LOC13:58
10:58 GMT
KUWAIT, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Towers, inaugurated in 1979 overlooking the Arabian Gulf, were initially constructed as a water storage project. Over time, they have become a prominent national landmark and an icon of contemporary Arab heritage.
The concept was the idea of late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in 1963, Minister of Finance at the time.
The project was built with the objective of building large water reservoirs, but subsequently developed into a cultural symbol, a tourist destination and a recognizable feature representing Kuwait internationally.
The complex consists of three towers of varying heights. The tallest stands at 187 meters with a base diameter of 20 meters and is designed to store one million cubic gallons of water.
The second tower rises 147 meters with a base diameter of 18 meters and shares the water storage function.
The third tower, at 113 meters with a base diameter of 12 meters, plays a supporting infrastructural role by supplying electricity to the surrounding area and providing external lighting for the complex through 100 floodlights installed on it.
The towers' design draws inspiration from Kuwaiti heritage. The main tower symbolizes the incense burner (mabkhara), the middle tower represents the sprinkler (marash), and the smallest tower symbolizes the kohl container (mekhala). The complex received the Aga Khan Award for Islamic Architecture in 1980.
During the Iraqi invasion in 1990, the towers sustained significant damage. Restoration efforts led to their reopening in December 1992 following comprehensive national reconstruction work.
In July 2025, the Arab Architectural and Urban Heritage Observatory officially included the Kuwait Towers on the Arab Heritage List under the category of Modern Architecture.
Each February, during Kuwait's National Days celebrations, the towers are illuminated in the colors of the national flag, marking the occasion and reflecting national pride. (end)
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