Eco-tourism in Kuwait: Natural Treasures Opening Horizons for Sustainable Development

By Zuhra Al-Kaoudi, Kuwait City, Sept 27 (KUNA) -- Despite the common perception of Kuwait as a flat desert environment, its expanse from the desert to the coast, along with its islands, mudflats, sabkhas, and coral reefs, constitutes natural treasures and foundations for eco-tourism that open avenues for sustainable development.

These assets are diverse, ranging from birdwatching and visiting nature reserves to marine tourism, island tourism, desert and coastal exploration, and geological tourism, which offers visitors the opportunity to read the Earth’s history through rocks, landforms, sediments, and fossils.

Eco-tourism is based on enjoying natural areas responsibly, respecting the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, minimizing the impact of visits, and enhancing visitors’ knowledge of the place’s environmental and cultural value. Eco-tourism in Kuwait stands out as a promising field for leveraging the country’s natural diversity and raising awareness about the importance of preserving the environment and its resources, coinciding with World Tourism Day, observed annually on September 27.

World Tourism Day, established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), aims to enhance global awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, and economic roles and value.

In this context, Janan Bahzad, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS), told KUNA on Sunday that the Kuwaiti environment is rich in natural diversity, which can serve as a promising foundation for developing eco-tourism, thereby contributing to linking recreation with environmental education and preserving the country’s natural heritage.

Bahzad added that eco-tourism assets in the country are numerous, with nature reserves at the forefront. The Al-Jahra Reserve, in particular, serves as a practical model that provides a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds, protects biodiversity, and includes a network of ponds, vegetated areas, and coastal environments.

She noted that Al-Jahra has recorded no fewer than 250 bird species, giving it special significance for birdwatching, environmental photography, and educational programs.

Bahzad explained that the Public Authority for Environmental Affairs has opened the reserve to the public through a system of organized visits and advance booking, allowing enjoyment of nature and wildlife observation within regulations that protect the site from disturbance and encroachment.

She mentioned that Bubiyan Island and the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Reserve represent another dimension of eco-tourism. The reserve is listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, covering an area of 50.948 hectares and comprising sabkhas, shallow lakes, mudflats, and water channels.

Bubiyan holds global importance for migratory birds as a breeding station, while its marine and coastal environments play a crucial role for fish, shrimp, and various marine organisms. This makes any future tourism activity there dependent on protection, regulated visits, and designated zones to avoid harming the ecosystem.

The Secretary-General of KEPS pointed out that Kuwait’s islands and marine environment constitute a significant part of the country’s natural capital. Organized marine activities, birdwatching, wildlife observation, coral reefs, and coastal environments offer a tourism model distinct from traditional recreational activities.

Kuwait possesses natural sites that combine multiple values in one location. Failaka Island is a clear example, where the coastal environment meets history, archaeology, and heritage, allowing for the development of routes that integrate eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and geological tourism.

Regarding geological tourism, a component of eco-tourism, Bahzad stated that she published the first peer-reviewed scientific study documenting geologically significant sites for tourism in the journal "Geoheritage." The study included 14 natural and geological sites, including Jaleez Al-Zour, Failaka, Al-Khiran, Wadi Al-Batin, Anqawa Beach, and several Kuwaiti islands.

The study revealed that Kuwait possesses geological and natural diversity that can be utilized for educational and tourism purposes. Jaleez Al-Zour serves as an open record of geological layers and formations, while the Al-Khiran highlands provide evidence of ancient coastal changes. Anqawa Beach offers an opportunity to study sedimentary structures and fossils in a site easily accessible within an urban environment.

Bahzad noted that natural sites can be linked with schools, universities, and scientific programs to transform visits into educational experiences and recreational activities, involving environmental institutions, civil society, and the private sector in developing related programs and services.

Regarding current assets in the country, she indicated the potential to develop a national eco-tourism map that connects reserves, islands, coasts, deserts, and geological sites into various routes. The nature of permitted activities at each site would be determined based on its environmental sensitivity and carrying capacity.

This map could include routes for birdwatching and geological heritage, programs for exploring the marine environment and islands, as well as educational desert and coastal trips, integrating digital technologies, interactive maps, and applications that provide information about sites and their natural stories.

Bahzad emphasized that eco-tourism is not measured by visitor numbers nor does it begin solely with building facilities; rather, it depends on the ability to introduce people to the country’s assets, fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to protection, and presenting the destination to visitors responsibly.

She affirmed that Kuwait offers places that present a different image of the country, combining desert, sea, islands, birds, biodiversity, and Earth’s history. These are natural treasures and notable eco-tourism assets that invite understanding, enjoyment, and participation in their preservation for future generations.

For his part, Dr. Mubarak Al-Hajri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Society for Earth Sciences, told KUNA that the Kuwait Geopark project achieved notable success in its first season, representing a qualitative addition to domestic tourism in the country.

Dr. Al-Hajri stated that the Geopark has evolved from a strategic project of the Society into a unique initiative supported by coordinated state agencies, marking an exceptional and qualitative step in the country’s journey toward protecting natural heritage and revitalizing eco-tourism.

He explained that this project serves as a vital platform highlighting rare geological landmarks and the unique biodiversity of the Kuwaiti environment, making it an educational, tourism, and environmental destination of major strategic value.

He noted that efforts to register and develop the project according to global standards (within the Global Geoparks Network under UNESCO) place Kuwait on the global eco-tourism map and reflect its commitment to international conventions related to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and desertification control.

He praised the government and its various institutions for their focus on tourism in general and the Geopark project in particular, commending the appreciated efforts of Kuwait Oil Company in supporting the project and mobilizing all resources to ensure an enjoyable and beneficial visitor experience.

For her part, Fada Al-Moslem, Board Member of the Kuwait Society for Earth Sciences and Head of the Society’s Media Committee, stated in a similar remark that the focus in eco-tourism has shifted toward how to protect the environment, reduce carbon emissions, and invest in sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure.

Al-Moslem added that the Kuwait Geopark is not merely a recreational project or a protected geographical area, but a national vision that combines protecting the past, utilizing the present, and building a sustainable future. She considered supporting and developing this project a genuine investment in Kuwait’s natural and human resources.

In this regard, she highlighted the "Aziza" rock, one of the geological jewels and the icon of the Geopark, which sparked the project’s launch. The rock received attention and care for nearly nine years, from 2016 to 2025, due to its scientific importance and unique rock formation, before being returned to its original location in the Geopark.

(End) Z.H.R