Question on ‘Metro Project' deferred at Municipal Council panel meet
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Kuwait Times
31-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait cracks down on illegal use of state land
Municipal Council forms fact-finding team; ministries face deadline to report violations KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti government is intensifying efforts to tackle illegal encroachments on state-owned land, directing nearly two dozens of ministries and agencies to swiftly remove unauthorized developments and report violations. During its weekly meeting on Tuesday, the Cabinet reviewed a report submitted by the Ministry of Finance detailing instances of illegal use and encroachments on state property throughout 2024. In response, the Cabinet instructed multiple government bodies to coordinate with relevant authorities and take urgent steps to remove all violations on state-designated plots. Among the entities tasked with immediate action are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the Kuwait Fire Force, the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, the Public Authority for Industry, the Public Authority for Youth, Kuwait Ports Authority, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, and the General Administration of Customs. These bodies are expected to 'take the necessary measures to remove all encroachments on land allocated to them, as quickly as possible.' A second group of institutions — including Kuwait Municipality and the ministries of Education, Social Affairs, Commerce and Industry, and Justice — were ordered to report any encroachments on their allocated land to the Ministry of Finance within two weeks. They are also expected to take appropriate action if violations are found. Fact-finding committee The Cabinet's move comes as the issue of illegal land use, particularly for commercial gain, continues to raise concern in Kuwait. On Wednesday, the Municipal Council's Legal and Financial Committee recommended the formation of a fact-finding subcommittee to investigate the misuse of state-owned land and property. According to committee chairman Fahad Al-Abd Al-Jader, the panel will look into cases where government land has been used for private business activities without proper licenses or legal grounds. The subcommittee's core responsibilities include identifying the locations of commercial violations on state land, evaluating the effectiveness of relevant authorities in addressing them, and investigating unauthorized commercial activity conducted outside designated zones. It will also summon officials from the Ministry of Finance, Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and any other necessary entities to obtain documentation, licenses and data. In addition, the panel will determine the causes behind the violations, examine whether commercial use of state land was deliberate or due to negligence, and assess any lapses in government oversight. A detailed report with findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Legal and Financial Committee. — Agencies
Arab Times
23-07-2025
- Arab Times
Kuwait Flour Mills to add new food and beverage options across sales outlets
KUWAIT CITY, July 23: The Technical Committee of the Municipal Council, chaired by Engineer Munira Al-Amir, has approved a request submitted by the Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company to expand the scope of activities at its sales outlets across all bakery locations in the country. During the committee's meeting yesterday, the recommendation was made to authorize the company to operate additional food and beverage-related activities within its designated bakery sites. According to the committee's technical opinion, the following were approved under the company's request: Retail sale of all food products produced by the companyn Serving of both cold and hot beveragesn Sale of pies, pastries, and sweetsn Operation of oven-based bakeriesn Operation of tandoor-style bakeriesn In addition, the company has been granted permission to utilize designated locations for the manufacturing and storage of industrial products related to its operations. However, this is contingent upon obtaining the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Finance, the Public Authority for Industry, and other relevant regulatory bodies. The committee outlined several general conditions that the company must meet: Submission of detailed layout plans for activities, to be approved by the Urban Planning Departmentn Authorization for technical staff to adjust activity names in accordance with the Ministry of Commerce codes and the nomenclature of the Public Authority for Industryn Compliance with all contractual obligations established with the Ministry of Finance and the State Property Departmentn Cancellation of any previous decisions that may contradict the newly approved activitiesn Engineer Munira Al-Amir also confirmed that the committee approved a proposal by member Engineer Alia Al-Farsi to conduct an awareness campaign on Kuwait's Fourth Master Plan. The campaign will be carried out in coordination with relevant departments within the municipality to educate the public and stakeholders about the plan's objectives and implementation phases. Furthermore, the committee referred several transactions to the executive body of the municipality for further study and preparation of detailed reports. These include: The recommendations and approvals made by the committee are part of ongoing efforts to enhance Kuwait's urban and commercial development while ensuring alignment with strategic planning frameworks and regulatory standards.
Kuwait Times
21-06-2025
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait Entertainment City to attract global investors, operators
Kuwait Entertainment City to attract global investors, operators Cabinet reviews progress on long-delayed KD 200 million project KUWAIT: Kuwait's Cabinet reviewed progress of the Entertainment City project, a long-delayed project expected to boost tourism, create jobs and diversify the country's economy. In a joint briefing to the Cabinet on Tuesday, Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA); Sheikh Saud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, Managing Director of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA); and Sheikh Mohammad Salman Hamoud Al-Sabah, Acting Director of the Asset Monitoring Unit in the General Reserve Sector, outlined the government's updated vision for the Entertainment City project. They described the planned development as 'a community service and a major tourism destination that will help stimulate Kuwait's economy.' They added: 'Once the necessary implementation steps are completed, the project will attract top-tier international companies to invest in and operate this landmark tourism site.' This week's discussion follows the Cabinet's directive in December 2024, which formally called for accelerating execution of the project — originally launched nearly a decade ago. Entertainment City, once a flagship amusement park, was closed in 2016 for renovation and redevelopment. The site, located in Doha, was later approved by the Municipal Council for expansion to 2.65 million square meters. Over the years, multiple government decisions — in 2019 and again in 2024 — refined the scope of the project and approved environmental assessments and zoning adjustments. Most recently, in July 2024, the Municipal Council agreed to transfer project oversight to the KIA, allowing the agency to manage site adaptation and investment terms. According to feasibility studies, the new Entertainment City is expected to cost around KD 200 million, contribute KD 85 million to Kuwait's GDP by 2035, and generate 4,000 jobs. It is also projected to attract up to 900,000 visitors annually by 2030. The Kuwait Touristic Enterprises Company, a state-owned entity, has assembled a consultancy team to explore design and operational models with the goal of maximizing long-term economic return and attracting foreign expertise. — Agencies
