Salmiya
Encyclopedia
Salmiya is a district of the Hawalli Governorate in the State of Kuwait.
Salmiya is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southeast of Kuwait City
and is one of the largest areas in Kuwait
consisting of both commercial
and residential areas. As of January 2007, Salmiya contains a population of 223,646 and is arguably Kuwait's flagship district being a major cultural and commercial hub. It is well connected to the rest of the country having a multitude of significant highways and roads passing through it en-route to the capital, Kuwait City.
Salmiya is administratively divided into 12 blocks. The blocks located closer to the interior of the district tend to be mostly residential, while those located beside the Persian Gulf coastline have a great deal of commercial and up-scale residential real estate. The interior residential areas boast a huge population of foreigners consisting mainly of those from the Indian sub-continent and other Arabs who are not native to the Persian Gulf
area.
Salmiya has been a model district in the context of modernization. It has undertaken a major face lift in recent times primarily due to ever-expanding commercial real estate on the Gulf Road. The popular Salem Al-Mubarak Shopping strip is in relative close proximity to the capital. The boom in real estate in Salmiya has seen it's demographics being constantly on the move. Increasing rental prices have gradually pushed out it's working class expatriate community towards the interior districts of Kuwait.
The influx of foreigners to Salmiya is of historical importance dating as far back as the 1960s. During the Gulf War
Salmiya was destroyed by invading Iraqi occupation, but from 1993 onward it was gradually rebuilt and re-populated. The old rugged 3-storied buildings and open fields, that Salmiya was famous for, have given way to high density layouts of high-rise apartments and complexes. The beach front, once a hub and harbor for the fishing and pearl diving community, has been transformed into a well-developed and modern bustling commercial avenue.
The Salem Al-Mubarak Street shopping districts, commonly known as Salmiya Center, runs down the outer blocks of Salmiya. It is one of the oldest and largest shopping districts of Kuwait
. It is a remnant of Kuwait's once numerous traditional souk bazaars, similar to the ones located in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh
and Kuwait City. Well known in the past for pearls, gold
and jewellery
, it now consists of a wide array of world-renowned retail giants and local outlets. Much of the old souk had been built over, but the feel and atmosphere of the past albeit remains visible at the traditional precincts of this shopping district. The experience varies from modernized (and Westernized) in the strip malls, to a true Kuwait
i experience on some of the back streets. It is notable to point out that the more eastward away from the capital one moves along the strip, the fancier and pricier the shops are in general. There are many gold
and fabric shops in the "Old Souk
" area located onwards from the intersection of the 4th Ring Road and the strip.
Salmiya is also host to numerous mosques, an aquarium
, a Scientific Center, an IMAX
movie theater, football stadium, medical centers, a Roman Catholic Chapel, the district passport office ("Jawazat") and a well-equipped park beside the 5th Ring Road. Notable malls include the Souk Salmiya Mega-mall, Marina Mall and the Omniya mall. The Gulf Road is coveted for its amazing sea vistas and is the main hub for new construction of future buildings and renovations. A boulevard passing through much of coastal Salmiya is a reflection of Kuwait's drive to modernity.
which is only walking-distance from the heart of Salmiya Centre. Also nearby is the Gulf English School. There is a large number of schools catering to different nationalities. Notably among these are the Indian, Arab, and Pakistani schools present in the area serving their respective communities.The Pakistan School And College
which is the oldest school in kuwait.The Indian Community School
, and Indian English Academy School
(a branch of Don Bosco Schools, India) and Indian Public School are notable schools that largely cater to the Indian community in Salmiya.
, which belongs to Al Salmiya Club.
Construction has begun on a cricket ground, which once completed will be of One Day International standard. It is hoped the facility will help develop cricket in Kuwait, as well as luring international teams to play neutral matches there. The ground is due for completion in 2012.
Salmiya is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southeast of Kuwait City
Kuwait City
-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
and is one of the largest areas in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
consisting of both commercial
Commercial district
A commercial district or commercial zone is any part of a city or town in which the primary land use is commercial activities , as opposed to a residential neighbourhood, an industrial zone, or other types of neighbourhoods...
and residential areas. As of January 2007, Salmiya contains a population of 223,646 and is arguably Kuwait's flagship district being a major cultural and commercial hub. It is well connected to the rest of the country having a multitude of significant highways and roads passing through it en-route to the capital, Kuwait City.
Salmiya is administratively divided into 12 blocks. The blocks located closer to the interior of the district tend to be mostly residential, while those located beside the Persian Gulf coastline have a great deal of commercial and up-scale residential real estate. The interior residential areas boast a huge population of foreigners consisting mainly of those from the Indian sub-continent and other Arabs who are not native to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
area.
Salmiya has been a model district in the context of modernization. It has undertaken a major face lift in recent times primarily due to ever-expanding commercial real estate on the Gulf Road. The popular Salem Al-Mubarak Shopping strip is in relative close proximity to the capital. The boom in real estate in Salmiya has seen it's demographics being constantly on the move. Increasing rental prices have gradually pushed out it's working class expatriate community towards the interior districts of Kuwait.
The influx of foreigners to Salmiya is of historical importance dating as far back as the 1960s. During the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
Salmiya was destroyed by invading Iraqi occupation, but from 1993 onward it was gradually rebuilt and re-populated. The old rugged 3-storied buildings and open fields, that Salmiya was famous for, have given way to high density layouts of high-rise apartments and complexes. The beach front, once a hub and harbor for the fishing and pearl diving community, has been transformed into a well-developed and modern bustling commercial avenue.
The Salem Al-Mubarak Street shopping districts, commonly known as Salmiya Center, runs down the outer blocks of Salmiya. It is one of the oldest and largest shopping districts of Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. It is a remnant of Kuwait's once numerous traditional souk bazaars, similar to the ones located in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh is a town in Kuwait. It is the closest town to Kuwait International Airport and is largely inhabited by expatriate workers from South Asia and Arab countries such as Syria and Egypt....
and Kuwait City. Well known in the past for pearls, gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
, it now consists of a wide array of world-renowned retail giants and local outlets. Much of the old souk had been built over, but the feel and atmosphere of the past albeit remains visible at the traditional precincts of this shopping district. The experience varies from modernized (and Westernized) in the strip malls, to a true Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i experience on some of the back streets. It is notable to point out that the more eastward away from the capital one moves along the strip, the fancier and pricier the shops are in general. There are many gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and fabric shops in the "Old Souk
Souk
A souq is a commercial quarter in an Arab, Berber, and increasingly European city. The term is often used to designate the market in any Arabized or Muslim city, but in modern times it appears in Western cities too...
" area located onwards from the intersection of the 4th Ring Road and the strip.
Salmiya is also host to numerous mosques, an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, a Scientific Center, an IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
movie theater, football stadium, medical centers, a Roman Catholic Chapel, the district passport office ("Jawazat") and a well-equipped park beside the 5th Ring Road. Notable malls include the Souk Salmiya Mega-mall, Marina Mall and the Omniya mall. The Gulf Road is coveted for its amazing sea vistas and is the main hub for new construction of future buildings and renovations. A boulevard passing through much of coastal Salmiya is a reflection of Kuwait's drive to modernity.
Education
There are several educational institutions located in Salmiya. The American University of KuwaitAmerican University of Kuwait
The American University of Kuwait is a private liberal arts institution based on the American model of higher education in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Although established in 2003, the University opened to students, faculty and the general public in September 2004. It is sister colleges with Dartmouth...
which is only walking-distance from the heart of Salmiya Centre. Also nearby is the Gulf English School. There is a large number of schools catering to different nationalities. Notably among these are the Indian, Arab, and Pakistani schools present in the area serving their respective communities.The Pakistan School And College
Pakistan School and College
Pakistan School and College is a Pakistani school located in Salmiya, Kuwait.Pakistan School and College Kuwait often abbreviated as PSCK is located in the south of Salmiya city about 16 miles south east from the capital Kuwait City...
which is the oldest school in kuwait.The Indian Community School
Indian Community School
Indian Community School Kuwait , Kuwait, or Indian School, Kuwait , is the oldest Indian school recognized by the Ministry of Education, Kuwait and is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education , Delhi...
, and Indian English Academy School
Indian English Academy School
Indian English Academy School, also known as I.E.A.S. or Don Bosco, is an Indian CBSE affiliated school in Kuwait. It is recognized by the Ministry of Education, Kuwait. Situated on Al Dahak bin Qays Street, Salmiya, Kuwait, the school offers education to students of all nationalities, from...
(a branch of Don Bosco Schools, India) and Indian Public School are notable schools that largely cater to the Indian community in Salmiya.
Sport
Salmiya is home to Thamir StadiumThamir Stadium
Thamir Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Al Salmiya, Kuwait. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Al Salmiya Club. The stadium holds 16,105 people.-External links:*...
, which belongs to Al Salmiya Club.
Construction has begun on a cricket ground, which once completed will be of One Day International standard. It is hoped the facility will help develop cricket in Kuwait, as well as luring international teams to play neutral matches there. The ground is due for completion in 2012.