When you reach the intersection of Abdul Razzaq Square in KuwaitCity, you arrive at one of the most important historical spots in the country. This used to be the site of Darwaza Abdul Razzaq, the gate to the second Kuwaiti wall called Al-Medfa'a (cannon). The pedestrian underpass under the intersection has four exits - the first leads toSouqMubarakiya, Souq Bin Duaij and Souq Kuwait. The second exit takes you to the stock exchange, Sharq and Abdul Razzaq Mosque. The third leads to Sharq and Sawaber, while the fourth exit will take you to the ninth commercial area and the joint bank center.
Darwaza Abdul Razzaq used to be a horse stable and camel passageway, where water and food were sold. In addition, it was the spot where the late Sheikh Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah loved to have his coffee. The place thrived during the holidays, with horse and donkey carts and swings.
Today, it is a circular underpass under the intersection with wide vestibules. However, small business owners are aware of the verve of this area and the possibility of developing it commercially. The center of the underpass has a column covered with blue porcelain tiles, like water towers, topped with beautiful geometrical lines. Adding to the aesthetic touch are old-fashioned fans.
The underpass has a clement temperature, even during the summer, which is likely to be a success if cafés are opened here, unlike the area of Mubarakiya, where life dies during the summer due to extremely high temperatures. Some cafes have opened at the Safat Square underpass, but they lack privacy and coziness, in contrast to DarwazaAbdulRazzaq.
It's worth noting the cautious comeback of posters as marketing gimmicks for small businesses, but these efforts are still in their infancy. However, we can suppose that this is an attempt to revive commercein this area and make Darwaza a vital place for social gatherings for young people.
Story and photos by Athoob Al-Shuaibi