KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Municipal Council approved the expansion of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project on Monday, increasing its area tenfold to 116 million square meters. The Ministry of Public Works requested this expansion for the maritime port on Boubyan Island, in order to build 24 new berths, bringing the total area to approximately 1,161 hectares divided into several zones.

The breakdown of the total port area includes: a maritime navigation zone covering 2,022 hectares, the first phase of the marine port at 490 hectares, port services and access roads spanning 1,047 hectares, and a government use area of 206 hectares. Additionally, a free trade zone will cover 165 hectares, an industrial area will occupy 185 hectares, and a temporary site for excavation and construction waste will be 823 hectares. A regional road and railway corridor will encompass 5,876 hectares.

The council also approved a request from the Kuwait Municipality to allocate an area for a “Desert Adventure Zone” project in northern Mutlaa, covering nine million square meters. They also agreed to prepare sustainability guidelines to preserve and rehabilitate archaeological sites and historical buildings in Mutlaa.

Another request from the Ministry of Communications to allocate a site for the third phase of the major fiber optic network in Salmi was also approved. Additionally, the council approved a request from the Kuwait National Petroleum Company to allocate a site for a fuel filling station in Mahboula. Two sites for a subsidized food supply center (tamween) were approved in Al-Omariyah and Al-Oyoun.

The council has also implemented a ban on delivery bikes parking and riding on sidewalks. Several architecture-related proposals were approved, including one to establish the architectural identity of government buildings in Kuwait and another to outline a mechanism for the municipality to maintain Kuwait City’s appearance as the facade of the country. — KUNA