Joint Ministerial Meeting to Discuss Completing Kuwait Towers' Nomination for World Heritage List

As part of national efforts to preserve Kuwait’s cultural and architectural heritage and enhance its international presence, a joint ministerial meeting was held, attended by Minister of Education Eng. Syed Jalal Al-Tabatabai, and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Mutairi. The meeting was attended by an international advisory mission and representatives of relevant national entities, to discuss finalizing the nomination dossier for the Kuwait Towers to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The meeting coincided with the visit of the international advisory mission to Kuwait from November 9 to 12, as part of national efforts to support the nomination process and preserve the historical and cultural significance of the Kuwait Towers, which are among the most prominent national landmarks embodying the country’s urban development journey and cultural identity.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammed Khaled Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters; Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts Sector, Muassad Mohammed Al-Zamil; Acting Director of the Kuwait National Commission for UNESCO, Adari Al-Qallaf; Alessandro Basmo, Representative of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Nicholas Clarke, International Cultural Heritage Expert at ICOMOS; and a number of specialists and representatives of relevant entities.

The meeting reviewed the key technical and procedural aspects related to the nomination dossier for the Kuwait Towers’ inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, discussed relevant international requirements and criteria, and explored ways to enhance coordination and cooperation between national entities and the international advisory mission, thereby contributing to the completion of the nomination dossier and highlighting the historical, architectural, and civilizational value of the Kuwait Towers.

Participants also discussed the importance of unifying visions and ensuring integration among relevant government entities, to ensure compliance with international standards for nomination, preserve the site’s Outstanding Universal Value, and achieve a balance between the requirements for protecting national heritage and the needs of urban development and expansion.

The meeting emphasized the importance of continuing institutional cooperation and coordination among relevant entities, and completing the required studies and technical documents, to support the nomination dossier for the Kuwait Towers and reflect Kuwait’s commitment to protecting its historical and architectural landmarks and preserving its civilizational legacy for future generations.

These efforts follow up on the work initiated by relevant national entities, including recent coordination meetings to monitor the nomination dossier, such as the meeting held in April 2026 by H.E. Minister of Education Eng. Syed Jalal Al-Tabatabai, which addressed challenges related to the inscription of the Kuwait Towers and water towers on the World Heritage List, and ways to meet the necessary technical and documentation requirements.