Continuation of Kuwait Towers' Nomination for World Heritage Status

The ministers of Education, Media, Culture, and Municipality held a joint meeting to discuss finalizing the nomination file for the Kuwait Towers’ inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and to review the technical and procedural requirements needed to meet international standards, thereby enhancing the chances of including this national landmark on the global list. The meeting was attended by Minister of Education Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabatabai, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Media and Culture Omar Saud Al-Omar, and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Mashari, alongside an international advisory mission and representatives of relevant national entities.

The meeting coincided with the international advisory mission’s visit to the country from November 9 to 12, aimed at supporting efforts to complete the nomination file and providing guidance on the requirements for protecting the Kuwait Towers and preserving their historical, architectural, and cultural value, as they are among the most prominent symbols of urban development and national identity.

Also present at the meeting were Dr. Mohammed Khaled Al-Jasra, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters; Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts Sector, Muassad Mohammed Al-Zamil; and Acting Director of the Kuwait National Commission for UNESCO, Adhari Al-Qallaf. They were joined by Alessandro Basimo, representative of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Nicholas Clarke, international cultural heritage expert at the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS); and a number of specialists.

Participants reviewed the technical and procedural aspects of the nomination file, the international standards that must be met, and discussed completing the required studies and technical documents, while strengthening coordination between government entities and the international mission to ensure unified perspectives and integrated efforts to protect the outstanding universal value of the towers. They also discussed the importance of balancing heritage conservation requirements with urban development and modernization needs, ensuring the protection of the site and safeguarding its cultural value for future generations.

The meeting emphasized the necessity of continuing institutional cooperation and completing technical and documentary requirements, in support of Kuwait’s efforts to highlight its historical and architectural landmarks and strengthen its presence on the World Heritage List. These steps follow previous coordination meetings, including a meeting held in April 2026 by Minister of Education Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabatabai, which addressed challenges related to inscribing the Kuwait Towers and Water Towers on the World Heritage List, and explored ways to fulfill the necessary technical and documentary requirements.