ShareFor Sulaiman Al-Rodhan, travel is more than just visiting new places — it’s about experiences, discovery and forging connections. A globetrotter with a massive following, Sulaiman has journeyed across the world, but his heart always returns to Kuwait. “I’ve always had a soft spot for Kuwait,” he said, a sentiment rooted in a family legacy of exploration. “It’s in the family — my grandfather, father and brothers all traveled. I’m a very curious person; I love to learn.”
What began as a personal passion has evolved into a mission to give back to his homeland. With years of immersing himself in cultures worldwide, Sulaiman’s sociability — “I’m very social,” he quipped — has earned him friendships across the globe.
But it also sparked an unexpected challenge. “A lot of people from abroad visit Kuwait, and they don’t know where to go,” he explained. “I travel a lot, so I’m not always here to guide them.” This realization planted the seed for an ambitious project — the “Map of Kuwait”, a handheld guide designed to be “the first thing you look up to know what’s happening in Kuwait and where to go”.
The idea crystallized after years of fielding the same question from visitors: “What to do in Kuwait?” Sulaiman envisioned a comprehensive tourist guide that would showcase the country’s offerings — hotels, leisure and shopping spots, emergency contacts, galleries and sightseeing sites. “We needed to create a tourist guide for Kuwait that included all the touristic places,” he said. What sets the “Map of Kuwait” apart is its inclusivity. “There’s no one entity dominating it,” Sulaiman noted. “Everyone contributes with their personal initiative.”
The project took flight through a serendipitous collaboration with Mohammad Al-Sanea, whom Sulaiman met around 2015 or 2016. “I was really impressed,” he recalled of Mohammad’s early map work. “From that day to today, we kept developing it and adding more places.” Joined by a talented team — Boris, a sketch artist; Norrah Al-Jassar, an artist; and Alaa, an editor — the map evolved from a sketch of Kuwait City to a second version including Salmiya, culminating in the 2025 edition covering all of Kuwait.
Social media amplified the project’s reach, adding a layer of responsibility. “When you do something spontaneously, people love it and pin their hopes that you’ll show them,” Sulaiman reflected. “It made me feel I need to be accurate.” That sense of duty drives “Map of Kuwait”, a labor of love backed by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and the Kuwait Industries Union, which supported its printing.
The 2025 “Map of Kuwait” has been met with enthusiasm. “Foreigners feel I’ve given them a treasure,” Sulaiman said of handing out copies. Available at cultural sites, bookstores, cafes, restaurants and malls, the map reflects Kuwait’s diversity and accessibility. Kuwait Times and Kuwait News, proud partners in the 2025 edition, see it as a step toward making tourism more approachable for all.
For Sulaiman, the journey from casual traveler to creator of a national guide is a full-circle moment. “The map you have in your hand — it’s like I’m here,” he said, ensuring that even in his absence, visitors can experience Kuwait through his eyes.
