KUWAIT: The Amiri Diwan has launched a fresh set of investment opportunities within Al-Shaheed Park’s expansive Phase 3 redevelopment, inviting bids for seven food and beverage locations — each one a distinct offering meant to attract a wide range of visitors to one of Kuwait City’s signature public spaces.

According to a public notice issued on April 13 in the official gazette “Kuwait Alyoum”, the tenders cover the operation and management of restaurant and café spaces, one of which is a kiosk, in the park’s Phase 3, currently under development. The concepts include a local restaurant kiosk, a specialty coffee bar and roastery, a local restaurant and café chain, a casual Italian eatery, a local burger concept and an international café chain. There is also a tender for a national juice and ice cream brand.

Four of these spaces are positioned around the upcoming sports complex, previously described in 2022 by Amiri Diwan official Ibrahim Ashkanani as “impressive for both young and old visitors”. The sports facilities, with a total area of 48,213 square meters, are expected to include an Olympic-grade ice rink, a snow park with six attractions, a skydiving simulator, trampolines for adults and an electric go-kart track.

The tenders represent the first formal step in activating the park’s retail and hospitality components. While the Amiri Diwan is funding and managing infrastructure delivery, the food service sites are being made available to the private sector under long-term lease agreements.

Companies interested in bidding have until April 24 to submit their sealed offers. The contract will be awarded to the highest bidder. The bid documents are available at the Amiri Diwan’s procurement office in Bayan Palace for a non-refundable fee of KD 150 — though small and medium enterprises with valid certification are exempt.

The investment push signals the nearing completion of Phase 3, which has been under construction since 2020. Officials said the project had reached 65 percent completion in 2022, but no updated construction progress has been released since then. Parts of the park appear under construction in pictures released by Kuwait News Agency in December 2024.

The new zone is envisioned as an immersive space that integrates sports, leisure, and retail. In addition to the sports complex, visitors can expect shaded walking paths, interactive water features, and over 5,800 square meters of dining spaces nestled within landscaped green areas. A 3D museum was also planned on site, preserving parts of the former ice rink structure as a nod to the site’s history. Officials say the sports zone alone nearly equals the area of Shaheed Park’s first two phases combined.

The total budget for Phase 3 is estimated at more than KD 85 million. Once complete, the area is expected to become a new hub for family recreation in Kuwait City.