Latest news with #ManalAl-Asfour
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
New building amendments apply only to Free Zone sector: Kuwait Municipality
KUWAIT CITY, July 26: Director General of Kuwait Municipality Manal Al-Asfour confirmed on Saturday that recent amendments to building conditions and specifications are restricted solely to the former Free Zone, now officially designated as Service Sector (16), and do not apply to the Shuwaikh and Al-Rai areas. In a press statement, Al-Asfour addressed media reports suggesting that the ministerial decision extended to other sectors. She emphasized that the amendments pertain exclusively to Sector 16 buildings within the free zone area. Among the key updates, Al-Asfour noted that hotel construction is permitted at 150 percent of the plot area, consistent with previously established percentages. Additionally, buildings in the sector may now include more than one basement. Commenting further on the matter, Director of the Capital Municipality Branch and Head of the Building Regulations Study and Review Committee, Muhammad Al-Mutairi, clarified that the former Free Zone has been transferred to the Public Authority for Industry and reclassified as Service Sector (16). Al-Mutairi explained that the area now operates under multi-service zoning, aligning with regulatory frameworks similar to those of the Shuwaikh and Al-Rai service, crafts, and commercial zones. However, he stressed that the newly issued ministerial decision strictly applies to Sector 16 and excludes all other surrounding areas. The updated building regulations for Sector 16 maintain a maximum building coverage of 130 percent, distributed across three levels: ground, mezzanine, and first floor. New specifications also set minimum space requirements, including a minimum of 100 square meters for shops and showrooms across the ground floor, mezzanine, and basement, and at least 150 square meters for offices on the ground floor and mezzanine. Furthermore, the permitted percentage for restaurants and cafés has increased from 5 to 10 percent. Basement spaces may now be used for warehousing, and all plots are required to include parking within property boundaries. The amendments follow a decision recently issued by Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Abdul Latif Al-Mishari. The decision outlines the permissible activities for commercial units within Sector 16, which include administrative offices, retail shops, exhibitions, banking services, health clubs, hotels, and storage facilities, along with complementary services to support the area's functionality.
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Arab Times
Indians And Nepalese Among 52 Held As Kuwait Cracks Down On Illegal Liquor Ring
KUWAIT CITY, July 24 — In a dramatic crackdown led by Kuwait's top security officials, authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network running illegal liquor factories across six residential neighbourhoods in the capital. The coordinated sting, carried out under the direct supervision of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, has resulted in the arrest of 52 individuals—including both male and female suspects of Nepalese and Indian nationalities—who were allegedly involved in the production, packaging, and distribution of locally brewed alcohol. The operation unfolded on Wednesday, July 23, and included high-ranking officials such as Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality, Engineer Manal Al-Asfour, Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs Major General Hamed Al-Dawas, and several senior figures from various cooperating government bodies. Authorities revealed that rented homes in Mishref, Jaber Al-Ali, Al-Nahda, Faiha, Saad Al-Abdullah, and Al-Qusour had been converted into full-scale illegal liquor factories. These properties, located in quiet residential zones, were deliberately chosen to deflect suspicion and blend in with ordinary domestic life—while inside, barrels of raw ingredients, distillation equipment, and thousands of filled bottles were being churned out in industrial quantities. Once the necessary legal warrants were obtained, elite teams launched simultaneous dawn raids on the targeted houses. What they uncovered was a well-oiled black-market enterprise: extensive quantities of brewing chemicals, thousands of plastic bottles pre-filled and ready for sale, and eight vehicles used to supply materials, distribute alcohol, and even provide basic provisions like food and water to the underground workforce. Among those arrested were two suspects found with large amounts of cash and a money-counting machine, believed to be the gang's financiers tasked with handling the profits from illegal sales. In a swift follow-up operation, the alleged kingpin of the network was also taken into custody after close surveillance revealed he had been directing operations by phone and coordinating with unknown individuals outside the country. In total, the arrests included 30 men and 22 women, all of whom are now facing charges related to the manufacture and distribution of alcohol, which is strictly prohibited in Kuwait. Authorities described the bust as a major victory in the ongoing fight against illegal alcohol production. 'This operation is a clear message to all criminals and violators of our laws,' a Ministry of Interior spokesperson stated. 'Security campaigns will continue without pause, and we will use all available resources to protect the safety, health, and values of our society.' The Ministry has also urged the public to report any suspicious activities and reiterated its commitment to working closely with various state institutions to crack down on illegal networks operating within the country.
Arab Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
What's Really Happening in Khaitan? Kuwait Raids Private Homes
KUWAIT CITY, July 24: In a bold new operation targeting illegal housing practices, Kuwaiti authorities have launched a sweeping inspection campaign in Khaitan, cracking down on private residences that have been unlawfully altered, commercialized, or structurally compromised—posing risks to both public safety and the city's urban integrity. The large-scale operation, carried out under the direct supervision of His Excellency the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, unfolded on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Also present during the campaign were Engineer Manal Al-Asfour, Acting Director General of Kuwait Municipality, and Major General Hamed Al-Dawas, Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs, alongside senior officials from several cooperating agencies. Teams from the General Department of Criminal Investigations, working in coordination with the Kuwait Municipality, the Public Fire Department, the Environment Public Authority, and the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, conducted a coordinated sweep through the Khaitan district—an area that has drawn increasing concern for unauthorized housing practices. Authorities say the campaign specifically targeted residences that had been illegally converted into commercial establishments, subdivided into unsafe multiple units, or built in ways that violate Kuwait's strict private housing regulations. Some properties were found to be in danger of structural collapse, while others were operating without permits, compromising fire safety and environmental standards. The inspections led to the identification of numerous violations, prompting immediate legal action by the relevant authorities. Properties found to be in breach of regulations are now subject to corrective measures, including demolition of illegal additions, fines, and legal proceedings against violators. Officials stressed that these violations not only disrupt the character of residential neighborhoods, but also jeopardize public health and safety—especially in areas where illegal modifications interfere with building integrity or emergency response access. The Ministry of Interior has vowed to continue these surprise inspections in various residential zones across the country as part of a broader initiative to enforce housing laws, restore urban order, and protect residents from the dangers posed by rogue property modifications. A Ministry spokesperson reiterated: 'We are committed to preserving the safety, structure, and identity of Kuwait's residential areas. These violations will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable under the law.'
Arab Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait to rename 591 streets under new numbering policy
KUWAIT CITY, June 30: The Committee for Studying Proposals and Requests for Naming Cities, Suburbs, Districts, Streets, and Squares has approved the implementation of the Cabinet Resolution issued on May 20, 2025, which mandates the replacement of personal names on roads, streets, and squares with a numerical system. During its meeting on June 23, chaired by the Acting Director-General of the Municipality, Eng. Manal Al-Asfour, the committee reviewed a report outlining the changes. According to a copy of the report obtained by Al-Qabas, the committee approved the renaming of 591 streets using a numbering system and decided to rename three streets after Arab capitals or cities. The decision comes in response to a letter sent by the Council of Ministers to the municipality, directing the replacement of individuals' names on roads and public areas with numbers. The letter references the Cabinet's earlier decision dated June 3, 2024, which tasked the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs with developing a draft proposal to initiate the change within two weeks. The Cabinet emphasized that the naming of roads, streets, and squares after kings, rulers, princes, sultans, or heads of state should be limited and should adhere to the principle of reciprocity, particularly when naming streets after countries and their capitals. At its May 20 meeting, the Cabinet reviewed guidelines proposed by the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and the Minister of State for Housing Affairs on the renaming process. These included: Adopting numbering as the default method for naming roads, streets, and squares, and converting current names into a digital format. Allowing exceptions in certain cases: Existing names not associated with individuals may be retained. Roads and public areas may still be named after rulers of Kuwait, prominent historical figures, heads of friendly states, and members of the ruling family. Names of cities, capitals, and countries may be used when based on reciprocal arrangements with other nations. Following the review, the Cabinet approved the proposed regulations and instructed the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs to begin the legislative process to amend the names of public spaces in line with the new policy. The move is seen as part of a broader initiative to standardize and modernize urban planning, improve navigation systems, and reduce controversies associated with the naming of public infrastructure.
Zawya
24-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kuwait bans private institutes in residential areas, nurseries exempted
KUWAIT CITY - Acting Director General of the Municipality, Eng. Manal Al-Asfour, confirmed that private institutes are not permitted to be established in private residential areas, except nurseries. In response to a question from member Walid Al-Dagher regarding the presence of private institutes and nurseries in private residential areas, Eng. Al-Asfour explained the legal basis that allows private nurseries to operate in these areas. She stated that Law No. 22 of 2014, which concerns private nurseries, allows private, investment, and commercial residences to be used for operating private nurseries, as long as the provisions of Article 2 of the law are respected. According to Article 3 of this law, private nurseries may be licensed in these types of residences, provided that approval is obtained from neighbors, and that the nursery complies with the relevant regulations. Existing nurseries that were licensed before the law came into effect are allowed to continue operating within the scope of the law's regulations. The Executive Regulations of the law, particularly Article 17, establish guidelines for the licensing of private nurseries in private, investment, and commercial areas. These include: A maximum of three nurseries can be licensed per residential plot, with one of them designated for individuals with special needs. - The plot must be located in a service area. - Parking spaces must be provided in proportion to the number of vehicles owned by nursery supervisors. - The building must be entirely used as a nursery and not for residential purposes or any other activity. - The basement cannot be used for any purpose related to the nursery. Additionally, paragraph 6 of Article 12 requires that approval from the Kuwait Municipality is obtained for the nursery's location, and that approval must also be sought for specific plots. As a result, private nurseries can be established in private residential areas only after obtaining the necessary approvals from the municipality and neighbors, in line with the executive regulations of Law No. 22/2014. On the other hand, private institutes are not permitted to be established in private residential areas. According to Table No. 1, which is attached to Ministerial Resolution No. 206 of 2009 and amended by Ministerial Resolution No. 288 of 2024, residential buildings in private and model residential areas are strictly designated for private housing purposes. These areas may not be used for any other purposes, except for nurseries, as previously mentioned. Therefore, the establishment of private institutes in such residential buildings is prohibited, and legal actions must be taken to prevent violations. Regarding the number of licenses issued for private institutes and nurseries in Kuwait's governorates, Eng. Al-Asfour clarified that the municipality is not authorized to issue licenses for private institutes and nurseries. However, she provided details on the number of violations of the regulations in different governorates: - Farwaniya and Mubarak Al-Kabeer: 41 violations - Capital and Jahra: 17 violations Hawalli and Ahmadi: A list of violations is being compiled by the respective governorates. As for the legal measures taken against violating private institutes and nurseries, Eng. Al-Asfour explained that field monitoring efforts result in notifications being sent to the owners or users of properties found in violation. These notifications request that the property be vacated and returned to compliance within a seven-day period. If the violation is not corrected within the specified period, a report is filed for breaching building regulations under Article 38 of Kuwait Municipality Law No. 33 of 2016, and Article 25 of Ministerial Resolution No. 206/2009, as amended. This report is then submitted to the Legal Department to initiate further legal procedures regarding properties in private housing being used as institutes, nurseries, or charitable/public benefit associations. arabtimes
