Kuwait Old Crafts Association Participates in Kuwaiti Industries Exhibition and Conference
The Kuwait Old Crafts Association participated in the KI NXT 2026 exhibition, where Khalid Khatir, Deputy Director General of the Public Authority for Industry, visited the association's pavilion featuring seven artisans representing six specialties, aiming to enhance the status of traditional crafts as part of the industrial system.
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
The Kuwait Old Crafts Association participated in the Kuwaiti Industries Exhibition and Conference “KI NXT 2026,” held on October 28–29, 2026, at the Badriya Hall in the Jumeirah Hotel, under the theme “Made in Kuwait – Smart Sustainable Industry.”
During his tour of the exhibition, Acting Deputy Director General of the Industrial Cities Sector at the Public Authority for Industry, Engineer Khaled Khatir, visited the association’s pavilion. He inspected samples of Kuwaiti craft products and handicrafts that reflect the authenticity of national heritage and the diversity of traditional industries, highlighting their distinctive artistic skills and generational expertise.
The association’s participation featured a team of seven artisans representing six craft specialties: Fatima Adel Ma’arafi, specializing in wood design and carving; Sulaiman Al-Sulaiman, in the craft of making Bashut (traditional woven mats); Hassan and Ali Safar, in the craft of making Agal (traditional headgear); Mohammed Yaqoub Al-Mukhtar, in woodwork; Kamal Ghanban Al-Qallaf, in Qallafah and traditional wooden boat building; and Yousuf Abdul Latif Al-Qallaf, in the craft of making prayer beads.
The association’s participation in this industrial event aligns with its vision to enhance the status of traditional crafts as an integral part of the national industrial ecosystem, showcasing their development potential and transforming them into products with cultural and economic value. This is achieved by leveraging innovation, contemporary design, and modern technologies while preserving heritage identity and artistic authenticity.
Furthermore, the participation serves as an opportunity to strengthen engagement with industrial institutions and supporting bodies for small and medium-sized enterprises, opening avenues for cooperation in training, development, and craft marketing. These efforts aim to empower Kuwaiti artisans and encourage new generations to acquire and develop traditional skills.
