Migratory Flamingos Make A Surprise Summer Appearance In Kuwait
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Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
UK Envoy Belinda Lewis Bids Farewell with Big Wins for Culture, Trade & Peace
KUWAIT CITY, July 24: British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Her Excellency Belinda Lewis, welcomed journalists to her Residence as she approaches the end of her posting. Reflecting on the past four years, Lewis lauded Kuwait's 'special and long-standing' partnership with the UK - noting that 2025 marks 250 years of bilateral trading ties. She also thanked the Kuwaiti people for their warm hospitality, recalling Ramadan diwaniyas and the Al-Qaffal ceremony marking the end of the pearl diving season as especially memorable cultural experiences. Lewis highlighted February 2024's rollout of the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme to Kuwaiti nationals as significant in strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries. Kuwaiti nationals made 162,000 trips to Britain in 2024 - a 6% increase from 2023, with Kuwait Airways now offering 19 direct flights a week to London and Manchester. She also expressed delight that an ever-growing number of Kuwaitis are choosing to study at UK universities, with over 10,000 currently undertaking courses there. Noting the UK and Kuwait's rich shared history, Lewis reflected on the success of joint celebrations to mark 125 years of official UK-Kuwait diplomatic relations - rounded off by His Highness the Amir's trip to Scotland to meet His Majesty King Charles III and discuss Kuwait's partnership with the King's Foundation; and His Highness' August 2023 Guest of Government visit to London marking 70 years since the establishment of the Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund, during which he oversaw the signing of a landmark investment partnership. Lewis noted that His Highness had travelled to the UK five times across her tenure, while Kuwait welcomed four UK Cabinet Ministers, including most recently the UK's Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP - plus numerous Ministers of State, senior officials and the Duke of Edinburgh. She said Britain was now 'close' to concluding a landmark Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, while praising the UK and Kuwait's burgeoning international humanitarian partnership that has seen the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development announce lifesaving joint funding for communities in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. Asked about the situation in Gaza, Lewis strongly condemned the killing of civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid and called for an immediate end to the conflict, referring to the UK and 27 other countries' 21 July joint statement. She also detailed the Embassy's initiatives to fund specialist training for Kuwaiti medics deploying to Gaza, and its collaboration with the Palestinian Embassy and the British Consulate in Jerusalem to help small Palestinian businesses export their goods to Kuwait - with Lulu Hypermarket making a large order of foodstuffs earlier this year. Lewis expressed confidence that her successor, Qudsi Rasheed (who will arrive in September), would thoroughly enjoy his time in Kuwait, and that UK-Kuwait collaboration - be it on trade & investment, defence & security, education & culture, or climate & environment - would continue to go from strength to strength under his guidance.
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Migratory Flamingos Make A Surprise Summer Appearance In Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, July 21: Kuwaiti photographer Abdul Majeed Al-Shatti on Saturday spotted small flamingos in Kuwait during the summer, which is a rare sight, and its presence during this time bodes mild temperatures. Flamingos are beautiful birds of large size, which is the dominant type in Kuwait and is called the great flamingo. The other type is the small flamingo, which differs in size and beak color. With the approach of mid-summer, some migratory seabirds, including flamingos, begin to return to Kuwait, where they were spotted in small numbers late July and early August during the past years. This bird stays in the country until late March and feeds on small marine creatures that are widely spread in Kuwait Bay. (KUNA)
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Rare flamingo sighting signals early return of migratory birds
KUWAIT: The recent sighting of a small flamingo in Kuwait during the summer months has drawn attention from birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts, as such an occurrence is considered rare. The bird was photographed last Saturday by Kuwaiti wildlife photographer Abdulmajeed Al-Shatti, marking an unusual early appearance ahead of the typical migratory season. It remains unclear whether the flamingo will remain in the country until next March, which is usually the end of the migratory period for such birds. However, its presence during the height of summer has been viewed as a possible indication of moderating temperatures. The flamingo—known in Arabic as 'na'am al-rumi'—is a strikingly beautiful and large wading bird. The species most commonly observed in Kuwait is the greater flamingo, characterized by its impressive height of up to 1.5 meters, white and pink plumage, and a pink beak with a black tip. A less common species, the lesser flamingo, is smaller in size—reaching about one meter—and distinguished by its pink coloration and dark brown beak. As mid-summer approaches, small numbers of migratory seabirds—including flamingos—begin to return to Kuwait. According to previous records, flamingos have been sighted in limited numbers between late July and early August. These birds typically remain in the country until late March, feeding on small marine organisms abundantly found in Kuwait Bay. The appearance of migratory birds such as the flamingo highlights the ecological importance of Kuwait's coastal habitats and reinforces ongoing efforts to protect and document the country's rich biodiversity. — KUNA
