Maliya Fridays

From shared meals to street cricket, downtown Kuwait City becomes a vibrant weekend haven for South Asian expats
Each Friday, the bustling area of 'Maliya' in downtown Kuwait City transforms into a vibrant tapestry of cultural connection, drawing hundreds of expatriates — primarily from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka — for a day of community, leisure and nostalgia. Located near the iconic Al Muthanna Complex and the central bus station, Maliya is easily accessible by public transport, making it a popular gathering spot.
From early morning until sunset, the area pulses with activity as families and friends converge after Friday prayers to socialize, relax and reconnect with familiar traditions. Scenes of children playing cricket, elders chatting over cups of tea and coffee and vendors offering beloved South Asian street snacks like samosas, pakoras and chaat are common.
'We come here to relax on Fridays. We meet friends and enjoy a little taste of home. Hearing our native languages all around us — it feels like being back in India,' said Rai Kumar, an Indian expatriate.
Similar in spirit to Salmiya's 'Little Manila', Maliya has become a cherished weekend destination for South Asian expatriates. The shared cultural background and synchronized weekend schedules foster a strong sense of belonging. Conversations in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam, Sinhalese and Tamil fill the air, while families often bring home-cooked meals to share, deepening the sense of community.
'There are many affordable South Asian eateries and convenience stores here, which see a significant rise in business on Fridays. Some even offer special weekend menus,' said Vishai, another Indian expat. At the center of the area's roundabout, informal groups gather to read, sing or play games — turning public spaces into zones of camaraderie and celebration.
However, alongside this vibrant atmosphere, Maliya also sees a rise in unlawful activities. Behind shopping centers and in secluded alleys, some individuals exploit the large gatherings to engage in illegal gambling and other prohibited acts. Kuwait Times observed security personnel pursuing suspects in hidden corners of the area. 'Sometimes fights break out when people lose money. We've raised concerns, but there's little we can do. It's obvious something illegal is going on,' said a shopkeeper who requested anonymity.
Gambling is strictly forbidden under Kuwaiti law, yet its persistence in areas like Maliya — where dense housing and narrow alleyways provide concealment — poses ongoing challenges for law enforcement. Police and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) teams routinely conduct raids, seizing gambling materials and cash. Some operations have also uncovered illegal alcohol sales and physical altercations tied to gambling disputes. 'While most people come here for genuine recreation, a small number misuse the opportunity for illegal activities, compromising public safety,' the shopkeeper added.
As Maliya awakens each Friday, it becomes more than just a cultural hub — it becomes a space for emotional connection. For many South Asian expatriates, especially singles, the area has quietly evolved into a place to meet and interact. 'For some of us, Friday is not just a day of rest — it's a chance to connect,' said Arjun Bharat, a 28-year-old chef who has lived in Kuwait for four years. 'Back home, relationships are often arranged by families. Here, we're free to find someone who understands our struggles and dreams.'
Dressed in their finest clothes, many arrive with hopes of meeting someone special. 'It's fun to be here on Fridays,' said Diya, a young woman working in retail. 'I'd love to find someone here. We understand each other better and are free from family pressures.' Young women often come accompanied by friends or older relatives, strolling through the area, sharing meals and chatting in their native languages. 'There are many stories of couples who met here and later married,' added Vaayan, Diya's friend.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Kuwait Times

a day ago

• Kuwait Times

New routes, bigger fleet key for Kuwait's aviation ambitions

KUWAIT: Kuwait needs to modernize its national airline fleet and open new flight routes to boost efficiency and cement its role as a regional aviation hub, officials said Saturday night. At the one-day 'Future of Aviation in Kuwait' conference, Acting Director General of Civil Aviation Duaij Al-Otaibi emphasized that financial resources and qualified national expertise are in place to not only keep pace with global aviation developments, but to achieve excellence in the sector. 'The coming phase requires intensive efforts to develop the aviation sector at the levels of infrastructure, fleet, and logistics,' Al-Otaibi said, stressing that Kuwait's location between East and West, combined with local talent and financial capability, provides a solid foundation to transform the country into a regional aviation hub. Al-Otaibi underscored the urgency of modernizing Kuwait Airways' fleet and expanding its destinations to match the sector's rapid growth. 'We need to upgrade the national carrier's fleet and enhance Kuwait Airways' network with more aircraft and routes. This will raise operational efficiency and expand destination reach,' he said. Kuwait has injected nearly $5 billion into aviation infrastructure development, including Terminal 2 (T2), a new runway, control towers, ground services, and advanced meteorological and air navigation systems. The T2 terminal—designed to accommodate over 25 million passengers annually—is expected to launch operations by end of 2026, aiming to attract international airlines and relieve current travel bottlenecks. 'Expanding destinations toward East Asia—Japan, Indonesia, Korea, China, and Australia—and the West—South America, Los Angeles, Florida, and South Africa—is critical,' Al-Otaibi said. 'We must match global developments to remain competitive.' Muhannad Al-Ayyar Duaij Al-Otaibi 'Future is bright' The conference comes at a time when travelers are facing increasing challenges due to the withdrawal of major European carriers from Kuwait, which has led to higher fares, long layovers, and fewer direct connections. Kuwait Times reported last month that the situation has disrupted holiday plans for many, especially during peak seasons like Eid, and contributed to a growing reliance on regional transit hubs in Doha and Dubai. A local frequent flyer, Talal Al-Fadhli, described recent travel options as exhausting: 'Some flights have layovers of over six to eight hours. Even budget airlines are unusually expensive,' he said in an interview. Travel agent Mohamed Moustafa told Kuwait Times that the completion of T2 is set to improve the situation. 'Once T2 is operational, we'll see lower ticket prices and more passenger traffic. That will uplift the entire tourism and aviation sector,' he previously told Kuwait Times. Speaking at the conference, Captain Muhannad Al-Ayyar, Chairman of the Kuwait Society of Pilots and Aviation Engineers, echoed calls to expand operations: 'The future of aviation in Kuwait is bright—if invested in with a strategic vision that strengthens Kuwait's regional standing in both passenger and cargo transport.' Al-Ayyar emphasized the need to grow the fleet and add routes, recognizing its importance in reducing reliance on foreign airlines. 'Expanding our route network is essential, especially with more Kuwaitis and residents depending on non-Kuwaiti carriers,' he said. The conference also spotlighted progress on major projects such as the Air Cargo City, which is expected to significantly boost Kuwait's role in global logistics, especially with the rise of e-commerce. This aligns with the government's 'New Kuwait Vision' to diversify the economy. 'If fully optimized, the aviation and port sectors could contribute over 30 percent to Kuwait's GDP and create up to 80,000 jobs over the next five years,' Al-Otaibi projected. — Agencies

Kuwait Times

2 days ago

• Kuwait Times

Into the wild: Turning nature into art

Kuwaiti photographer Mohammad Murad's award-winning wildlife nphotography captures emotion, motion and the raw beauty of untamed life Into the wild: Turning nature into art In a rapidly changing world, the magic of wildlife is not just amazing — it's essential. Kuwaiti photographer Mohammad Murad captures what lies beneath the surface of the wild, transforming fleeting moments into hauntingly beautiful works of art. Since leaving his career as a communications engineer in 2015 to pursue photography full time, Murad has quickly risen to international acclaim. With over 60 awards from some of the world's most prestigious photography platforms — including BigPicture, World Nature Photography Awards, and Xposure — his work continues to inspire awe and admiration across continents. Kuwait Times: Tell us about yourself. Mohammad Murad: My journey into photography began as a personal curiosity and grew into a life-changing passion. I've always been drawn to the wild — to the raw, unscripted stories of animals living in the harshest environments. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to be a Canon EMEA Ambassador and to have my work recognized on international platforms. KT: When did you start your photography journey? What inspired you? Murad: I started in 2014, but it was in 2015 that I fully committed to wildlife photography. The turning point came when I saw a fox crossing a road in the Kuwaiti desert. Something clicked — I realized there were untold wild stories right outside our cities. That encounter sparked a passion that's never left me. KT: How did you get into wildlife photography? Murad: I began by observing and photographing birds of prey during migration season in Kuwait. It was a steep learning curve — understanding animal behavior, lighting, timing and the importance of silence. Eventually, my curiosity took me beyond borders — from Kuwait's desert to Mongolia's tundra and Iceland's frozen terrain. Shivering Look "This Arctic fox decided to take a nap just behind some dry yellow planets covered with snow. I always wanted to get close to an animal to fill the frame with it .. but I don't want to scare it or make it uncomfortable. The fox looked right into my lens whilst covering his nose with its tail. This shot was taken in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve .. a remote place that you only get there using a boat! it was a rough ride in the sea going to this island." A Sword in the Chest "Two white-cheeked terns fighting for territory in Kubbar Island in Kuwait, one is pushing its beak to the other chest in what it look like a sword in the chest! Kubbar is famous for its large summer colonies of breeding terns. The white-cheeked terns build their nests in a more elevated area and these scrapes are either found either on the bare ground or in areas where there is some patchy grass cover, but all with no shelter at all from the brutal summer sun." Night Killer Arabian horned vipers are famous in Kuwait, specially where I work. I work in the transmitter station for both TV and radio. The station is in the far north of Kuwait, and it's filled with scorpions and snakes! I decided this night to go for a walk behind our building, and while I was on a walk with my torch searching for wolf spiders to try micro-photography, this is when I spotted this snake under a small plant. I started taking pictures when it decided to take a walk too on the sand dunes." Glowing Scorpion "They say an untrampled scorpion troubles no one. I found this black-tailed scorpion in a small farm in the Kuwait desert at high noon! I thought it would be more creative to put an ultraviolet light on it to make it pop up and glow against this big tree trunk fallen on the ground." Impression of Africa "Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself! I see myself in this lion wandering between trees, bushes and sands protecting its territory or finding life or even making one in this gorgeous God-made heaven -- Africa: The place I found myself in." They say the world of art is limitless! Unusual Forms of Art for a baby elephant and its mother taken in Tanzania I have this inside desire to photograph in slow shutter .. something about it just fascinates me and i'm not talking about panning technique here .. i'm talking about reinventing the scene .. adding a touch of mystery to it .. something to represent me .. something to reflect my inner self It's like when a violinist plays his melody in his own way to express something inside him .. maybe a feeling .. a happy or a sad feeling .. Maybe you will not understand .. and maybe you will .. but that won't affect the violinist at all .. he just want to be heard .. he will leave the interpretation to whom ever they are Photography is an Art form that represent me well .. every image that i take is like reinventing a part of me .. adding a touch of mystery to it .. something to reflect my inner self Desert Racer "Captured in the Kuwait desert in 2022, this Arabian toad-head agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus) braves extreme weather conditions with remarkable composure. Known for their 'sit-and-wait' hunting strategy, these desert reptiles rely on sharp visual orientation to locate their prey. This particular agama struck a dynamic pose, perched atop desert vegetation, as if mimicking the stance of a rider on a racing motorcycle. The image brings together the creature's resilience and our imagination as photographers, showcasing a rare moment of nature's artistry in the heart of the arid landscape." Domination "A lappet-faced vulture attacking white-backed vultures. More than 15 white-backed vultures were eating a dead animal when this lappet-faced vulture came and attacked them all and took the dead animal for itself! It is such a big bird comparing to them, and they are really afraid of it!" Yellow Between the Stars "This was taken in South Africa at a drinking station were small birds and sometimes animals come to drink and take a bath. It is designed to be used in the morning so the sun will be behind you and hits the birds. but i went there in the afternoon to get the light behind the birds, specially when they take a bath. This starling was a dark blue already, so with the light from behind, it turns into a silhouette. The idea is to go under in the exposure to darken everything and keep the water drops shiny." Urban Glow and Wild Spirit 'I spent over two months documenting a family of Arabian red foxes near the shore in Doha. Visiting several times a week, I used handheld lights and streetlight reflections to capture nighttime shots as the mother fox and her five cubs emerged to retrieve hidden food. Over time, the cubs grew comfortable with me, even approaching and licking my camera. As a father of five, I felt a personal responsibility to protect them, especially given the threats foxes face in Kuwait. My visits were about more than photography — they were about trust and ensuring the animals' safety.' The Rising Trunk "Unusual forms of art of a baby elephant and its mother taken in Tanzania. This illustration is a take on the saying 'If you stand too close to the elephant, you don't see the elephant'. In abstract photography, often there aren't the usual frames of reference for the viewer; they are not looking at anything immediately recognizable or discernible. This lack of context in which to evaluate an image is one of the reasons why abstract photography can be so challenging and equally enthralling. I tried here is to zoom in and take out the baby elephant out of the picture by cropping the image. You can't get close to the elephant for your own safety and for the elephant and not make them uncomfortable. I stayed with this baby and its mum for about two hours just to try to get close at a safe distance to get this shot once the baby elephant wanted to nurse milk." Photographer Mohammad Murad Between My Feathers "A white-tailed eagle landed and rushed toward a fish caught by crows. I spent 12 hours a day in a hide to get this exact shot. I've always dreamed of capturing a bird's eye peeking through its feathers in flight — it's incredibly difficult and takes a lot of luck. I believe I was lucky to catch this moment just as the eagle was landing." Murad's award-winning pic Kuwaiti wildlife photographer Mohammad Murad has won first place in the Wildlife category of the 2025 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition held in California. His winning image, titled 'No Eyes', features a frost-covered Pallas' cat in Mongolia and was selected from over 8,000 global entries. The photo will be exhibited at the California Academy of Sciences starting October 2. Murad, the first Arab wildlife photographer to join the Canon Ambassadors Program, dedicated the award to Kuwait's leadership and emphasized the role of visual storytelling in environmental awareness. No Eyes "This photo captures a Pallas' cat in eastern Mongolia, completely covered in snow after a harsh storm in -35°C temperatures. Adapted for extreme conditions, the cat uses its flat ears and high-set eyes to blend into its surroundings and remain alert while hidden. Used to Kuwait's heat, I endured the freezing weather to capture this rare moment. Pallas' cats face threats from hunting, habitat loss and deep snow that limits their mobility, contributing to high winter mortality. Despite these challenges, improved research led to the species being reclassified by the IUCN in 2020 from 'Near Threatened' to 'Least Concern.' The image highlights both the cat's resilience and the dedication required to document such wildlife." KT: Why do you use slow shutter speeds and intentional motion in your photography? Murad: I didn't want to simply document wildlife — I wanted to express its emotion, energy and soul. Slow shutter speed and intentional motion let me do that. They turn a moment into a mood, a photo into a feeling. For me, motion blur reflects nature's poetry — the chaos, the grace the rhythm of life. KT: You've photographed in extreme environments. What was one of the most challenging shoots? Murad: Photographing the elusive Pallas' cat in Mongolia was one of the toughest. I worked in temperatures as low as -34°C, with biting winds and minimal shelter. At one point, I captured a cat whose eyes were completely covered in snow — yet it was fully aware of its surroundings. That moment reminded me how resilient nature is, and how much we can learn from it. KT: What does international recognition mean to you? Murad: It's a great honor, but more importantly, it validates the stories I'm telling. These awards bring attention to the animals, the environments and the fragile beauty of the wild. Personally, it keeps me going. Professionally, it opens doors and connects me with creatives and conservationists around the world. KT: Is there one award that holds special meaning? Murad: Definitely. Being selected as a finalist in the 2025 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition for my image 'No Eyes' — taken in Mongolia — was especially meaningful. The photo came after enduring a brutal snowstorm. It captured both the resilience of the animal and my own journey beyond limits. Being the only Arab finalist made it even more powerful. KT: What has wildlife photography taught you? Murad: Patience, humility and presence. Every animal has its own rhythm, and to photograph it, you have to tune in. I aim to tell a story — not just about the animal, but its environment, its struggle and its beauty. Stories spark empathy, and empathy leads to protection. KT: What advice do you have for aspiring wildlife photographers? Murad: Start close to home. You don't need to travel far to find wonder. Learn your subject's behavior, be patient and ethical and stay persistent. Most importantly, remember — photography isn't just about taking pictures; it's about making people feel something. KT: What's next for you? Murad: I'm preparing for a 21-day expedition to a snowy wilderness where I'll explore the intersection of ice, wildlife and motion. I'm also working on an article that explores my slow-shutter, abstract storytelling approach. Beyond that, I hope to keep pushing creative boundaries and inspire others from the Middle East — and beyond — to tell their own wild stories.

Arab Times

5 days ago

• Arab Times

Air India faces turbulence as plane crash prompts deeper checks and disruptions

NEW DELHI, June 18, (AP): Air India is facing fresh turbulence following last week's fatal crash as additional safety inspections on its Dreamliner fleet have led to flight delays, cancellations, and growing passenger anxiety. India's aviation safety regulator ordered deeper checks on Boeing 787 aircraft operated by the airline soon after its London-bound flight crashed during take-off in Ahmedabad city June 12, killing at least 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew. The precautionary inspections, including closure of airspace in some middle eastern countries, have strained Air India operations across domestic and international routes. Since the crash, Air India has cancelled operations of a total of 83 wide-body flights, including 66 Dreamliner, according to data shared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, India's aviation safety regulator. "There is a cascading impact operationally. We are being extra cautious and doing extra checks beyond the usual,' a company executive familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity as he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. The company on Tuesday announced cancellation of multiple flights, including one from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. Another from Delhi to Paris was cancelled as a mandatory pre-flight check identified an unidentified issue, the airline said in a statement. In a statement Tuesday, the aviation directorate said surveillance conducted on Air India's Dreamliner fleet so far has found no "major safety concerns.' The aircraft and its associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards, the directorate said, adding that of the 33 aircraft, 24 have completed the inspections, while four were undergoing long-term maintenance. The rest were expected to finish the safety checks soon. The regulator, however, raised concerns about maintenance-related issues reported by the airline and advised it to "strictly adhere to regulations.' It asked Air India to strengthen internal coordination across engineering, operations, and ground handling units and ensure adequate availability of spares to mitigate flight delays. Experts from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are probing the crash with assistance from the U.K., the U.S., and officials from Boeing. Aviation experts say the crash poses a temporary challenge for Air India, which was in midst of transforming itself from a financially troubled airline to a profitable venture. "If you ask me whether the accident will derail the ambitious growth plans, no way. There can be no looking back,' said Jitender Bhargava, a former Air India executive director. The company already has placed huge orders for new aircraft to expand operations. The present challenge was to boost the morale of employees and passengers through confidence-building measures, Bhargava said. "The faster you make people forget this one-off accident, the better it is,' Bhargava said. Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled national carrier to private ownership after decades of government control. The $2.4 billion deal was seen as the government's effort to sell off a loss-making, state-run businesses. It also was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932. Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes worth over $70 billion, redesigned its branding and livery and absorbed smaller airlines Tata held stakes in. The company additionally has committed millions of dollars to digital overhauls of aircraft and refurbishing interiors of more than five dozen legacy planes. Air India has ordered nearly three dozen trainer aircraft and set up one of South Asia's largest training academy for professionals.