KUWAIT: Al-Barayeh smart city environmental project, designed by Kuwaiti engineer Faisal Al-Jehaim, won first rank in the best environmental project prize in the Gulf region. The prize was offered by the 19th Gulf Engineering Forum, organized by Kuwait Society for Engineers in Kuwait.

Barayeh in Arabic is the open area in Kuwait in the past where family members and children in particular used to gather offering the nucleus of social communications. Jehaim said in remarks to KUNA that his environmentally-friendly project won the first rank, while all other projects did not qualify. Kuwait achieved a great success with this project which reflects the Kuwaiti youth's potentials which contribute to raising the status of Kuwait and place it among the developed nations, he said.

Barayeh is a smart city, designed according to standards of future cities. The project has received a great support by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for its perfect environmentally-friendly layout, he added. The city offers 22,000 jobs and investment opportunities, besides more than 25,000 residential units, he said.

It works in decreasing energy consumption rates as well as using its alternatives, and works in fulfilling a high quality of life that cherishes sustainability elements, including the social and economic environment, he said.

This 35-million-cubic meter project, located in southern Kuwait, opposite to Sabah Al-Ahamd residential area, came in line with the governmental and parliamentary plans to find proper solutions for the residential problem, he added. A total of 45 percent of the city is allocated for private family residence including 13 blocks, besides seven percent for investments residence, along with three percent for a central park, while the remaining is distributed over commercial interests and public services, he said.

This city will also include a university on an area of a million cubic meters, and will be the first of its kind in offering alternative energy majors, along with a specialized research center, Jehaim added. This city will be ready to be inhabited after three years, to welcome a total of 85,000 people and will server all of their daily basic needs and means of transportation as it will reduce usage of cars, including a metro station. - KUNA