KUWAIT CITY, Dec 1: The Kuwait Municipality intends to present a new development idea for the Shuwaikh beach opposite the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center following the approval of the Municipal Council to re-transfer its affiliation from the Amiri Diwan to Kuwait Municipality. In this regard, citizens voiced their demands to preserve the Kuwaiti heritage spirit of the beach, and not turn it into a duplicate of “Anjafa”, reports Aljarida daily.

They stressed that the beach management policy requires a national vision that instills the heritage character and the historical and civilizational depth while mixing it with a popular culture, and not allow wiping off its heritage spirit and completely changing its features into a commercial square that obscures the beautiful outlet for its visitors to the sea and those who enjoy the beautiful atmosphere there. The frequenters to Shuwaikh Beach explained that the beach needs some modernization and restoration to its former state, especially since the beach does not suffer great damages that require changing its features.

This represents a great challenge for the Municipal Council and the Kuwait Municipality who have engineers and technicians with extensive experience, and are able to know the needs corresponding to one of the most prominent cultural projects in the country. The beach has long been an area of attraction for many of the residents of the nearby areas, and an outlet for the people, which made it a vital and distinctive area that highlights the importance of the wooden and cement benches and sessions of a traditional and popular nature along the beach.

This necessitates preserving the identity and character of the beach, and not turning it into a restaurant area. Most of the beaches are saturated with commercial activities, and suffer from the accumulation of the traditional restaurants and cafes. This made it lose the value and advantages of the coastal strip, and pulled the rug from under its feet as an outlet for citizens and residents to resort to for walking and other activities. The visitors to Shuwaikh Beach warn against turning its rehabilitation into a long-term project, highlighting the previous unsuccessful experiences in development, including the “Anjafa” beach scenario, the problems of which have persisted for years. They stressed that it is also possible to benefit from the experiences of other countries on how to exploit and develop the beaches, and to put the touches that express the identity and culture of Kuwait.