Kuwait transforms historic sites into global cultural destinations

• His Excellency Olivier Gauvin, the French Ambassador to Kuwait, expressed pleasure in participating in the cultural event, emphasizing the deep cooperation between the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and French institutions on various archaeological projects and World Heritage initiatives.

The French Center for Research in the Arabian Peninsula (CEFREPA), in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (NCCAL), held a conference on Sunday titled “Archaeology and Architecture: Between Modern Technology and National Identity” at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, focusing on strategies for heritage preservation, reported Arabic daily Al Jarida.

In his remarks, Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the NCCAL, emphasized the importance of proper preservation of historical and archaeological sites.

Al-Jassar added, “In Kuwait, we are working to develop these sites into attractive cultural tourism destinations. Our goal is to develop them properly, sustainably, and to a high standard so that we can register them on the World Heritage List and among the global heritage sites, thereby achieving sustainable cultural and financial returns.”

For his part, His Excellency Olivier Gauvin, the French Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, expressed his pleasure in participating in the cultural event, stressing that the cooperation between the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and French institutions reflects the depth of the friendship between the two countries.

Ambassador Gauvin highlighted the partnership with the National Council on numerous archaeological projects, including excavations on Failaka Island and the preservation of the Hellenistic castle.

He also noted a specialized training program in the study of historic buildings, launched with joint support and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the World Heritage Fund, in preparation for nominating Kuwaiti sites for the World Heritage List.

He emphasized the continued development of cooperation in research and heritage preservation, praising the efforts of all teams involved in this field.

In his speech, Dr. Makram Abbas, Director of CEFREPA, said the conference coincides with Kuwait’s selection as the Arab Capital of Culture and Media for 2025, giving the event both symbolic and cultural significance.

Abbas explained that cooperation with the National Council spans various fields, including archaeological excavations, heritage preservation, scientific publishing, specialist training, and data measurement. It also includes cultural initiatives such as efforts to nominate the Failakasite for inclusion on the World Heritage List.

Deeper expansion of cultural activities

He added that collaboration extends to the humanities, the study of manuscript heritage, and related issues of preservation, processing, and accessibility, noting that these joint efforts pave the way for a deeper expansion of cultural activities.

For her part, Dr. Aseel Al-Raqam, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Planning, Consulting, and Training at the College of Architecture and Chair of the Conference, said preserving architectural heritage in Kuwait and the region requires interdisciplinary collaboration—especially amid rapid urban transformation.

Architecture in the Gulf is a reflection of identity and belonging

She stressed that architecture in the Gulf is not just an artistic endeavor but a reflection of identity and belonging. Heritage, she said, should be revitalized and reinterpreted through contemporary lenses. She called for moving beyond traditional preservation toward critical approaches that integrate memory, meaning, and form. The three-day conference includes five sessions.