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Arab League hosts Al-Babtain Arabic Award ceremony

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CAIRO: The General Secretariat of the Arab League on Wednesday hosted the inaugural award ceremony for the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language, launched in partnership with the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation and the Arab Parliament. The ceremony marked a significant cultural initiative aimed at advancing the Arabic language and preserving its legacy, in line with the vision of the late Kuwaiti poet and intellectual Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain.

In his opening remarks, Speaker of the Arab Parliament Ahmed Al-Yamahi emphasized the need for a unified Arab strategy to promote the Arabic language. He called for greater coordination among Arab states and institutions to enhance the language’s global standing and integrate it with sustainable development, technology, and modern labor markets. “This award not only honors one of the great cultural figures of our Arab world, but it also encourages intellectuals and creatives to contribute to preserving and revitalizing the Arabic language,” said Al-Yamahi. He underscored the importance of safeguarding Arabic as a symbol of Arab cultural identity, a bridge to the region’s history, and a vessel for civilization.

Al-Yamahi also warned of growing challenges facing the Arabic language, including declining daily use, the prevalence of foreign terms, the dominance of foreign languages in education and research, and the lack of sufficient Arabic content in the digital sphere. He urged stronger support for institutions working to embed Arabic in modern life and inspire future generations. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation, Saud Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to its founding mission. He noted that the partnership with the Arab Parliament reflects a renewed pledge to safeguard Arabic, prioritize it among Arab communities, and promote it globally—particularly among non-native speakers.

“Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain entrusted us with a cultural legacy, and we pledged before His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and before Arab intellectuals to preserve it,” he said. “From the very beginning, we worked to accelerate our projects and pursue his enduring dream of protecting the Arab identity through language.” The award’s first edition was launched in May 2024, with nominations open until November 15. It featured two main categories: one for individual contributions to Arabic language digitization, and another for institutions advancing language planning and policy.

The $40,000 individual award was presented to Hassan Al-Nahhas for his project, The Miracle in Computerizing the Arabic Language, while the $60,000 institutional award went to the King Salman International Academy of the Arabic Language for its Arabic Language Index project. The winners were selected through a rigorous review process led by the award’s Board of Trustees and a panel of senior experts, ensuring transparency and professionalism.

Representing the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the event was Ambassador Dr Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector. The event was attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Ghanim Al-Ghanim, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, alongside a host of Arab ambassadors, intellectuals, writers and media professionals. The ceremony affirmed the award’s growing stature and its cultural significance across the Arab world. — KUNA

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Kuwait enforces eviction of charities from private housing

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KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality launched Thursday its first field inspection campaign to evacuate charity associations and foundations operating in private and model residential areas across the six governorates.

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.

The campaign comes following a request from the Ministry of Social Affairs to Kuwait Municipality to enforce Ministerial Decision No. (206/2009) — which prohibits the use of buildings in private residential areas for any purpose other than private housing. The ministry began surveying all registered charities — approximately 84 organizations with over 200 branches across the country — earlier this month to take legal action against those located in private residential zones.

Khaled Al-Fadhli, Head of the Emergency Team at Ahmadi Municipality, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that field teams had issued warnings to several charity premises over the past days, ordering them to vacate. On Thursday, the teams inspected five areas — Fahaheel, Fintas, Ali Sabah Al-Salem (Umm Al-Hayman), Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City, and Al-Sabahiya — issuing 15 evacuation warnings. Al-Fadhli praised the cooperation of some associations that voluntarily removed their violations in Al-Ahmadi Governorate.

Al-Fadhli stressed that the monitoring teams will not tolerate any violations of Kuwait Municipality’s regulations and laws, emphasizing that field campaigns will continue over the coming days across different governorates.

This move is part of a wider regulatory reform of Kuwait’s charitable sector. Last month, the ministry suspended all charitable fundraising nationwide, citing concerns about unauthorized campaigns. Since November 2024, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah has dissolved at least 30 charities found inactive after inspections. These measures are designed to eliminate inactive or ineffective organizations and ensure that resources are being used efficiently.

These reforms also align with Kuwait’s efforts to improve financial oversight and comply with international anti-money laundering standards. A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report released in November 2024 acknowledged Kuwait’s legal framework to combat illicit finance, but pointed to enforcement challenges. Countries that fall short of FATF standards risk being greylisted or blacklisted, which can affect global financial relations. Kuwaiti authorities have since ramped up coordination among ministries to tighten control, particularly over cross-border donations. Officials say these efforts aim to uphold Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership while meeting international best practices. — Agencies

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Indian Learners Own Academy visits Kuwait Times, Kuwait News

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KUWAIT: A group of students from Indian Learners Own Academy visited the offices of Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Monday for an interactive media tour on Thursday. Aimed at sparking curiosity and creativity, the visit gave students a glimpse into the dynamic world of journalism beyond the classroom. Thursday’s visit was the second this week, after another group of students from the academy explored Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Wednesday.

Jana Alnaqeeb, Kuwait Times’ PR & CSR Manager, led the tour alongside members of the digital and editorial teams. The students explored various departments, including the editorial section, studio, printing press, and archives, gaining firsthand insights into how news stories are created, edited, and published. They also learned about the importance of credible reporting and how social media content is crafted to engage younger audiences.

Adding a playful twist to the visit, the team organized a game of hide and seek for the students, who dashed through the newsroom and turned the space into a lively, energetic environment.

The visit was part of the school’s initiative to blend education with real-world exposure and Kuwait Times’ ongoing mission to connect with and inspire future generations.

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AUK students unite for Gaza with ‘Play it Forward’ awareness event

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KUWAIT: The Finance Club at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized an awareness event titled “Play it Forward” on Wednesday, in collaboration with the Office of Student Life and 12 student organizations, to shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Speaking to Kuwait Times, Shoroq Bukhamsin, President of the Finance Club, said the event’s primary aim was to amplify awareness. “We wanted people to remember the cause, to remember the people. It’s still relevant and it will never stop being relevant,” she said.

A key feature of the event was an emotional art exhibition titled “Gaza Habibti” by Untold Palestine, which displayed photographs of Gaza’s people before and after the war. “The gallery traces the emotional journey — beginning with life before the war, then documenting the devastation and personal stories from the current conflict,” Bukhamsin explained. “It reminds us they are not just numbers. They are souls, families, daughters and sons.”

The exhibition also included large-scale installations by regional artists, including a moving piece known as the Martyr’s Wall, which displayed photos of 1,300 Palestinians who lost their lives. “This is not even a fraction; the current death toll exceeds 50,000,” Bukhamsin noted. She extended heartfelt thanks to AUK, faculty advisors, club executives, supporting businesses, and Kuwait Times for their support and coverage.

Jumanah Al-Bloushi, Vice President of the Finance Club, said the event also featured an open market and game zone. Local businesses and food vendors participated, pledging 25 percent of their proceeds to humanitarian causes related to Palestine. Attendees were encouraged to donate through interactive games.

A performance show by ArtScene and Argan Bedaya capped the event, featuring music, poetry and storytelling in tribute to Palestinian identity and resilience. Al-Bloushi praised the collective spirit: “It’s so beautiful to see so many different organizations come together just to make this happen today.” She added, “This event is a reminder that even after a year, the Palestinian cause is still relevant and we will not let it be forgotten.”

Mishari Al-Ibrahim, a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Kuwait, also participated in the exhibition. He emphasized the boycott as a powerful form of resistance: “Here in Kuwait, we’re pioneers and active in this field,” he said. “These events allow us to explain the different forms of boycott — commercial, academic and sports — as tools to counter normalization and raise awareness.”

He encouraged individuals to engage by staying informed and making conscious choices. “At the very least, refrain from buying targeted products and raise awareness among your family and peers,” he said. “When you have the right information, you become a source of knowledge. That’s how you become an active member of the global boycott movement and part of the change.”

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