KUWAIT CITY, Sept 1: Like many cities around the world, Kuwait City was set aglow on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. That was more than just a day of festivities with families staying at home to enjoy the home-made food and pastries. Apart from the traditional indoor festivities, the day was also used for inter family visits and family re-unions, where gifts were exchanged and a few coins showered on children.
Tuesday night, the night of Eid, seemed like one of the most important and busiest nights on the calendar, with almost every available entertainment space in town filled to the brim.

All roads seemed to be leading to the Kuwait Towers on the Arabian Gulf Road that night where there was hardly any slot left in the car parks that surround the facility. There were families forming long queues to catch a 2-dinar-per-head ride on the escalator to the 120th floor, where they could sit or stand in the revolving bar and take a panoramic view of Kuwait. One could see families clustering around in a frenzy of picture taking.
“ This is the most memorable part of my visit to Kuwait, as I have always seen these towers as landmarks in Kuwait and today here I am on the 120th floor with lots of pictures to take back home”, said Sherifa, a Ghanaian student on a visit to Kuwait.
Next door from the towers was Aqua Park, another popular and busy get-away for families and folks eager to unwind. The children’s park, beach and other entertainment areas within the facility made it a beehive of activity. Other spots nearby like the Green Island, Entertainment City and Marina Mall were equally bursting at the seams with people seeking to chill the night out.
While the 360 Mall with its “Cinescape” and huge shops and other attractive stuff was of course another busy place for people seeking entertainment on the Eid day, the Avenues Mall, home to mega shops, children’s entertainment parlors and other spots also stood out as one of the go-to places in town. “ Indeed its been a day we were looking forward to and  have really enjoyed so much out here”, said Sajjad who was enjoying the day out at the Magic Planet, a kids joint within the Avenues Mall.
The Kuwait Zoo in Farwaniya, as usual, was another host to thousands of visitors on the Eid day, with parents taking along their children to see the animals, most of which they had seen only in movies or as cartoons.
Agencies add:
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah began the first day of Eid ul-Fitr by performing Eid prayers at the State’s Grand Mosque.
HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi, Deputy Chairman of the National Guards Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Acting Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, as well as other senior officials accompanied HH the Amir during the prayers.
In the meantime, His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a phone call Wednesday from Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa, where both exchanged Eid ul-Fitr greetings.
During the conversation, HH Sheikh Nawaf wished Sheikh Khalifa good health, and the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain more prosperity and progress under its wise leadership.
On his part, Sheikh Khalifa wished all the best for the Kuwaiti people on this happy occasion.
His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Wednesday extended thanks to citizens and expatriates for greetings received for Eid-ul-Fitr, either through cables or phone calls.
HH wished them all utmost happiness and wellbeing, praying to Allah Almighty to return such joyful occasion with Kuwait enjoying everlasting prosperity under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Monday evening phoned Prince Salman Ibn Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Province, to greet him on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
In the call, HH the Crown Prince wished prosperity for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
He also wished the Muslim and Arab nations many happy Eid returns.
For his part, Prince Salman greeted HH the Crown Prince back on the Eid occasion, wishing good health for HH the Crown Prince and prosperity and welfare for the State of Kuwait under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah phoned Tuesday Saudi Arabia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to exchange with him Eid-ul-Fitr greetings.
During the conversation, HH Sheikh Nawaf wished Prince Nayef good health, and the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia more prosperity and progress under the wise leadership of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
On his part, Prince Nayef thanked HH Sheikh Nawaf for initiating the cordial call, voicing hope for more prosperity and welfare for the State of Kuwait under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received Tuesday a phone call from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
During the cordial conversation HH Sheikh Nawaf exchanged with Sheikh Mohammad Eid-ul-Fitr greetings and thanked him for initiating the kind call.
He wished Sheikh Mohammad good health, and the sisterly United Arab Emirates (UAE) more prosperity and progress under the wise leadership of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
On his part, Sheikh Mohammad expressed best wishes to HH Sheikh Nawaf, voicing hope for more prosperity and welfare for the State of Kuwait under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Kuwaitis spent an estimated KD 28.9 million to travel abroad during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, Al-Watan Arabic daily quoted experts in the travel sector as saying.
A total of 48,000 people left from Kuwait airport during the past four days — from Aug 28 until Aug 31, sources said, adding aviation companies operating in Kuwait might have earned revenues exceeding KD 9 million during the period.
Experts say airlines which were flying to tourist destinations made most revenues and attributed the unexpected increase in travel rates to the coinciding of Eid-ul-Fitr holidays with the school holidays.