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Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
UAE's Al Faya site added to UNESCO World Heritage List
KUWAIT CITY, July 12: The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) warmly congratulated the leadership, government, and people of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Sharjah on the inclusion of the Al Faya archaeological site in UNESCO's World Heritage List for 2025. In a statement to KUNA, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and NCCAL Chairman, expressed pride in this milestone and commended the UAE's continuous commitment to cultural and heritage preservation. NCCAL noted that the inscription highlights the UAE's ongoing dedication to safeguarding human heritage and preserving the rich cultural and historical identity of the region. This recognition also enhances Arab and Gulf contributions to the global heritage landscape. The Council wished the UAE further progress and success in promoting its cultural legacy internationally. Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the official ambassador for the nomination, accepted the recognition on behalf of the UAE and Sharjah. She emphasized that the Faya Palaeolandscape underlines Sharjah's important role in early human history, with findings that showcase the ingenuity of ancient human communities. This achievement crowns over 30 years of research and excavation by the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in partnership with international academic institutions like the University of Tübingen and Oxford Brookes University. Since 2014, this work has been a key part of UNESCO's Human Evolution, Adaptations, Dispersals and Social Developments (HEADS) program. Eisa Yousif, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, described the inscription as a result of scientific excellence, cultural responsibility, and global collaboration. He remarked that Faya now belongs to all humanity, just as it did more than 210,000 years ago. The UAE and Sharjah have outlined a long-term conservation and management plan (2024–2030) focused on sustainable tourism, continued research, and education, aligned with UNESCO's guidelines. Currently, there are 96 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 18 Arab countries. With this addition, the global list includes 1,226 sites of outstanding universal value across 168 nations.
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Long waits for government housing persist despite major projects
Slow construction, distant locations, high costs leave many Kuwaitis frustrated By Durnaz Dashti KUWAIT: It's been eight years since Abbas Mohammed, a 40-year-old Kuwaiti, first applied for government housing. Like all Kuwaiti citizens, Mohammed is entitled to government housing or a plot of land after marriage as stipulated in the country's laws. While it's a privilege many around the world can only dream of, the process isn't as easy as it seems. 'I have been waiting on the waiting list since 2017 and have not been issued land,' he said. Mohammed was informed by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) that he would be waiting for 10 years to obtain the land. While some people with strong connections have been able to shorten that period, Mohammed hasn't been successful. 'I can't do anything about it because I don't have wasta.' Without his forever home, Mohammed is now living in his father's house, a temporary arrangement which has become the norm as housing waitlists grow in Kuwait. But Mohammed remains optimistic. He says building new areas is a part of Kuwait's journey toward progress, regardless of location. 'I know that (my new home) will be in a faraway place, most probably in Mutlaa, but I don't mind as I see it as Kuwait developing further.' Kuwaitis make up 30 percent of the 4.85 million people living in Kuwait. The population growth, combined with the fact that most development is concentrated in the metropolitan area of Kuwait, has led to a surge in demand for government housing. 'Lifetime home' applications increased to approximately 97,671 as of October 2024, according to data issued by the PAHW. Some have been on the list since 1985. 'Significant progress' The Kuwaiti government has attempted to address this issue through several initiatives. On Thursday, Kuwait's Public Authority for Housing Welfare reported what it called 'significant progress' in major housing development projects during June, including advances in infrastructure and construction in key areas like South Saad Al-Abdullah and South Sabah Al-Ahmad. Over 3,300 affordable homes are currently under construction, while thousands more are in preparation stages. The authority has also digitized many services to speed up building permit processes, issuing over 32,000 certificates by June. But the housing demand continues to outpace the rate of city development. Most recently, Kuwait's top ministers met to reinforce oversight and coordination of housing projects, under direct instructions from HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The discussion, led by ministers Abdullatif Al-Meshari, Noura Al-Mashaan, and Sabeeh Al-Mukhaizeem, focused on removing delays, enhancing collaboration among departments and expediting the rollout of housing infrastructure. The committee underlined the urgency of delivering on citizens' housing needs while upholding construction quality and adhering to timelines. Slow construction Receiving a plot of land from the government doesn't mean the end of the wait. A 73-year-old Kuwaiti man, who preferred to remain anonymous, recalled applying for housing back in 1992. Although he received a land allocation after six years, during which he rented an apartment, he couldn't complete construction until 2017. The delay was largely due to persistent shortages in building materials and a slow construction process. He also noted that the government provides a housing loan of up to KD 70,000 but disburses it in stages. The installments, between KD 2,000 and KD 3,000 each, are tied to phases of construction, such as drafting the house sketch, completing tilling, in addition to tens of other processes. Government officials carry out field inspections at every stage before releasing the money. While helpful, this incremental funding can slow down the overall timeline of building a home. As prices of material and labor increase, the funds may not be sufficient for each stage of building. 'It took me a long time to complete the construction because the staggered funds weren't enough to cover everything I wanted to build, especially using good-quality materials and labor,' he told Kuwait Times. Growing impatient Another issue facing those waiting for housing is the location of new areas under development. Currently, most residential neighborhoods with housing for Kuwaitis are close to the country's urban center. But new areas such as Sabah Al-Ahmad City and Al-Mutlaa City are 30 minutes to an hour away by car. 'Since the new areas that are being developed are distant, many families are building a third floor for their kids so that we are not living somewhere so far away and also paying high rent in Kuwait,' Khalid Al-Kandari, a family man, said. With most people residing in metropolitan areas, rental housing units are becoming increasingly scarce. As a result, many are forced to pay high rent for small living spaces, simply to secure a place to stay. 'Growing up as a city kid, I find it unreasonable that many Kuwaitis have to pay a huge chunk of their salary monthly just for apartments in the city,' Al-Kandari said. Due to the time constraints, he is beginning to grow impatient. 'At this rate the house would be ready when my child turns 18!' The long wait and rising cost of living make it increasingly difficult for citizens to afford these temporary housing arrangements. Despite government efforts, many Kuwaitis have little hope that they will be allocated a home any time soon.
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwaiti ambassador attends annual Kaaba washing ceremony
MAKKAH: Prince Saud bin Mishal, Deputy Amir of the Makkah Region, performs the ceremonial washing of the Kaaba. — KUNA photos MAKKAH: Prince Saud bin Mishal, Deputy Amir of the Makkah Region, performed the ceremonial washing of the Kaaba on Thursday on behalf of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, in one of the most revered traditions in the Islamic world. The ceremony, held inside the Grand Mosque, saw Prince Saud cleanse the interior walls of the Kaaba using cloths soaked in a mixture of Zamzam water and rose water, a special blend prepared in advance by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. The symbolic act, rooted in a prophetic tradition dating back to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was carried out in the presence of high-ranking officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and custodians of the holy site. Among the participants was Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as well as Kuwait's Consul General in Jeddah and Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Yousef Al-Tunaib. Sheikh Sabah Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait's Consul General in Jeddah Yousef Al-Tunaib. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the ceremony involved 'daubing the interior walls of the Kaaba with cloths soaked in Zamzam water mixed with rose water,' a process that symbolizes purification and reverence for Islam's holiest site. The washing of the Kaaba, performed at least once a year, is a tradition that traces its roots to the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) act of cleansing the sacred structure upon the conquest of Makkah. The ritual continues to draw wide participation from Islamic leaders and dignitaries, serving as a powerful symbol of unity and devotion across the Muslim world. — KUNA
