Madinat Al Hareer (Kuwait Silk City)
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The City of Silk is a collaborative initiative between public and private stakeholders. The Tamdeen Group, in partnership with Ajiyal Real Estate & Entertainment Co., initiated the master plan process in early 2006. The Government of Kuwait is responsible for financing core infrastructure, while implementation is supported by Chinese firms, including the China Communications Construction Company and the China Development Bank. Design and conceptual work have involved international consultants such as the London-based architectural firm Eric R. Kuhne and Associates.

The project, with an estimated total cost of $132 billion, is planned over a 25-year horizon. While the formal development framework was launched after 2006, early infrastructure, including Subiya Causeway, was constructed ahead of the main urban development phases, with works beginning in 2013 and the bridge inaugurated in 2019. The first phase of the City of Silk, which formally commenced around 2019 following agreements with Chinese entities, focuses on foundational infrastructure, utilities, transport networks, and early-stage residential and commercial districts, with an estimated cost of $86 billion. Subsequent phases will include major landmarks such as the Mubarak Al-Kabir Tower.

Source: https://araburban.org/en/infohub/projects/?id=9447

Kuwait and China have recently made some deals, which means China will have a big part in developing the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port. This port is the first phase of the Kuwait Silk City project. Although there aren't many details about the entire development, it's clear that the port's construction is moving forward.

Kuwait has signed an agreement with China State Construction and Communications (CSCC) to work on completing the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, news agency Kuna reports.

The project, which has been underway since 2021, is located on the eastern side of Bubiyan Island in the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway. It is part of the larger Silk City project to develop the island, and a component of the New Kuwait 2035 plan.

Source: https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/kuwait-inks-deal-with-chinese-contractor-to-complete-port/
https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/kuwait-and-china-resolve-to-fast-track-mubarak-al-kabeer-port-project/

Google Earth was last updated in this area in August 2024 but there has been very little movement since 2020 at all even when zoomed in.

You can see the area where the Silk City is meant to go, further explanation on the video with good overlay maps, but there is literally nothing here.
I think we can assume the Silk City is a dead project unless anyone can find any furthe information? Assumed to take 25 years but they have to start at least some time?

Kuwait's Silk City, Madinat Al Hareer, is a monumental waterfront project financed partly through China's Belt and Road initiative. With an estimated cost of USD 132 billion, it has expanded its vision to span from 2024 to 2040, as announced in late September 2023.

Recent achievements include the completion of the USD 3 billion causeway in 2019, showcasing the project's phased approach. This transformative urban center, set to be home to the world's tallest man-made landmark, Burj Mubarak Al Kabeer, reaching 1,001 meters, is on track for full completion in 2023. Upon realization, Silk City will accommodate 750,000 residents in over 175,000 residential units, marking a significant milestone in Kuwait's urban development

Sources: https://themarkaz.org/the-bridge-to-nowhere/
https://thebusinessyear.com/article/megaprojects-in-kuwait-in-2023/

With Kuwait all set to construct the world’s tallest tower, Burj Mubarak al-Kabir, the Burj Khalifa (828 metres) in Dubai might no longer hold the title of the tallest building in the world. Kuwait aims to build the 1001-metre-high (3,284 feet) structure with an expected cost of nearly KWD 25 billion (around USD 82 billion).

Do you think they mean 2025? It won't surely take 25 years to build?

The one-kilometre tall tower will be designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is expected to be completed in around 25 years, reportedly.
According to Arabian Business, three interlocking and twisting structures will ensure that the tower is protected against vibrations from a wind speed of 241.402 km/ph (150 miles). With an incredible design inspired by a traditional Islamic minaret, the gigantic Burj Mubarak al-Kabir tower will have a lean top and 234 floors with an accommodation capacity of 7,000 individuals.

The upcoming skyscraper will come with various facilities, including offices, apartments and observation decks. Along with these, the tower will also have a hotel and many retail outlets and restaurants.

Source: https://www.lifestyleasia.com/sg/travel/asia/kuwait-to-build-worlds-tallest-tower-burj-mubarak-al-kabir/

A deadline for accepting tenders for Silk City was set for 31 March 2022 according to the wiki page, but there is no news online about it now that it is April 2022. Silk City got a mention in Jan 2022 on Retail Leisure International:

Madinat Al Hareer – also known as Silk City is one of the largest mixed-use project development concepts in the world. The whole project submittal was created as a voluntary initiative by Tamdeen Group in collaboration with Ajiyal Real Estate & Entertainment Co. and has received blessing and approval from the Kuwait Municipal Council, Planning Authority and the State’s Cabinet. It reflects the company’s vision of Kuwait’s potential to create an integrated and uniquely designed city that will raise the standard for urban architecture and planning throughout the world – a collaborative partnership between the private and public sector. The development plan aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated commercial and residential environment that combines innovation with superior design and would provide a whole new urban space for Kuwait’s ambitious expansion plans.

Source: https://www.rli.uk.com/gcc-signs-of-resilient-recovery/
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madinat_al-Hareer

The project also got a mention in the Arab Times on March 20, 2022 when the National Assembly met to discuss budgets. The budget for the Silk City project was referenced as "a lie." Complaints were documented saying that the Kuwait 2035 vision must include more basic infrastructure solutions and solve problems like demographic imbalance, citizenship issues, visa trafficking, etc.

During the discussion the MPs stressed the need to address urgent and vital issues like education, health, housing, employment and demographic imbalance. MP Bader Al-Humaidi said the Silk City project, which has been in the government program since 2007, is a big lie. He pointed out this project remains in limbo and it has yet to be implemented even if the required budget is available. He added the government submitted another project – the development of Bubyan Island, which is still in the hands of the parliamentary Financial and Economic Affairs Committee for further study. So far, it has been found that the proposed projects should be established only on the periphery of the island because of the nature of its soil, he revealed.

Source: https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/kuwait-has-become-state-for-expatriates/

This is never going to happen, since Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have the same already in place. And now Saudi Arabia gets all the attention, with way superior developments such as NEOM. Who would want to move and live in Kuwait? Nobody.

Masterplan for Madinat Al Hareer



Vision for the city center



Sketch of planned neighborhood



Source: https://mgpcity.com/projects/madinatalhareer/

This is the latest on Kuwait's Silk City development

Kuwait has approved $65 billion for infrastructure, health, environment and power projects for the 2021-2022 financial year, with 5 percent of them based on partnerships with the private sector.

The projects comprise mainly the airport expansion, the Silk City, island development, trans-Kuwait rail network and rail link with nearby Gulf countries, Matla City, and the Clean Fuel Project.

Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/466315-kuwait-allocates-65bn-for-projects-across-sectors

Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway, the bridge connecting Kuwait to Silk City is already operational but not much info is available for Silk City itself



Source: https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/story/Development_of_Jaber_Causeway_part_of_Kuwait_pull_to_Vision_2035-SNG_263652085/

The first phase of construction of the Silk City began in 2019. Madinat Al Hareer is part of Kuwait Vision 2035 project.

The project is being built in individual phases: May 2019, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway opened as a part of the Silk City project's first phase, which includes Mubarak Al Kabeer Port (also under construction now).

The Silk City project is a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The development of Subiya is part of the first phase of Madinat al-Hareer (Silk City) construction. After the construction of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway, the development in Subiya has slowly started. The deadline for the Silk City project's tender is 31 March 2022

https://en.linkfang.org/wiki/Madinat_al-Hareer