The Silent Majority: A Testimony of Proving Heritage Lineage

I do not know who advised the Ministry of Finance when it set its conditions for those wishing to exploit 44 heritage commercial units in Souq Al-Mubaraki. This ministry recognizes only the language of numbers, and everything measured by its standards is considered a waste of public funds, especially in activities that do not generate profits, such as those of public benefit associations and cultural events. The Ministry of Finance has focused almost exclusively on proving an old familial or historical connection to the trade, completely ignoring competence, entrepreneurship, and the market’s need for renewal. While it is true that imparting a heritage character to the market is desirable, turning “family ties” or “family heritage” into the sole and primary criterion for acceptance raises several issues that will negatively impact the market’s future. The first of these is depriving ambitious Kuwaiti youth, brimming with innovative ideas, of the opportunity to invest in a vibrant place like Mubaraki, simply because they lack a “family deed” linking them to the trades of their fathers and grandfathers.

Secondly, this mechanism will confine investment opportunities and government support to a narrow and specific circle of families or business names, thereby killing the spirit of fair competition and preventing the entry of new blood capable of stimulating the economic engine.

Instead of focusing on feasibility studies or innovative marketing plans—which fall squarely within the purview of a technical ministry like the Ministry of Finance—reliance has been placed on old documents that may not guarantee the project’s success in a contemporary and complex economic environment. The process resembles submitting an application to prove heritage lineage for a commercial venture.

Protecting the identity of Souq Al-Mubaraki, which has become one of Kuwait’s most important tourist destinations, does not mean closing off or imposing illogical bureaucratic restrictions. True heritage protection is achieved through continuity and development, not by excluding pioneers and holders of free ideas. The doors should be opened to those who possess the competence and investment vision capable of preserving this legacy and elevating it. What is required now is to reconsider these “exceptional” conditions and return the Ministry of Finance to its usual role of oversight, rationalization, and monitoring of violations.