Kuwait Times Celebrates 65th Anniversary of Its Founding
Mai Al-Sukari – Kuwait Times, “the first daily English-language newspaper in Kuwait and the Gulf,” celebrated its 65th anniversary at an event attended by a number of ambassadors, officials, and media personalities. The occasion highlighted the newspaper’s journey and its aspirations to continue its path under the leadership of a new generation of journalists.
Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Zain Group, expressed his deep pride in the capabilities and youthful energy of Kuwaiti talents, emphasizing the importance of supporting and empowering young men and women across various fields. Al-Kharafi stated that Kuwaiti youth possess significant potential, capacities, and energies, expressing his pride in Kuwaiti expertise and affirming that supporting them is a responsibility that should be at the forefront of priorities. He added, “We are proud of Kuwaiti men and women. Anything that can support young men and women in Kuwait, I am among the first to support and back them.”
He pointed out that the energies and capabilities possessed by Kuwaiti youth place them in a distinguished position compared to youth in other parts of the world, stressing the necessity of investing in these talents and providing an environment that helps them develop and achieve more.
For his part, Kuwait Times Editor-in-Chief Dr. Ziad Al-Alyan expressed his hope to continue the journey started by his late father, Yusuf Al-Alyan, in 1961, affirming the newspaper family’s pride in what Kuwait Times has achieved over the past 65 years. Al-Alyan said, “We are very proud of the journalistic work accomplished, and we hope to continue our father’s path in the way he wished to see the newspaper.”
He noted Kuwait Times’ commitment to keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the media sector, highlighting that the newspaper’s youth were pioneers in digital media while simultaneously maintaining the presence of print journalism. He added, “The only thing that saddens me is that my father is not here to see what he started and what the project he founded has achieved, and how this project continues its journey to this day.”
On his part, Deputy Editor Abdullah Boffatin said the 65th anniversary holds special significance for him, pointing to the strong support the newspaper received from colleagues in the media community during this occasion. He added, “I extend my thanks to my colleagues in Journalism Street, who celebrated the 65th anniversary with us. Your presence with us brings us joy and means a lot to us.”
He said, “The 65th anniversary is a moment to be proud of the history of a pioneering national media institution. Since its establishment, it has played a role that went beyond publishing the newspaper; it became Kuwait’s window to the world and a bridge for communication between Kuwait and English-speaking societies.”
He emphasized the importance of giving creative youth space and trust to showcase their abilities, stating, “When you give creators space and trust, they are capable of innovation and achieving much.”
Boffatin stressed Kuwait Times’ belief in the importance of young leadership and the continuous transfer of responsibility between generations, saying, “We believe in our young leadership. Abdullah is available here today, and tomorrow there will be someone else, just as we received responsibility from the late Yusuf Al-Alyan, who handed us a newspaper with a prestigious name and the first daily English-language newspaper in Kuwait and the Gulf.”
He added, “God willing, when the time comes for us to leave this institution, we will hand it over to a young team to continue the journey.”
Boffatin further stated, “Kuwait Times has documented the state’s renaissance and conveyed it to the world through news, reports, and journalistic stories over the past decades. It has contributed, along with other national institutions, in introducing the world to the country’s history, institutions, and culture.” He affirmed that the newspaper has maintained its professional mission despite the changes witnessed by the global media industry, especially after the artificial intelligence revolution, and will continue to fulfill its mission and keep pace with the state’s journey and future aspirations under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir.
He noted that the newspaper has undergone a comprehensive institutional transformation in recent years, covering content, work environment, and digital presence, which strengthened its media footprint and expanded its audience. He highlighted the commitment to not letting the newspaper live on its history, but rather to invest in it to build its future.
He explained that this transformation was reflected in the newspaper’s circulation, content, performance, financial results, and market value, alongside the development of products and diversification of revenue sources, which contributed to achieving the desired sustainability and continuing the printed edition alongside digital expansion.
Boffatin affirmed that the change was based on the newspaper’s history and archive, noting that its headquarters in the prestigious Journalism Street retains a rich archive comprising its previous issues, documenting political, economic, social, sports, and cultural events that Kuwait witnessed over 65 years.
He pointed out that the transformation was not limited to content and platforms, but extended to converting the newspaper’s headquarters into a vibrant space and attractive work environment, saying, “We gradually transformed the newspaper’s headquarters into a Creative Hub; a hub for creativity and content production, bringing together journalism, training, and community engagement. It attracts a new generation of journalists, photographers, talented individuals, and young writers, and opens its pages and content to support artists and athletes, with its doors open to school and university students and specialists.”
Boffatin confirmed that the renewal also included the institution’s culture and leadership, by empowering youth and giving them greater space for initiative and decision-making, alongside the active presence of female talents in leadership positions and their contribution to managing the institution and its success.
He added, “On the occasion of the founding anniversary, the institution opened the doors of its offices, printing press, and studios to all followers, readers, colleagues, and officials.”
Jana Al-Naqeeb: Highlighting Inspiring Models and Continuing to Achieve Results
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, Jana Khaldoon Al-Naqeeb, said that journalism today faces a dual challenge: keeping pace with modern commercial tools and constantly changing social media. She indicated that this phase was an opportunity to highlight inspiring models of work within the institution.
She added, “Every day I see work worthy of appreciation, and thank God, everyone performs their role excellently.” She expressed her hope that Kuwait Times would continue to achieve results befitting its status as the first English-language newspaper in the Gulf, saying, “We are happy to be part of this exceptional journey and look forward to everyone joining us in celebrating it.”
Rashamwala: Strengthening Communication with the New Generation and Keeping Pace with Digital Transformation
Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, Shaker Rashamwala, said that celebrating the 65th anniversary of the newspaper’s establishment represents a historic occasion, noting that the newspaper has been committed to providing reliable news and objective event coverage.
He added that the newspaper has been keen to keep pace with digital transformation and strengthen its presence through its website and social media platforms, as well as its summer programs and training opportunities, which have contributed to enhancing its communication with the new generation.
