Kuwait Times... 65 Years of the Kuwait Window in English
- Badr Al-Kharafi: Investing in national capacities and empowering them to achieve further accomplishments
- Abdullah Bawutain: Our transformation from a prestigious newspaper into a creative incubator that keeps pace with the future
- Jana Al-Naqeeb: Journalism faces rapid challenges that require keeping up with modern business tools
- Hawa Al-Yaqoob: The celebration marks an important historical milestone for the newspaper, which has become part of Kuwait’s history
Kuwait Times celebrated its 65th anniversary as the first English-language daily newspaper in Kuwait and the Arab Gulf, attended by members of the diplomatic corps and a large gathering of guests. Visitors toured the newspaper’s departments to learn about its journey and stages of development since its launch in the 1960s.
Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and CEO of Zain Group, expressed his pride in the capabilities and youthful energy of Kuwaiti nationals, emphasizing the importance of supporting and empowering youth across various fields. He stated that “Kuwaiti youth possess significant potential and capabilities, underscoring the necessity of investing in these talents and providing an appropriate environment to develop them and achieve further accomplishments.”
For his part, Abdullah Sabih Bawutain, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, said that “the 65th anniversary represents an occasion to take pride in the history of a pioneering national media institution that, since its establishment, has played a role extending beyond mere newspaper publication, serving as a window for Kuwait to the world and a bridge for communication with English-speaking communities.”
He added that “Kuwait Times has documented Kuwait’s journey and rise over the past decades, maintaining its professional mission despite the major transformations witnessed by the media industry. He affirmed the newspaper’s continued development and alignment with the future, noting that “in recent years, the newspaper has undergone an institutional transformation encompassing content, work environment, and digital presence, alongside product development and diversification of revenue sources, which has strengthened its presence and sustainability while continuing its print edition and digital expansion.”
He clarified that “the transformation also included the newspaper’s headquarters on Press Street, which was developed into a creative space and incubator for content production, training, and community engagement, attracting journalists, photographers, and young talents, supporting artists and athletes, and opening its doors to school and university students and specialists.” He confirmed that the institution also focused on empowering youth and enhancing the presence of female talents in leadership positions, thereby supporting the path of development and success.
For her part, Jana Khaldoun Al-Naqeeb, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, stated that “journalism today faces rapid challenges that require keeping pace with modern business tools and evolving communication channels,” expressing her pride in participating in the newspaper’s journey and her anticipation of continuing its achievements.
In turn, Hawa Al-Yaqoob, Head of Marketing and Advertising, affirmed that “the 65th anniversary represents an important historical milestone for the newspaper, which has become part of Kuwait’s history,” commending everyone who contributed to the success of the celebration and the readers who accompanied its journey throughout the past decades.
The newspaper’s exhibition did not lack images of its beginnings in the court of Her Majesty, as well as field photographs and portraits of its people, which encapsulated the start of Kuwait Times Deputy Editor-in-Chief Abdullah Bawutain’s career in journalism when he was one of the knights of Al-Rai newspaper.
The son of the loyal Al-Rai displayed a special corner dedicated to “Bou-Abdulrahman” during his tenure, which marked his true launch into the media field.
What he presented was not merely photographs, but rather an expression of gratitude for the love he carries in his heart for the Al-Rai logo and its people, renewed every day.
In a statement to Al-Rai, Boufeta said: “As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the founding of Kuwait Times, we do not forget those who have done us favors, and one of the greatest among them is this kind man,” pointing to a photo showing him with Jasem Boudi, founder of the Al-Rai Media Group. “Abu Marzouq was among those who opened their doors to me when I was a young man, put me on air, took me to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and introduced me to presidents and leaders.”
He added: “I thank Al-Rai, my brother Rashid Al-Omairi, who was with me during my first on-air rehearsal, my brother Waleed Al-Jassim, and all my colleagues at the institution. Today, they did not limit themselves to sending congratulations; they stood by us as support and strength, and I thank them. There is no better occasion than this, as we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Kuwait Times, which I manage today, to recall the beginnings, which started with this red microphone,” referring to the Al-Rai microphone.
Kuwait Times was launched on September 24, 1961, as the first daily English-language newspaper in Kuwait and the Arab Gulf. Its early issues were printed at Al-Maqhawi Press by the late journalist and honorary president of the Journalists Association, Youssef Al-Alayan, who served as its editor-in-chief from its founding until his death in 2007.
