Kuwait is famous throughout the Middle East, as well as the world at large, for its long cultural history. Here we join CEO Fahad Al Rajaan in examining Kuwaiti culture, from the country’s traditional cuisine to literature to soap operas.

fahad al rajaan

The Al Arabi Magazine

The Al Arabi Magazine was first published in December 1958. It was founded by the Kuwaiti government to establish a magazine with a focus on Arabic literature. Published monthly, the magazine is subsidised by Kuwait’s Ministry of Information.

The first editor of the publication was Ahmad Zaki. Over the years, Al Arabi Magazine has addressed important issues faced by both Arabic and international communities across various aspects of day to day life. Many of the magazine’s contributions came from well-known authors, poets and artists, such as:

  • Nizar Qabbani.
  • Ihrsan Abbas.
  • Salah Abdel Sabour.
  • Abbas el Akkad.
  • Abdul Hadi Altazi.
  • Yusuf Idris.
  • Sa’id al Afghani.

Publication of Al Arabi Magazine was interrupted during the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq from August 1990 for a period of some seven months. The magazine features several permanent sections, including:

  • The Beauty of Arabic.
  • My Dear Reader.
  • Language is Life.
  • They Said.
  • Electronic Literacy.
  • Educational Contest.
  • Man and the Environment.
  • Forums of Discussion.
  • Photographic Contest.
  • My Dear Arabian.
  • Educational Organiser.
  • Until We Meet.

Kuwaiti Soap Operas

Kuwait is the biggest soap opera producer of all of the Arab countries. Soap operas have proven very popular in the Middle East region. Bab al Hara, a Syrian production, is watched by millions of viewers every week.

Bab al Hara (in English, “The Neighbourhood Gate”), is a massively popular Arab soap opera. It is filmed on the outskirts of Damascus. Every day, visitors head to the Syrian quarter of the city, making a beeline for the place where the show’s outdoor scenes are filmed, hoping to see characters like Mu’taz, the soap opera’s heart-throb played by Wael Sharaf.

Bab al Hara is produced by the Saudi owned broadcaster, MBC. It is the equivalent of Coronation Street or EastEnders in the UK. The soap opera is set in 1930s Syria, when the country was occupied by France. The storylines are dramatic, based around romantic plots with oodles of intrigue, a dash of violence, and careful recreations of contemporary clothes, customs, culture and food. Bab al Hara’s indoor scenes are shot at well maintained 18th Century buildings in Damascus, the buildings boasting picturesque inner courtyards, lemon groves and mosaics. Mu’taz is a traditional Arab medicine man. The show has sparked several spin offs and a wide range of merchandise. Bab al Hara has become a fashionable restaurant name within Syria and beyond.

The Music of Kuwait

During the Gulf War, Kuwait’s music archive was tragically destroyed when Iraq invaded the country. In spite of this, Kuwait had a vital music industry before the war, and has continued to have one long afterwards.

Traditional Kuwaiti musicians include Ustad Munawar Khan – a tabla player. Kuwait’s music originates from its maritime heritage. The pearl diving tradition is famous for “Fidjeri” songs. “Al Nahma” and “Al Arda Al Bahariya” are famous sailing songs, familiar with Fahad Al Rajaan and other Kuwaitis. Kuwait’s music shows influences of the wide range of people that have passed through Kuwait over thousands of years, including east Africans and Indians.

Kuwait is regarded as the central musical influence of Persian Gulf countries. It pioneered contemporary music in the area. Kuwait was the first country in the Gulf to produce commercial recording artists such as prominent performers in the Arab music industry like Nabeel Shoail, Abdallah Al Rowaished, Nawal El Kuwaiti and Abdul Kareem Abdul Qader.

Traditional Kuwaiti Cuisine

Kuwaiti cookery is a fine blend of Persian, Arabian, Mediterranean and Indian cooking ingredients and styles. A prominent Kuwaiti dish is the rice based specialty, machboos.

Machboos, known as kabsa elsewhere in Arabia, is a particular favourite of Al Rajaan which is usually made with long-grain rice, such as basmati. The rice is cooked with vegetables and meat; there are numerous national and local variations with each dish having its own unique taste. Pre-mixed spice mixes have been introduced to the market in later years, reducing the preparation time of the dish. Spices traditionally included in machboos recipes are saffron, bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and black lime. The rice may be accompanied by chicken, lamb, goat, beef, camel or sometimes fish or shrimp. In the chicken variation of machboos, a whole chicken is often used.

Fish and seafood are popular additions to Kuwaiti cuisine, with local favourites being bream, rabbitfish and grouper which are typically served fried or grilled with rice. Khubz is the country’s national unleavened bread which is often served with fish sauce. A wide range of international cuisines is available throughout the country due to Kuwait’s large population of migrant workers.