Discussion on Completing Kuwait Towers' Nomination for World Heritage List

As part of national efforts to preserve Kuwait’s cultural and architectural heritage and enhance its international presence, a joint ministerial meeting was held, attended by Minister of Education Eng. Jalal Al-Tabtabaee, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Affairs and Acting Minister of Media and Culture Omar Al-Omar, and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Eng. Abdul Latif Al-Mutairi. The meeting was attended by an international advisory mission and representatives of relevant national entities to discuss finalizing the nomination file for the Kuwait Towers’ inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The meeting coincided with the visit of the international advisory mission to Kuwait from the 9th to the 12th of the current month, as part of national efforts to support the nomination process and preserve the historical and cultural status of the Kuwait Towers, which are among the most prominent national landmarks embodying the country’s urban development journey and cultural identity.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters; Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts Sector at the Council, Musaed Al-Zamil; Acting Director of the Kuwait National Commission for UNESCO at the Ministry of Education, Adari Al-Qallaf; Alessandro Basmo, 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 and representatives of relevant entities.

The meeting reviewed the key technical and procedural aspects related to the nomination file for inscribing the Kuwait Towers on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, discussed relevant international requirements and criteria, and explored ways to enhance coordination and cooperation between national entities and the international advisory mission, thereby contributing to the completion of the nomination file and highlighting the historical, architectural, and civilizational value of the Kuwait Towers.

Participants also discussed the importance of unifying visions and ensuring integration among relevant government entities to ensure compliance with international standards for nomination, preserve the site’s Outstanding Universal Value, and achieve a balance between the requirements for protecting national heritage and the needs of urban development and modernization.

The meeting emphasized the importance of continuing institutional cooperation and coordination among relevant entities, and completing the required studies and technical documents, which will support the nomination file for the Kuwait Towers and reflect Kuwait’s commitment to protecting its historical and architectural landmarks and preserving its civilizational legacy for future generations.

These efforts follow up on the work initiated by relevant national entities, including recent coordination meetings to monitor the nomination file, such as the meeting held in April 2026 by H.E. Minister of Education Eng. Jalal Al-Tabtabaee, which addressed challenges related to inscribing the Kuwait Towers and water towers on the World Heritage List, and ways to meet the necessary technical and documentation requirements.