Modern Kuwait: The changing Times


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By John Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

03 Febraury 2013: Kuwait nowadays is dotted with many high-rise buildings, ornamented structures and a network of highways due to enormous efforts exerted throughout years of hard work by its citizens.


Today, construction works are visible in and outside the capital, including the building of new highways and facilities for the public. But the full-scale construction process got high pace particularly in the 70s and 80s, when roaring bulldozers removed scores of old and randomly built houses, expanded main roads, and highways, replacing old roads that could no longer accommodate the rising number of cars, along with the spread of new mosques, hospitals and schools throughout the country.


Perhaps, those who particularly appreciate its achievements are the senior citizens who recalled how Kuwait looked like in the old days, when the residents of the country had to exert enormous efforts in their daily chores, starting from securing water to transport.

 

 

their spare time, the new Al Hamra projects builds on its legacy with the nations tallest skyscraper another landmark of success offering mixed use facilities to welcome visitors, tenants and visitors alike.

 

 


The Al Hamra Tower is a topped out skyscraper in Kuwait City. Designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the tower is the tallest building in Kuwait on completion in 2011 at 412.6 m (1,354 ft.). It is the tallest sculpted tower in the world. The tower includes 195,000 m2 (2,100,000 sq ft.) of commercial and office space. The building connects to a five-story retail mall which totals 23,000 m2 (250,000 sq. ft.) of retail space and includes an integrated theater complex and an 11-story car park. The tower itself was built on an 18,000 m2 (190,000 sq. ft.) construction site.


The Al Hamra Tower has over 70 floors of office space, a rooftop restaurant and a spa. The shopping center includes a 10 screen Movie theater/cinema complex which also has IMAX theaters.


Kuwait University Campus


Construction of a New Kuwait University Campus is underway, which is a 10 year project. The project involves construction of a new University City that will provide a modern campus with state-of-the-art facilities for academic staff, students and other employees of Kuwait University. The Government of Kuwait has allocated 6 million square kilometers of land in the Al Shadidiyah area for the project (not so far away from the Iraqi-Saudi border). It will be known as the Sabah Al-Salem University.

 

 


The new campus will be co-educational with segregated facilities. It will include several faculties, dormitories, sports facilities and auditoriums as well as car parks for several thousand vehicles. There will also be a medical school and an associated 400-bed teaching hospital. The University City will be developed in stages over ten years and will eventually accommodate up to 40,000 students, permitting the consolidation of Kuwait University’s various existing campuses around the city. The campus will cost about $3 billion over ten years. The Master plan for the new university is carried out by a Canadian Consortium of Architects with the local SSHI design office. Currently, many design packages for the different colleges and administration buildings under design by top class international design firms. It is expected for the project to be completed by the academic year 2014-2015.

 

 

 
Kuwait, once a country in the north of the Gulf whose natives depended on external trade with usage of dhows and pearl-diving, turned into a modern state with digital and state-of-art service with the employment of the oil proceeds in the modernization process.


Today, it boasts a network of highways consisting of at least six ring roads, three airports, ports, hotels and modern financial services sectors.

 

 

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Comments on this Article
John Tauro, Farwania Kuwait Thu, February-7-2013, 7:24
Sir Chris your opinion on this subject May be possible . but as the nations grow with thier vast resouces and influence some time thier voice may be heard. and implimented Thank you very much for your coments May be you are curect sir.r i
Chris Hartley, Wales UK Wed, February-6-2013, 3:13
Dear John, the creation of Failaka Island as a Heritage site was only mentioned later in 2012, not in the years in between when we had ministers visiting the island. For your information when I was GM I was accepted onto a heritage site with which we had a great deal of success. With the best of meanings to Ahmed Al Tarreh after being on the island for 8 years and meeting and accommodating all the delegations who visited the island I do not think that at the present time Failaka has any hope of becoming a World Heritage Site, its is just pie in the sky and I will personally apologise to Mr Al Tarreh if it happens. How many times has he visited the island?
Robert D Costa, Mangalore Mon, February-4-2013, 12:12

Dear John,

Thanks for your article on fast-rebuilding of modern Kuwait at record time, aftermath of Iraq invasion. Kudos to authorities concerned. Meanwhile, I duly acknowledge your interest in returning to Kuwait after your retirement, in order to testify marvelous developments that are taken place since you had left the oil rich trading centre of Gulf. All the best. Keep writing.

John Tauro, Kuwait Sun, February-3-2013, 1:11
No doubt,Mr.Chris the Failaka island project was halted for a long time as there was an intension to develop it into a heritage site which was stated by UNESCO s permanent delegation Mr. Ali Ahmed Al Tarrah that Failaka may be listed as world s Heritage center and the bid to include it in the world heritage list. The bid is already tendered to the World Heritage Center.
Joy Fernando, Colombo Sri Lanka Sun, February-3-2013, 11:56
Sir john i was in kuwait during early 1970 . when read your article which one of my friend telephoned me asked to visit bellevision site about modern kuwait I am fealing why I left kuwait that time but no regret very goood article john I now onwards visit bellevision write more on gulf also thanks and regards.
Valerian Alva, London U K Sun, February-3-2013, 6:46
SALAM john a brief article about present and past about state of KUWAIT I allways visit kuwait and Practically saw the development good you reporter to bellevision we belleans proud of you .regarding Chris Hartlys comments is also meaning . please go through it Thanks Mr. Ghris Hartley for u r comment.regards .
Chris Hartley, Wales UK Sun, February-3-2013, 3:42
Yes John, a great deal of modernisation on the mainland in Kuwait city but just talk about elsewhere. I was the General Manager for Failaka Island for 8 years, 1st May 2004 to January 2012 and developed Failaka Heritage Village. During my eight years many meetings on the island even with the Prime Minister, many big things promised, but this was just talk. We had been promised that the restructuring of Failaka would start in 2006. 2008, 2009, 2010 and in 2011, when I left in January 2012 still just talk. Time for the government to fulfil the promises about Failaka Island.
Ernext D’Souza, New Jersy/ U S A Sun, February-3-2013, 2:21

Hi John nice to read your article. I remember my childhood days, How much this country is progressd and lot of development going on. realy it is worth this bellevision site. thanks write more or more . regards

SSRao, Mangalore Sun, February-3-2013, 1:52
Nice article and very good pictures taken,regarding the development taken place in kuwait in the last decade. Well done John Tauro,keep it up.
Joseph Vergese, Kerala/ India Sat, February-2-2013, 10:12

All the gulf countries modernizing thier states with vast income from the oil, but kuwait after the invasion by Saddam and distruction of entire kuwait , this country growth rare is unimmaginable as Mr. Naveen’s view. thanks bellevision,

Naveen Fernandis, Doha/Qatar Sat, February-2-2013, 8:57

The growth rate in Kuwait and other middle east countries is unimaginable. We can visualize this in last 10-15 years. Well done John.Explore more about the developments in other fields as well.

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