186 million dinars allocated for Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project

• The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project will transform Kuwait into a regional trade hub, aligning with its vision of becoming a major commercial center.

• The Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port aims to boost local investments and attract foreign companies, enhancing the maritime transport sector’s development.

Council of Ministers commits 186 million dinars to expedite completion of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project during the fiscal year 2024-2025, Al-Qabas newspaper reveals.

Informed sources told Al-Qabas that the allocated amount for the project, categorized under capital project expenditures, reflects the government’s commitment to completing this major development project, which was originally scheduled for completion years ago.

24 berths

The feasibility study for the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Development Port project indicates a cost of 990 million dinars. The port will cover approximately 1,161 hectares of land, boasting 24 berths and a container capacity of 8.1 million containers. The project will be executed through nine executive contracts.

According to informed sources, the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project will elevate Kuwaiti lands into a key hub for transit trade and regional transport. This development is expected to play a pivotal role in realizing Kuwait’s vision of becoming a prominent regional commercial center.

The sources have reported that the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port also seeks to enhance the level of local investments by the Kuwaiti private sector and attract foreign companies and investors. This initiative is expected to bolster the development of the maritime transport sector, offering significant investment opportunities that have remained untapped for many decades.

The project will help raise the efficiency of the infrastructure contributing to the development of the northern part of the country, which will result in thousands of job opportunities for Kuwaiti youth.

Industrial area

The sources highlighted key components of the project, including the establishment of a large industrial zone adjacent to the port and the localization of several light industrial facilities. These initiatives will benefit young entrepreneurs with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as well as major industrial facilities, thereby bolstering Kuwait’s industrial sector.

Sources said that alongside the completion of the port components, there will be development and reconstruction of Bubiyan Island to become a tourist destination. Additionally, this will lead to an increase in residential areas in the State of Kuwait, particularly in the northern part of the country, by utilizing uninhabited areas and aiding in horizontal urban expansion.

Around eight months ago, the Ministry of Public Works resumed issuing tenders to finalize the initial phase of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project. The first step involved issuing a specialized tender for the operation and maintenance of the “cathodic” protection system for the port’s quay wall and the berth for small ships. Cathodic protection involves applying a protective coating to iron metal structures and pipes to shield them from corrosion caused by exposure to soil or water.

Universal operator

The sources confirmed that meetings among representatives of relevant government agencies to finalize the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project are ongoing and have not ceased, despite variations in their scheduling.

It was highlighted that the most recent meetings involved representatives from a major consulting company, aimed at providing support to government agencies in devising a plan to expedite the implementation of project components.

Estimating the appropriate timetable, determining the implementation stages, including the selection of a global operator for the port, and expressing an opinion on the terms and conditions for selecting the operator to lead and distinguish it among the region’s ports.

The executive position of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project

1. Implementation of the road linking the Subiya area to the east of Bubiyan Island.
2. Completion of the port wharf and land reclamation, with a 100% completion rate of implementation work.
3. Efforts are currently in progress to construct a 7-kilometre link road on Bubiyan Island, extending to the port area, with completion exceeding 90 percent.
4. The design phase for the project, encompassing construction, completion, and maintenance of infrastructure, container yard area, main buildings, and facilities, is nearing its conclusion.
5. Finalize the design of handling equipment.
6. Completion of the design for quay deepening.
7. Completion of the joint waterway development design with Iraq, achieving 100% progress.