KUWAIT: Kuwaiti municipal authorities are stepping up inspections of residential and investment properties, targeting violations that officials say threaten public safety and distort the city’s urban landscape.

Among the most common violations found are converting basements — originally designed for parking or building services — into makeshift storage areas, said Ibrahim Ayad Al-Azmi from the municipality’s Engineering Audit and Follow-up Department.

“These spaces are meant to serve residents, either as parking or service facilities, but we’re finding them packed with furniture, chemicals, paints, and even food products stored without refrigeration,” he told KTV news channel. “All of this violates safety regulations.” Al-Azmi warned that such storage practices heighten fire risks, especially when flammable materials are involved. Even food storage poses hazards, he said, due to lack of cooling and fire safety systems.

A KTV news report last week showed a basement designated for car parking in an investment property used for storing construction materials, including wood panels and ceramic doors.

“Wood in particular poses serious risks in case of fire, making it difficult for firefighters and municipal authorities to protect residents,” Suleiman Al-Otaibi, an engineer from the same department at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Municipality, told a KTV reporter at the scene.

“The misuse of the basement also affects the building’s residents, forcing them to park their cars in the street or the sidewalk, causing congestion.” Al-Azmi said the parking situation puts extra pressure on traffic authorities, who must issue citations for illegal parking, “and compromises safety for everyone.”

The municipality is working closely with the General Fire Force to address the problem. “About 80 percent of owners respond to warnings and remove violations immediately to avoid penalties,” Al-Azmi said. The remaining 20 percent either apply for corrective permits or are ordered to remove the modifications entirely.

The basement issue is part of a wider set of violations the municipality regularly encounters in both private housing and investment properties.

Private residential areas are low-density zones reserved for single-family housing, primarily intended for Kuwaiti citizens, where land is distributed through the country’s housing welfare program. In contrast, investment housing areas feature multi-unit buildings — such as apartments, duplex villas, and studios — designed for rental or ownership across all floors. In private housing, the most common infractions include exceeding the permitted building size, adding extra floors and dividing properties into multiple rental units — sometimes renting them for single men — which Al-Azmi said can pose social and security concerns. The issue was glaring in Sabah Al-Salem, where Mubarak Al-Kabeer Municipality officials uncovered a rooftop converted into six apartments for single men. “Older properties frequently have such rooftop encroachments, with unauthorized partitions made from light materials,” said Saqer Al-Enezi, another municipal official.

In investment housing, basement conversions top the list, along with unlicensed construction of extra apartments in ground-floor parking areas.

Al-Azmi also pointed out a common violation: barricading sections of government-owned desert lots to use for private parking. The practice reflects a shortage of designated spaces for tenants, even though law requires each apartment in investment properties to have at least one parking spot, Al-Azmi reminded.

KUWAIT: The play “King of the Stage” was restaged at Souq Sharq Theater, telling the story of an artist struggling against marginalization while trying to make his mark in the Kuwaiti art scene. Written and directed by Abdulaziz Safar, the production first premiered during Eid Al-Fitr and received widespread audience acclaim. The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) later included it in the Summer Cultural 17 festival, recognizing its contribution to Kuwaiti theater and its cultural significance.

“As a body dedicated to bringing culture to the public, the Council sees this project both as an inspiration and a responsibility, especially as Kuwait celebrates its role as the Arab Capital of Culture and Media for 2025,” Safar told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Friday. He added that the production team is determined to demonstrate that Kuwaiti theater can deliver works of high artistic quality.

Lead actor Khaled Al-Mudhafar said the play addresses themes such as artistic vanity, the impact of social media on cultural and social life, and works that fail to reflect authentic identity, which can influence youth perceptions. Al-Mudhafar portrays Ibrahim Ahsanhom, a comedian who later becomes a carpenter due to age and health challenges, yet is urged to return to the stage. “The play sends a crucial message: the audience is the true king of the theater. Their support or criticism shapes the fate of art and artists,” he said.

Blending comedy with melancholy, the play symbolically depicts an artist who dedicates his life to the stage but remains unacknowledged until his absence is felt. Scenes alternate between nostalgic memories and the harsh realities of life. The performance is part of NCCAL’s Summer Cultural 17 festival, which aims to enrich Kuwait’s cultural scene during the summer and present works that resonate with audiences.

The council emphasizes theater as a cornerstone of artistic creativity in Kuwait, supporting local productions, hosting regional and international works, and cultivating public appreciation for diverse art forms. It also provides platforms, performance opportunities, and training for theater artists of all generations, recognizing their role in enriching Kuwait’s cultural landscape and promoting its civilizational image regionally and internationally. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Indonesian Ambassador Lena Maryana praised the progress in Indonesia–Kuwait cooperation across politics, trade, investment, culture, and humanitarian efforts. Speaking to media ahead of her country’s 80th Independence Day, she highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade, which amounted to $547.5 million in 2024. Maryana also pointed to Kuwait’s participation in negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement between Indonesia and the GCC.

“Indonesia deeply values the strong leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Government of Kuwait. Together, we are confident that our partnership will continue to grow, bringing prosperity and welfare to both nations,” the ambassador said.

Ambassador Lena Maryana.

Growing workforce

The ambassador underlined the growing demand for Indonesian workers in Kuwait. “On average, around 4,000 job orders are submitted to our Embassy each year. We are ready to send more skilled and professional workers across various fields,” she said. She also confirmed that the deployment of Indonesian nurses to Kuwait is expected soon through government-to-government cooperation. “It is coming, inshallah, very soon. The Ministry of Health is now directly recruiting nurses from Indonesia,” she said.

In addition to the health sector, Indonesian workers contribute to various fields in Kuwait. In recent months, 37 Indonesian engineers have joined Kuwait’s workforce, she said. “Kuwait is also home to over 6,000 Indonesian citizens, many of whom contribute to healthcare, oil and gas, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors. The Indonesian Embassy continues to work closely with Kuwaiti authorities to promote fair labor practices and strengthen worker protection,” she added.

Maryana emphasized her country’s desire to strengthen its partnership with Kuwait in humanitarian projects across Indonesia. “Several schools and development programs in rural areas were established with support from Kuwaiti charity organizations. We believe this cooperation can be further strengthened to benefit those in need, ” she said.

An invitation to invest

Maryana confirmed discussions with Kuwait Airways to resume direct flights to Jakarta, saying: “Kuwait Airways used to fly directly to Jakarta until 2015. Last year, both sides agreed to increase flights from four times a week to daily, but with the cabinet change in Indonesia, negotiations need to restart. We hope to finalize this soon.”

Regarding tourism, she said: “By the end of 2024, around 5,090 Kuwaitis visited Indonesia. In just the first half of 2025, 581 Kuwaiti tourists had already traveled to our country.” Upcoming visits are also planned, she said. “In October, a delegation from Jambi Province, Sumatra, including business leaders, is expected in Kuwait,” said Maryana.

She also underlined the significance of Indonesia’s newly launched sovereign wealth fund, Danantara (Daya Anaga Nusantara Indonesia), which manages $1 trillion in assets. “Indonesia warmly invites Kuwaiti investors to explore opportunities in our priority sectors — minerals, energy, digital infrastructure, healthcare, financial services, industrial estates, and agriculture,” she added.

On Indonesia’s capabilities, the ambassador pointed to the country’s advanced industries, including aircraft manufacturing, defense production, and vaccine development. “Our state-owned companies produce military vehicles, helicopters, ammunition, ships, and even submarines. During the pandemic, we developed our vaccine to serve our 280 million people,” she explained.

The ambassador highlighted Indonesia’s progress in democracy and gender representation: “Our National Assembly now has 580 members, and we have introduced a quota system that ensures 30 percent women’s representation.”

This year also marks the first year of the Red and White Cabinet led by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The Indonesian government has launched its 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan, the first stage of the long-term agenda Indonesia Emas 2045 (Golden Indonesia), focusing on poverty reduction, human resource development, and sustainable economic growth.

As Indonesia marks its 80th Independence Day on Sunday, Maryana said the embassy plans to host an “Indonesian Night” festival to commemorate Indonesia’s Independence Day, involving community cultural and sports activities.

Held under the national theme “United Sovereignty, Prosperous People, and Advanced Indonesia”, Maryana said this year’s Independence Day celebration reflects the spirit of the Indonesian people to remain united. “This theme aligns with Indonesia’s grand vision and represents our determination to build a prosperous and advanced nation while preserving our national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — Unity in Diversity,” she said.