About Kuwait
Kuwait, an oil-rich nation situated at the head of the Persian Gulf, plays a significant role in global energy markets and boasts a high-income economy. While a monarchy, its media environment is relatively open compared to many Gulf neighbors, fostering more public political discourse. However, press freedom is partly restricted by laws prohibiting criticism of the emir and Islam, shaping the scope of news coverage.
Visiting Kuwait
Media landscape
Kuwait's media landscape is characterized by a relatively free, privately-owned press that offers diverse viewpoints. However, strict media laws restrict criticism of the emir, Islam, and national security, leading to self-censorship and legal penalties for violations.
When consuming news from Kuwait, be aware that reporting on the emir, royal family, or religious topics is legally restricted and may lead to self-censorship or prosecution.
Sources we track 1
Trump Rejects Iran's Ceasefire Response as 'Totally Unacceptable'
- Iran submitted its response to a US ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, seeking a permanent end to the war. - President Donald Trump rejected Iran's response as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" wโฆ
Trump Escalates Rhetoric on Iran, Says โThey Will Be Laughing No Longerโ
- President Trump accused Iran of "playing games" with the US for 47 years. - He warned that Iran would "be laughing no longer" amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. - The remarks were made on his Truth Soโฆ
Al-Arabi strengthens squad with new goalkeeper signings
- Al-Arabi club has signed goalkeepers Ahmed Adi and Abdulrahman Ajaj to strengthen their squad. - The club also allowed goalkeeper Ahmed Dashti to seek opportunities elsewhere. - Al-Arabi is planningโฆ
UAE Schools, Nurseries to Resume Classroom Learning Nationwide
- The UAE Ministry of Education announced the return to in-person learning for all students and staff in schools and nurseries starting Monday, May 11, 2026. - This decision follows ongoing monitoringโฆ
Qatar Reports Drone Attack on Cargo Vessel Near Mesaieed Port
- Qatar's Ministry of Defense reported that a commercial cargo vessel was targeted by a drone northeast of Mesaieed Port. - The incident occurred Sunday morning, involving a ship that had departed froโฆ
UAE Intercepts Two Iranian Drones
- The UAE Ministry of Defense announced the interception of two drones launched from Iran. - The interceptions occurred on May 10, with no reported casualties. - Since the start of Iranian attacks, UAโฆ
Kuwait Court Issues Verdicts in 12 Cases of False News, Terrorism, and Strife
- The State Security Court in Kuwait issued verdicts in 12 cases involving false news, joining banned groups, and inciting strife. - Sentences ranged from acquittals to 10-year prison terms. - The couโฆ
Kuwait Tightens Expat Medical Checks Under Revised 'Wafed' Framework
- Kuwait's Ministry of Health is implementing updated regulations for the 'Wafed' program to enhance medical checks for expatriates. - The revised framework includes improved operational mechanisms, eโฆ
Kuwait Eyes Stronger Georgia Food Links
- Kuwait and Georgia are exploring ways to strengthen their trade relations, particularly in the food security sector. - The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) hosted a virtual meeting witโฆ
Kuwait Sets Fines for Pedestrian Crossing Violations
- Kuwait has implemented fines for jaywalking as part of Unified Gulf Traffic Week. - Pedestrians crossing roads in undesignated areas face penalties, including reconciliation fines of 20 dinars or coโฆ
UK Sends HMS Dragon to Hormuz Amid Tensions
- Britain will deploy the HMS Dragon destroyer to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. - The deployment is in preparation for a potential UK- and French-led maritime security โฆ
Kuwait Firefighters Tackle Rooftop Blaze in Farwaniya Building
- Kuwaiti firefighters successfully controlled a rooftop fire in a building in the Farwaniya area on Saturday afternoon. - Firefighting teams from Farwaniya and Sabah Al-Nasser responded quickly to prโฆ
What to Know About the UK Elections That Shook Starmerโs Labour Party | Arab Times (KW)
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces calls to resign after significant losses for his Labour Party in local and regional elections. - Labour lost over 1,000 council seats in England and its griโฆ
Oil Prices Spike on US-Iran Strikes Before Cooling Off
- Oil prices surged then eased on Friday due to renewed US-Iran military escalation and subsequent market speculation. - Brent crude futures rose as much as 3% before settling up 1.23% at $101.29 per โฆ
US Warships Enforce Naval Blockade After Iranian Regime Attack Claims
- The US Navy is enforcing a naval blockade against Iran in the Arabian Sea with three destroyers. - This action follows alleged Iranian attacks on US warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. - Iran โฆ
US Military Disabled Two Tankers Attempting to Reach Iranian Port
- The US military disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, alleging they attempted to breach a US blockade. - A US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet used precision munitions to disable theโฆ
Firefighters Contain Restaurant Kitchen Fire in Khaldiya
- Firefighters successfully contained a kitchen fire at a restaurant in Kuwait City's Al-Khaldiya area. - Crews from Shuwaikh Industrial and Al-Shuhada fire stations responded to the emergency. - The โฆ
UK boosts military readiness, supports Gulf partners amid tensions
- The UK Ministry of Defence stated that British military aircraft are operating at high readiness in the Middle East to protect national interests and support allies. - UK pilots and aircrew have logโฆ
Muscat Airport Customs Seize Over 4 Kilos of Marijuana
- Muscat Airport Customs seized over 4 kilograms of marijuana hidden in a passenger's luggage. - The drugs were discovered in the baggage of a Thai national upon arrival. - The seizure is part of ongoโฆ
CAPT backs tender award for key Doha desalination project
- Kuwait's Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) dismissed a bidder's complaint regarding the award of a tender for the Doha Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant (Phase Two). - The project, โฆ
UAE Intercepts 12 Missiles, 4 UAVs, and 3 Cruise Missiles Launched from Iran
- The UAE's air defense systems intercepted a large-scale aerial assault on May 4, 2026, including 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 4 UAVs launched from Iran. - The attack resulted in thrโฆ
KOTC Offers Jobs Amid Fleet Growth and Environmental Focus
- Kuwait Oil Tankers Company (KOTC) is offering job opportunities to Kuwaiti citizens with maritime qualifications to work on its fleet of oil tankers. - KOTC reported a 4.97 percent increase in the nโฆ
Ali al-Zubaidi, welcome to governing Iraq
- Iraq has appointed Ali al-Zubaidi as Prime Minister, ending a constitutional vacancy caused by political disputes. - The delay was fueled by pro-Iranian parties' insistence on Nouri al-Maliki, whichโฆ
Israel Monitors Gulf Developments, Maintains High Military Alert
- Israel's military is maintaining a high level of alert and closely observing developments in the Gulf region. - A military official stated that there are no anticipated changes to current civilian dโฆ
UAE Condemns 'Treacherous' Iranian Missile and Drone Attacks Injuring Civilians
- The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting civilian sites. - The attacks resulted in injuries to three Indian nationals and are described as a dangโฆ
Two U.S.-Flagged Vessels Safely Transit Strait of Hormuz Under U.S. Navy Protection; U.S. Forces Authorized to Strike Threats
- Two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. Navy protection. - U.S. naval forces are operating in the Persian Gulf as part of 'Project Freedom' to ensureโฆ
Kuwait Cracks Down on Illegal Street Vendors in Fahaheel
- Kuwait Municipality conducted a campaign against illegal street vendors in Fahaheel. - Authorities issued seven violations and confiscated unauthorized goods and equipment. - Seven expatriates involโฆ
The origins & etiquette of tipping after service
- Tipping customs and amounts vary significantly worldwide, influenced by societal views on service, wages, and respect. - In some countries like the US and Canada, tipping is expected and forms a porโฆ
Kuwait Urges Factories to Halt Operations During Peak Hours to Ease Power Load
- Kuwait's Public Authority for Industry mandated industrial establishments to halt operations during peak electricity hours (11 AM to 5 PM). - This directive, effective from September 15, 2026, to Maโฆ
Trump Reviews New Iranian Proposal to End War, Expresses Skepticism
- President Donald Trump stated he is reviewing a new Iranian proposal aimed at ending the war but expressed skepticism about its acceptability. - Trump indicated Iran has not yet paid a sufficient prโฆ
LPG Tanker Bound for India Safely Crosses Strait of Hormuz
- An Indian-bound LPG tanker successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz without incident. - The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, Sarv Shakti, carries 46,313 metric tons of LPG. - The tanker is eโฆ
Iranian Regime Presents 14-Point Reply to US Proposal, Signals Readiness for Talks or Conflict
- Iran has submitted a 14-point response to a US-backed proposal, outlining its conditions for ending the conflict. - The Iranian regime has indicated that the decision to pursue diplomacy or confrontโฆ
Aswan Women Film Festival Cultivates New Generation of Egyptian Filmmakers
- The Aswan International Women Film Festival (AIWFF) has successfully cultivated a new generation of young filmmakers in southern Egypt over its first decade. - Through workshops and hands-on traininโฆ
UAE Quits OPEC, Citing Production Freedom
- The United Arab Emirates has quit OPEC, citing a desire to be free from production restrictions. - The UAE believes it can produce over 3 million barrels per day, with spare capacity near 4.8 millioโฆ
Kuwait Court Jails 4 in โTweetsโ Cases, Clears 8, Spares 50 with Conditions
- Kuwait's Criminal Court sentenced four individuals to three years in prison with hard labor for publishing content on social media. - Fifty defendants received conditional releases, requiring pledgeโฆ
676 Expat Workers Apply for Visa Transfer on Day One
- Kuwait's Public Authority for Manpower received 676 applications on the first day of a new visa transfer initiative. - The program allows workers to move into previously restricted sectors like SMEsโฆ
Kuwait Club cancels overseas camp ahead of Challenge League final
- Kuwait Club has canceled its overseas training camp to focus on daily training and friendly matches in preparation for the AFC Challenge League final on May 13. - The team, under coach Nebojลกa Jovovโฆ
Jamali to Lead Kuwaiti Referees for AFC Champions League 2 Final
- A Kuwaiti refereeing team, led by Abdullah Jamali, has been selected by the Asian Football Confederation to officiate the AFC Champions League 2 final. - The final is scheduled for May 16 in Jeddah,โฆ
Trump Administration Approves $8.6 Billion in Mideast Arms Sales, Bypassing Congress
- The Trump administration approved over $8.6 billion in arms sales to Middle Eastern allies, bypassing Congress using emergency authority. - Key deals include $4.01 billion for Qatar's air defense, $โฆ
Trump Says โNot Satisfiedโ With Iran Proposal, Claims Hostilities โTerminatedโ
- President Trump stated he is not satisfied with Iran's latest proposal regarding hostilities. - A White House letter to Congress asserted that hostilities with Iran have terminated, bypassing immediโฆ
Singapore Economy Set to Slow as Hormuz Closure Disrupts Global Supply Chains, PM Warns
- Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned of an economic slowdown due to disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz closure. - The conflict involving Iran is expected to intensify supply chain issuโฆ
Trump Says Iran โDying to Make a Dealโ as Bessent Calls Regime โShambolicโ
- President Trump stated Iran is 'dying to make a deal' with Washington amid stalled negotiations. - Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a core US objective. -โฆ
Kuwait rejects any threats to close Strait of Hormuz
- Kuwait has officially rejected any threats by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt international navigation. - Kuwait's UN Ambassador Tariq Al-Bannai stressed that international straits areโฆ
US Blockade Chokes Iranโs Oil Lifeline, Threatening Production Cuts
- An American blockade is severely impacting Iran's oil exports, threatening to force production cuts. - Experts suggest Iran may need to reduce output significantly within weeks due to export and stoโฆ
SAB gives conditional approval for KD 74.7m Shuwaikh water project
- The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy received conditional approval from the State Audit Bureau (SAB) for a water distribution project. - The project, located in Shuwaikh, is valueโฆ
Summer Travel to Get Costlier as Iran War Drives Jet Fuel Prices Up 84%
- Jet fuel prices have surged 84% since Feb. 28 due to the Iran conflict, impacting summer travel costs. - European airlines face pressure as fuel hedging strategies expire and supply concerns grow. -โฆ
Expat Critically Injured After Collision with Luxury Car in Kuwait; Driver Claims Intentional Act
- An expatriate is in critical condition in Kuwait after a collision with a luxury car. - The driver claims the expatriate deliberately jumped in front of his vehicle. - Kuwaiti authorities are investโฆ
Over 80 Countries Back Bahrain-Led UN Statement Condemning Iran Over Shipping Disruptions
- Over 80 countries backed a Bahrain-led UN statement condemning Iran for disrupting international maritime shipping. - The statement supports UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and raises concerns oโฆ
Kuwaiti Education Minister, Italian Envoy Discuss Stronger Cooperation
- Kuwait's Minister of Education, Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaie, met with the Italian Ambassador to Kuwait, Lorenzo Morini. - The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral partnerships and expanding โฆ
Kuwait to Allow Temporary Visa Transfers for Expatriate Workers in Key Sectors
- Kuwait will allow the transfer of visas for expatriate workers in specific sectors for a temporary two-month period starting in May. - The decision aims to balance employer and worker interests whilโฆ
Mbappรฉ's hamstring injury puts Clรกsico participation in doubt
- Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappรฉ has suffered a left hamstring injury, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming Clรกsico. - The club has not specified the severity or expected return date, stโฆ
US Intercepts Over $1 Billion in Iranian Oil Shipments, Seizes Additional Cargo
- U.S. naval forces have intercepted Iranian oil shipments valued at over $1 billion, forcing them back to Iranian ports. - The U.S. Coast Guard also seized additional Iranian oil worth approximately โฆ
'Maze' weaves crime, mystery into Gulf drama puzzle
- The Kuwaiti series 'Maze,' currently airing on Shahid, is noted for its unique blend of crime, mystery, and social commentary within the Gulf drama landscape. - Written by Ali Shams and directed by โฆ
Amir issues decree appointing Al-Mashaan as new Deputy FM
- Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued a decree appointing Hamad Sulieman Mashaan Al-Mashaan as Deputy Foreign Minister. - The decree mandates the Foreign Minister to implemenโฆ
Pakistan reaffirms diplomatic path to ease regional tensions
- Pakistan's Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, affirmed Pakistan's support for dialogue to de-escalate regional tensions. - He emphasized the global importance of maritime routes and the need to โฆ
This is Iranโs modus operandi โ stalling and buying time
- The second round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran has failed, with Iran accused of stalling and buying time. - The article claims Iran uses negotiation tactics to prolong blockades and โฆ
Sultan of Oman, Iran FM Hold Talks on Regional Tensions and Peace Efforts
- The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, met with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Muscat. - The talks focused on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts. - โฆ
Major Maintenance Works Ongoing in Al-Nuzha, Motorists Advised
- Kuwait's Ministry of Interior has issued a warning to motorists regarding ongoing major road maintenance in the Al-Nuzha area. - Drivers are urged to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and foโฆ
Kuwait Airways Resumes Flights at T4 as Operations Restart
- Kuwait Airways has resumed passenger flights from Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport following the reopening of airspace. - Initial flights are operating on a limited scale to destinations iโฆ