that easy to get good views and pictures, but it is nonetheless quite impressive to be that high up.

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Kuwait Towers (Burjan al-Kuwait) are the country's best-known landmarks by far. Unlike the Liberation Tower and many other sites, the Kuwait Towers were constructed long before the Iraqi Invasion (1990) and are one of the country's few continuous landmarks. They were first constructed in the 1970s (opened in 1979) by a Yugoslav company, according to the designs of a two Scandinavian architects. Both of the large towers (with the bulbs) act as water storage units, while the third one is the electrical system that services the other two towers. The taller of the two towers is 187m, while the shorter one is about 146m. The design is pretty standard for the seventies, which is pretty nice, since everything else in Kuwait was reconstructed after the War. The towers were pretty badly damaged during the Invasion, so much of the interior has been reconstructed, but they retain their pre-War identity and are an important part of Kuwaitis' cultural continuity with the pre-War period. See my second tip on the towers for more information on the interior.