Kuwait’s Sharq Fish Market Set for Major Overhaul as Temporary Outlet Opens Thursday

According to Times Kuwait, Kuwait’s historic Sharq Fish Market in Kuwait City is preparing for a major redevelopment that will include a temporary outlet opening on Thursday.

Overview of the Redevelopment

The Capital Governor, Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, reviewed the project’s implementation and stressed the need for coordination among the relevant authorities while taking vendors’ needs into account.

He said the redevelopment aims to upgrade the market’s facilities, improve services and expand its capacity while safeguarding its historic identity and its longstanding place in Kuwait’s maritime heritage.

The governor added that the project must balance modernisation with the preservation of the market’s traditional character, noting that Sharq Fish Market remains an important part of the country’s maritime heritage and collective memory.

Temporary Market and Capacity Expansion

A temporary facility will be set up to accommodate vendors and ensure uninterrupted sales while work continues at the main market.

The temporary market is scheduled to officially open on Thursday and will begin receiving vendors and visitors.

The redevelopment plan includes increasing the number of stalls from 214 to more than 240, thereby expanding the market’s overall capacity.

Infrastructure upgrades, improved service facilities and smoother entry and exit arrangements are also part of the project, intended to create a more organised and comfortable environment for fish vendors and shoppers.

Heritage Protection and Official Remarks

During a field visit to the market, the governor was briefed on the implementation stages and the measures being taken to guarantee that commercial activities continue throughout the renovation.

A statement from the Capital Governorate confirmed that the temporary market is being prepared to maintain trade while the main facility is upgraded.

Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah emphasised the importance of closely monitoring development projects that improve services for citizens and residents, and highlighted the need for coordination among authorities to keep the work on schedule while protecting the continuity of stall owners’ businesses.

He commended the company implementing the project and the government agencies involved, expressing hope that the redevelopment will enhance the market’s appearance, strengthen its appeal to visitors and bring its facilities in line with contemporary needs without diminishing its historical identity.