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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
2 hours ago
- Arab Times
PM Chairs Meeting On Power And Water Projects Progress
KUWAIT CITY, June 23: His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah, presided over a high-level meeting at Bayan Palace on Monday to review progress on upcoming national projects focused on power generation and water distillation. The meeting addressed updates on key energy initiatives, including the Shagaya and Abdaliya renewable energy projects; Phases II and III of the Al-Zour North Power Plant; Phase I of both the Khairan and Nuwaiseeb Power Plants; as well as Phase II of the Subiya Power Plant enhancement and Phase IV of its expansion. These projects aim to boost the country's electricity generation capacity from the current 19,000 megawatts to 33,050 megawatts by 2031—an increase of 14,050 megawatts. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of mobilizing all available resources and removing obstacles to ensure these critical development projects are completed within the scheduled timeline. He also highlighted the need to revise existing legislation to enable private companies to participate in electricity generation. Additionally, he expressed appreciation for the dedicated efforts of the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy and other relevant agencies, urging them to maintain the highest standards of quality in execution. The meeting was attended by Abdulaziz Dakhil Al-Dakhil, Head of the Prime Minister's Office; Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy; along with several senior ministry officials.
Kuwait Times
20 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait introduces new rules for licensing and dissolving charities
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs has introduced new rules to better regulate charitable organizations, known locally as mabarat. The regulation, published Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, was enacted under Ministerial Decision No. 122 of 2025 by Minister of Social Affairs and Minister for Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah. It aims to strengthen oversight of charitable foundations in Kuwait to ensure transparency, accountability, and lawful operation. The regulations set out to establish clear rules and procedures for the creation, management, and supervision of charitable foundations, including registration requirements, governance standards, fundraising controls, financial reporting, and enforcement measures to prevent misuse and ensure transparency. The law also outlines conditions under which a charitable foundation can be dissolved. These changes come at a time when all charitable fundraising in Kuwait has been put on hold since mid-April. The suspension followed the discovery of unauthorized donation campaigns running through unofficial websites and accounts. The ministry explained that this pause is necessary to protect donors' money and ensure full transparency. Fundraising will remain suspended until the new regulations are fully in place. Under the new rules, charitable foundations must follow strict legal steps to register and operate legally. This includes mandatory registration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, clear governance structures, financial reporting, and strict controls over fundraising and public activities. One key requirement is that no person or group may carry out charitable work or make agreements on behalf of a mabara without official registration and approval from the ministry. Foundations must also get permission before moving locations, opening new branches, or asking the public for donations. The rules clearly state: 'It is prohibited for any applicant to carry out any charitable or social activity except after the foundation is officially registered.' Anyone who breaks this rule risks suspension. 10 Kuwaiti founders To register a mabara, there must be at least ten Kuwaiti founders, each at least 21 years old, with a clean legal record regarding honesty and trust. Board members must be at least 30 years old and have at least a diploma-level education. Founders must also deposit KD 10,000 into a bank account under the foundation's name. Additional approvals are required from security agencies, Kuwait Municipality, Fire Force, and the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Social Affairs now has the authority to supervise registered foundations closely. Ministry officials can inspect any mabara at any time without prior notice and review their financial and operational records. If violations occur, foundations may face fines, suspension of their accounts, or even complete closure. If a foundation does not fix problems within a week after being notified, the ministry can freeze its bank accounts. Serious repeated violations, hiding financial information, or failing to submit reports for two years could lead to the foundation losing its legal status or being dissolved by the government. Foundations can be shut down if they fail to keep the minimum number of members, cannot meet financial responsibilities, stray from their mission, or remain inactive. In such cases, the ministry appoints a committee to manage the foundation's assets, which will eventually return to the ministry to support other approved causes. This bylaw is part of a larger effort to improve transparency and align Kuwait's charitable sector with international standards against money laundering. A report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) last November praised Kuwait's legal improvements but stressed the need for stronger enforcement. Kuwaiti authorities have increased cooperation across ministries to better track donations, especially those crossing borders, and to shut down inactive organizations. Additionally, the ministry is working on a new digital platform linked to the Mobile ID system earlier this year to streamline charity applications and monitor aid distribution. So far, more than 30 foundations have been dissolved for inactivity or failing to meet requirements.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- 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
