Three slender towers on a headland in the Gulf, studded with blue and green discs — the Kuwait Towers have been the emblem of the country since they opened in 1979.
Designed by the Danish architect Malene Bjørn for the Swedish engineering firm VBB, the towers were the last and most spectacular group of the Kuwait Water Towers — a national network of 34 towers built to store desalinated water. They were officially inaugurated in March 1979 and received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980.
The main tower rises 187 metres. Its large lower sphere holds water as well as hospitality floors; the smaller upper sphere is a viewing deck that slowly revolves, opening up the city, the bay and the open Gulf. The second tower is a reservoir, and the slim third tower carries the lights that illuminate the other two. The spheres are clad in thousands of enamelled steel discs in shades of blue, green and grey that change with the light.
The towers are managed by the state-owned Touristic Enterprises Company. After a long renovation they reopened in March 2016, and they remain the stage for national celebrations, including the fireworks of National Day and Liberation Day in February.
Highlights
- The revolving viewing sphere, with a 360° panorama of the city and the Gulf
- Sunset from the corniche, when the discs glow gold and turquoise
- The towers lit up at night, seen from Arabian Gulf Street or the Sharq waterfront
Good to know
- Arrive about an hour before sunset to see the towers in daylight, at golden hour and lit up.
- Parts of the towers have closed for maintenance in the past — check opening status with the Touristic Enterprises Company before you go.
- The gardens and beach below the towers are pleasant on winter evenings and busy on weekends and national holidays.
