Kuwait Times, Kuwait News welcome KFH's trainees
At the archives, the trainees had the opportunity to browse through historical editions spanning the newspaper's 63-year history. They explored how the publication has developed over the decades and viewed past language supplements, gaining a deeper appreciation for the paper's legacy. The group then proceeded to the printing press, where they witnessed the newspaper production process firsthand and posed for a commemorative photo with the Kuwait Times team.
To wrap up the visit, the trainees participated in a fun video shoot at the studio, enjoying a lighthearted and engaging end to their tour. The KFH Academy program is designed for university students and recent graduates as part of KFH's commitment to social responsibility, training excellence, youth development, and the empowerment of national talent.
A total of 20 trainees were selected to join the academy after successfully completing a rigorous assessment and evaluation process. The program offers a diverse range of learning areas, including public relations (PR) and media, general services, digital transformation, and innovation. It aims to provide participants with a solid foundation in these fields through high-quality, up-to-date training methods, helping them make the most of their summer break.
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Kuwait Times
an hour ago
- Kuwait Times
Amber dreams
From prayer to prestige, Kuwait's enduring love for the mesbah has turned beads into symbols of culture, craftsmanship - and serious investment By Fahad AlSayegh In Kuwait and across the Arabian Gulf, beads - or as they're commonly called, mesbah - carry layered meanings. Often used for religious devotion, especially in tasbeeh (Islamic prayer recitation), the mesbah also serves as a fashion statement and a mark of prestige. Generations of Kuwaitis have held on to their mesbah not just as a spiritual tool, but as a personal talisman, companion and cultural emblem. Today, it's not unusual to see elders, adults, teenagers - even young children - clutching their beads in shopping malls, mosques or coffee shops. It has become more than a tradition - it's a cornerstone of Kuwaiti identity. For over 120,000 years, humans have threaded stories through beads - tiny seashells, stones, seeds, or bits of glass transformed into something more. In North Africa and the Middle East, some of the oldest beads ever discovered serve as evidence that the art of beadmaking is among the earliest forms of human adornment. As our ancestors spread across the globe, they left behind trails of beads - each one a symbol of beauty, meaning and personal identity. According to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, beads are more than decoration - they reflect culture, individual aesthetics and the human desire to create and express. Over time, what began as a spiritual practice has blossomed into a booming market. In Kuwait, bead collecting has evolved into a lucrative hobby, with collectors buying, selling and trading high-value beads - especially the sought-after amber beads, known locally as kahrab. This rise in popularity has sparked a question: Is Kuwait the number one country in the Gulf when it comes to beads? To explore the answer, Kuwait Times visited one of the country's shopping malls, speaking to collectors, sellers and bead enthusiasts. 'Of course, it's number one,' said Majed Almutairi, a long-time customer at a renowned bead shop. 'Kuwait is the origin of beads in the Gulf. It has a long history in this field and is distinguished by the quality of its materials - whether it's old manufactured beads or amber.' Khaled Alansari, who runs an online shop dedicated to selling beads, agreed wholeheartedly. 'Kuwait is definitely number one, without a doubt. Beads have been part of our culture for a long time, especially since we're Muslims and we use them frequently for tasbeeh. Also, here, the mesbah is considered a symbol of elegance and a traditional accessory for men.' But perhaps the most passionate advocate for Kuwait's place at the top of the beads market is Hilal Algaoud, a beads expert working at a prestigious shop. 'Not only among Gulf countries - Kuwait is currently number one in the world, especially when it comes to amber,' he said. 'The first people who became passionate about amber were the Kuwaitis. Since the 1960s, Kuwaitis were the first to bring in amber; others followed. Kuwait is the amber capital of the world.' He added that while other Gulf countries might specialize in different materials - like mastik or faturan - and the Levant is known for stones like turquoise, agate and coral, Kuwait remains unrivaled in its amber legacy. 'Other countries look up to us when it comes to kahrab,' he said. At Hilal's shop, he revealed, one particular set of amber beads once reached a bidding price of KD 90,000 - and still wasn't sold because the owner found the offer unsatisfactory. This leads to another compelling question: Why is kahrab so expensive? 'The passion for the hobby increases the value of the bead,' Majed explained. 'In addition to the stone's intrinsic worth, a bead made from rare amber is considered a form of saving or investment. You might even sell it for a higher price later.' Khaled added: 'The high price comes from the value of the stone itself, along with the cost of crafting and transforming it from raw material into a finished mesbah. Many also see it as a form of investment.' Hilal pointed to modern trends and market shifts as well: 'Prices are high because they've become a trend,' he said. 'COVID-19 made prices spike. For example, the price of amber used to be KD 3 per gram. After the pandemic, it shot up to KD 15 per gram!' With values rising steadily, many now wonder - could amber one day rival the value of gold? But beyond prices and markets, beads also carry deep personal stories. Many collectors trace their love for mesabeeh back to childhood. 'I used to sneak and steal amber beads from my father when I was a kid,' Majed laughed. 'One time, I took a rare amber mesbahah of the Macintosh type - and I lost it!' Khaled shared his initiation into bead culture through a family moment. 'My father gave me a mesbahah as a gift and said, 'Now you're a man, you should carry one.' That moment stayed with me, and since then, I've fallen in love with mesabeeh.' Hilal, too, found his inspiration close to home. 'I was influenced by my father and by growing up in the Kuwaiti community, where beads are a big part of our culture,' he said. In every bead lies a story - of heritage, pride and quiet luxury. For Kuwait, the mesbah is more than an accessory; it is a cultural compass, a handmade archive of personal and national history. As generations continue to pass the passion down, Kuwait's bead legacy - especially in amber - only grows more luminous, threading the past, present and future together in the warm glow of tradition.
Kuwait Times
18-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait Times, Kuwait News welcome KFH's trainees
KUWAIT: Kuwait Times and Kuwait News welcomed trainees from the Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Academy program for a behind-the-scenes tour and an introduction to the dynamic world of journalism. During the visit, the trainees explored several key departments, including the editorial section, social media unit, studio, printing press, and archives. In the editorial room, they engaged in insightful discussions on media ethics, the process of information gathering, the importance of fact-checking, and the evolving nature of journalism in the digital age. At the archives, the trainees had the opportunity to browse through historical editions spanning the newspaper's 63-year history. They explored how the publication has developed over the decades and viewed past language supplements, gaining a deeper appreciation for the paper's legacy. The group then proceeded to the printing press, where they witnessed the newspaper production process firsthand and posed for a commemorative photo with the Kuwait Times team. To wrap up the visit, the trainees participated in a fun video shoot at the studio, enjoying a lighthearted and engaging end to their tour. The KFH Academy program is designed for university students and recent graduates as part of KFH's commitment to social responsibility, training excellence, youth development, and the empowerment of national talent. A total of 20 trainees were selected to join the academy after successfully completing a rigorous assessment and evaluation process. The program offers a diverse range of learning areas, including public relations (PR) and media, general services, digital transformation, and innovation. It aims to provide participants with a solid foundation in these fields through high-quality, up-to-date training methods, helping them make the most of their summer break.
Kuwait Times
14-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Zain Summer Program's sixth cohort embarks on immersive training in real-world work environments
Zain Summer Program's sixth cohort embarks on immersive training in real-world work environments Participants begin training journey in Zain branches, Kuwait News, Kuwait Times, V-Thru KUWAIT: Participants in the sixth edition of the Zain Summer Program have officially begun their training journey for this year across several of Zain's main branches, as well as the premises of the program's partners, including Kuwait News, Kuwait Times, and V-Thru, Kuwait's leading virtual drive-thru platform. This initiative reflects Zain's continued commitment to empowering Kuwaiti youth and equipping them with practical skills that prepare them for the job market. The training phase kicked off following a series of orientation activities, including an introductory session held at Zain's headquarters in Shuwaikh. The session introduced the different training tracks, outlined roles and placement locations, and presented the overall objectives and timeline of the five-week program. Additionally, participants attended the two-day My Career Path workshop presented by program partner INJAZ Kuwait. The sessions focused on developing leadership skills, innovative problem-solving, verbal and written communication, and other essential professional competencies. The students are undergoing hands-on training experiences across different environments: fieldwork in Zain's branches, media training at Kuwait News and Kuwait Times, and a new technical and operational track offered this season by the program's newest partner, V-Thru. The comprehensive training covers a wide range of disciplines including customer service, sales, digital marketing, content creation, operations management, journalism, and logistics. A total of 35 university students from various academic backgrounds are participating in the program, working part-time at their assigned placements through an intensive track designed to hone their personal and professional skills, develop their leadership capabilities, and offer them real-world experiences aligned with the fast-evolving digital job market. The Zain Summer Program is one of the company's leading sustainable community initiatives, launched under the 'Future University Network – FUN' platform. Year after year, it continues to provide real and inspiring opportunities to help shape a conscious and qualified generation of young national talent. Over the course of six successful seasons, the program has trained more than 220 students, contributing to the preparation of a creative and work-ready generation for the labor market.
