KUWAIT: Kuwait is set to breathe new life into 23 state-owned projects – from malls to historical markets – after the Public-Private Partnership Authority launched a major tender for consulting services on Saturday. The tender invites local, regional, and international consultancy firms to submit technical and financial proposals, the authority said.
Their work will cover feasibility studies, tender documents and the evaluation of bidders for each project. High-profile developments on the list include Al-Kout, Marina Mall and Kuwait Magic. Iconic traditional markets such as Souq Al-Mubarkiya, Souq Al-Safat and Souq Al-Manakh are also included. Souq Al-Safat, in the heart of Kuwait City, is considered the country’s historical commercial hub. It served as the primary land-based trading point for caravans arriving from the desert, the Arabian Peninsula and southern Iraq. The market was built in 1979, the market spans around 18,385 square meters. It includes two basement levels for 945 parking spaces, a ground floor and mezzanine for retail shops, a floor for maintenance services and three floors for commercial facilities.
Souq Al-Manakh was once Kuwait’s unofficial stock market until 1983, with shares traded outside government oversight. Today, the area hosts real estate and investment offices and is located in the Qibla district, opposite the current Kuwait Stock Exchange building. The projects also include longstanding buildings in Kuwait City, such as United Souq Tower, which houses offices and retail shops along with 911 parking spaces across three floors. Other properties include Souq Al-Watiya, known for its jewelry shops; Al-Souq Al-Kabeer, with nine floors of offices, retail, and parking; and Souq Al-Wataniya, a mixed residential and commercial building near the Liberation Tower, repaired after damage during the 1990s Iraqi invasion.
Infrastructure and recreational sites are also part of the plan, including two construction waste treatment plants, the Kuwait International Golf Course & Country Club, and fruit and vegetable markets in Jleeb and Jahra, alongside slaughterhouses in Sulaibiya, Ahmadi and Jahra.
“The selected entity will handle everything from technical and economic studies to legal and environmental assessments, and oversee each project until financial closure,” the authority said. “Our goal is to improve operational efficiency, strengthen private sector participation and enhance service quality across these key projects.” The tender opens Sunday, Jan 4, with submissions due by March 5. Interested firms must purchase documents for KD 1,000 and provide an initial bid bond of KD 20,000. Bids remain valid for 90 days. Applicants must have at least 10 years of experience preparing feasibility studies and partnership contracts for similar projects. They must operate licensed offices in their home countries and be registered with Kuwait’s Central Tenders Committee. — Agencies
