Khyam Souq “Tents Market” in Kuwait, rooted in the nation’s rich trading past, began as a gathering place for local traders and craftsmen. Evolving from a traditional market into a symbol of Kuwaiti heritage, it has been a bustling hub for centuries. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and array of traditional goods, the market reflects Kuwait’s historical role as a regional commercial center.
Over time, it has grown to embody the country’s cultural diversity and artisanal skills Today سوق الخيام stands as a testament to Kuwait’s enduring spirit, bridging the gap between the past and present. This market continues to be a cherished destination for both locals and tourists, offering an authentic taste of Kuwaiti life and history.
Total Design Project Duration 518 Days
Time for Completion of Design Phase
164Days
16Hours
53Minutes
59Seconds
Souk Al Khyam Project Components
Souq Al Khyam
Cultural Museum
General Services
The Desert Resort
Souq Al Khyam
Sections for selling tents, encompassing all types (traditional and modern), where innovative presentation methods will be considered and discussed later.
Commercial shops for tent accessories, catering to all-purpose tent needs.
Commercial shops or stalls for small projects based on feasibility studies for selling food products like dairy, “Adani” dairy products, and others that enhance the products of the desert dwellers.
Shops for selling falcons and their supplies, as well as shops for selling fishing tools and supplies.
A multi-purpose events square (open, closed, or semi-closed).
Commercial activities for investors (entertainment areas) – popular and modern cafes and restaurants – covered squares or open areas or halls for children’s games or miscellaneous games in the market.
Special services for the shopping area – spaces for horses and camels to imbue the place with a desert atmosphere and the culture of the desert dwellers – warehouses for relevant governmental bodies overseeing the market – warehouses for lessees of various project activities
Cultural Museum
It is the main component of the project, comprising sections for selling tents of all types (traditional and modern), where innovative display methods will be considered, as well as commercial shops for tent accessories catering to all-purpose tent needs. Additionally, there will be commercial shops and stalls for small projects based on feasibility studies for selling food products like dairy, “Adani” dairy products, and others that enhance the products of the desert dwellers. There will also be shops for selling falcons and their supplies, as well as shops for selling fishing tools and supplies. Furthermore, there will be a multi-purpose events square (open, closed, or semi-closed) and commercial activities for investors (entertainment areas) – popular and modern cafes and restaurants – covered squares or open areas or halls for children’s games or miscellaneous games in the market, along with special services for the shopping area – spaces for horses and camels to imbue the place with a desert atmosphere and the culture of the desert dwellers.
General Services
Security rooms equipped with surveillance cameras for monitoring.
A smart control room for building management and maintenance systems.
Sufficient car parking spaces to serve project visitors, with designated spaces for disabled individuals.
Special parking spaces for loading and unloading goods.
Basic services (ambulance centers, fire services, electricity generators, etc.).
Administrative offices to supervise market operations (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Affairs, Kuwait Municipality, special project management offices, etc.).
Public facilities distributed throughout the project area to serve visitors (prayer rooms for men and women, self-cleaning smart restrooms, drinking water stations, Wi-Fi internet, internal broadcasting, trash containers, carefully distributed seating for visitors’ relaxation areas, etc.).
The Desert Resort
As it was within the project’s objectives to combine cultural activities like museums and recreational activities like health resorts in the oases of the Kuwait, it has been proposed to add a desert resort activity that carries the desert identity.
This suggestion arose from the technical requirements, and the possibility of adding some components to the project that contribute to enhancing its competitive value.
Therefore, the addition of this element will be studied in coordination with the Kuwait Municipality’s technical department.
The purpose, as of the consultancy services to develop the Central Tent Market (Al Jahra Governorate) by adding this element is to add higher value to the project and to encourage visitors to stay near the market for some time.
This desert resort will include a number of rooms as well as some desert activities.
-To make the Souq Al Khyam a landmark in Kuwait to attract tourists, citizens, and residents for shopping, entertainment, culture, and obtaining all tent-related items in one place throughout the year.
– Focus on youth by providing recreational and tourist activities that align with culture such as horse and camel riding and various other activities and games.
– Building a sustainable living environment that extends from Kuwaiti cultural and popular heritage and meets global sustainability standards set by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD) through compliance with the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) for design and construction.
– Providing a conducive environment for navigating between project activities that adapt to Kuwait’s dry desert environment and providing a safe and healthy environment for market visitors and workers.