Kuwait Entertainment City
Kuwait Entertainment City was a large amusement park on the western outskirts of Kuwait City that operated from 1984 until its closure and demolition during redevelopment.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kuwait Entertainment City was a major amusement park located on the western outskirts of Kuwait City. It opened on 14 March 1984 and was operated by Kuwait-based Touristic Enterprises Company. Designed as a large-scale destination rather than a small local fairground, the park combined themed environments, rides, transport attractions, retail, food outlets, animal exhibits, and simulated journeys. The park was organized into several thematic areas. The Arabian World Zone presented architectural motifs and attractions associated with the region, including a miniature artificial lake, a model Kuwaiti fishing boat, traditional-style railway stations, and Sinbad’s Voyage, a simulated journey based on the legendary navigator. The International World Zone used buildings and landmarks inspired by different parts of the world, including Wild West architecture, European landmarks, Dutch windmills, Alpine scenery, mosques, and classical temples. Future World focused on electronic and futuristic attractions, including a 110-metre rotating observation tower, a spaceship, and a moon-rocket experience. Among the park’s notable physical attractions was a three-foot narrow-gauge railway. Its original train was manufactured by Crown Metal Products in the United States during the 1980s. The railway later used a Severn Lamb locomotive, including a custom-built 4-4-0 Lincoln model adapted for the park’s gauge. The attraction was notable because large theme-park roller coasters and narrow-gauge railways of this type were relatively uncommon in the Middle East at the time. The park also featured a large Bolliger & Mabillard inverted roller coaster, although available reference material does not establish its launch date or full operating history. Kuwait Entertainment City was closed during and after Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait from 1990 to 1991. Iraqi forces reportedly removed rides and damaged or looted property; some equipment, including the park’s original railway locomotive and cars, was taken to Baghdad. After the liberation of Kuwait and the end of the conflict, the park underwent recovery and reopened to visitors in 1994. On 6 June 2016, the park closed for what was initially described as renovation. The site was ultimately not refurbished as the original park. By October 2020, the old facilities had been fully demolished. In October 2019, plans were announced for the property to be taken over by the Amiri Diwan and redeveloped as New Entertainment City Kuwait. The proposed successor project was described as a much broader entertainment destination, with outdoor and indoor theme parks, an indoor snow park, water parks, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a museum, a planetarium, a high-street railway, retail, a luxury district, an icon hotel, sports facilities, and international festival areas. The plans also included an indoor theme-park concept envisioned with Ubisoft Entertainment. The original Kuwait Entertainment City therefore remains a defunct amusement-park brand and site, while the name is associated with the proposed replacement development.
History
Kuwait Entertainment City opened on 14 March 1984 in the western outskirts of Kuwait City. The park was operated by Touristic Enterprises Company, a Kuwait-based organization responsible for tourism and leisure facilities. Its scale and design distinguished it from a conventional local amusement ground: it provided a broad destination experience built around themed zones, major rides, family attractions, retail, food, and transport features. The park’s layout included 12 entrances and several distinct areas. The Arabian World Zone emphasized regional architectural and cultural references. At its centre was a small artificial lake containing a model of an ancient Kuwaiti fishing boat and live fish. Nearby kiosks sold snacks, souvenirs, jewelry, and traditional clothing. In the Sinbad’s Voyage area, visitors boarded a replica yacht and experienced a simulated route associated with the legendary Arab navigator Sinbad. A nearby zoo included animals such as elephants, antelope, and sika deer, while camel rides were also available. The International World Zone presented themed settings inspired by locations and periods outside the Arabian Peninsula. Its features included nineteenth-century Wild West-style structures, replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Dutch windmills, European Alpine scenery, mosques associated with Baghdad, and temples inspired by ancient Greece. Future World shifted the emphasis toward technology and speculative futurism. It included electronic and laser-based attractions, futuristic transport and communications displays, and a 110-metre rotating observation tower. Visitors could also enter attractions styled as a spaceship and a moon rocket. A narrow-gauge railway operated in the Arabian World Zone. The track used a three-foot, or 914-millimetre, gauge. The original railway equipment was manufactured in the United States by Crown Metal Products during the 1980s. The park later used a train supplied by the United Kingdom company Severn Lamb, including a custom-built 4-4-0 Lincoln locomotive adapted to the unusually wide-for-the-model three-foot track. The railway was one of the park’s distinctive attractions, particularly because comparable large-scale amusement-park railways were uncommon in the Middle East. The park operated annually after its opening except during the period surrounding Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait beginning in 1990. During that period, Iraqi forces reportedly removed rides and looted or vandalized parts of the site. The original Crown Metal Products locomotive and train cars were among the equipment taken to Iraq, and they later appeared at Al Zawra’a Dream Park in central Baghdad. After Iraqi forces were expelled during the Gulf War and Kuwait began restoring damaged facilities, Kuwait Entertainment City underwent recovery work and reopened in 1994. The park continued operating for more than two decades after its postwar reopening. On 6 June 2016, it closed with the stated purpose of renovation. The closure eventually became permanent for the original facility. In October 2019, the Amiri Diwan announced plans to take over the property and replace the old park with New Entertainment City Kuwait. The proposed successor was envisioned as a multi-part entertainment and leisure destination, rather than a direct refurbishment of the existing amusement park. The redevelopment concept included outdoor theme parks, indoor theme parks, an indoor snow park, water parks, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a museum, a planetarium, a high-street railway, a retail mall, a luxury district, an icon hotel, sports facilities, and areas for international festivals. An indoor theme-park concept was also envisioned with Ubisoft Entertainment. By October 2020, the original Kuwait Entertainment City had been fully demolished. The replacement project was described as under construction in the available reference material, but no completion date or confirmed operating status is established here. Accordingly, the original Kuwait Entertainment City is classified as defunct, while New Entertainment City Kuwait is treated as a proposed successor development rather than as the same operating entity.
- 2020
Original park demolished
[1]By October, the original Kuwait Entertainment City facilities have been completely demolished.
- 2019
Successor development announced
[1]The Amiri Diwan announces plans for New Entertainment City Kuwait, a broader entertainment complex intended to replace the original park.
- 2016
Closure for renovation
[1]The park closes on 6 June for a proposed renovation that ultimately leads to replacement of the original facility.
- 1994
Postwar reopening
[1]The park reopens after recovery work following the invasion and Gulf War period.
- 1990
Operations interrupted during the invasion of Kuwait
[1]The park stops normal operations during Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait, and its property suffers reported looting, vandalism, and removal of rides.
- 1984
Original park opens
[1]Kuwait Entertainment City opens to the public on 14 March on the western outskirts of Kuwait City.
Products and positioning
A large destination amusement park combining regional, international, and futuristic themed zones with rides, railway transport, family attractions, retail, and animal exhibits.
Amusement park · 1984
Themed amusement park
The core offering was a large destination amusement park divided into Arabian, international, and futuristic environments. It combined rides, themed architecture, simulated experiences, food, merchandise, and family entertainment across a substantial site.
Amusement-park railway · 1984
Three-foot narrow-gauge railway
A three-foot narrow-gauge railway operated in the Arabian World Zone. Its original Crown Metal Products equipment was later replaced or supplemented by a Severn Lamb train, including a custom-built 4-4-0 Lincoln locomotive adapted for the park’s track gauge.
Themed simulation · 1984
Sinbad’s Voyage
A themed attraction based on the legendary Arab navigator Sinbad. Visitors boarded a replica yacht and followed a simulated version of Sinbad’s sailing route.
Themed zone · 1984
Future World
A futuristic section featuring electronic and laser attractions, speculative transportation and communications equipment, a 110-metre rotating observation tower, and space-themed experiences involving a spaceship and moon rocket.
Themed zone · 1984
International World Zone
A collection of themed settings inspired by global destinations and historical motifs, including Wild West buildings, European landmarks, Dutch windmills, Alpine scenery, Baghdad-inspired mosques, and ancient Greek temples.
Brand decisions
2019
Replace the original park with New Entertainment City KuwaitStrategyBackground
The Amiri Diwan announced that the property would be taken over and redeveloped as a substantially larger entertainment destination.
Action taken
The proposed development expanded the concept beyond a traditional amusement park to include indoor and outdoor theme parks, an indoor snow park, water parks, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a museum, a planetarium, hospitality, retail, sports, and festival areas.
Aftermath
The original site was fully demolished by October 2020. The available reference material describes the successor project as under construction but does not establish a completion date or confirmed opening.
2016
Close the park for renovationStrategyBackground
After operating for decades, the park was closed on 6 June 2016 with renovation cited as the purpose of the closure.
Action taken
Kuwait Entertainment City ceased public operations while plans for the site were reconsidered.
Aftermath
The original park was not reopened. It was later demolished and replaced by plans for a new entertainment complex.
Recent events
- 2020
Original Kuwait Entertainment City fully demolished[1]
Other
By October 2020, the original park had been completely demolished to clear the site for the planned New Entertainment City development.
- 2019
Amiri Diwan announces New Entertainment City Kuwait redevelopment[1]
Other
Plans announced in October 2019 called for the property to be taken over by the Amiri Diwan and transformed into a substantially expanded entertainment complex with 13 proposed sections, including indoor and outdoor parks, an indoor snow park, water attractions, cultural venues, hospitality, retail, and sports facilities.
- 2016
Kuwait Entertainment City closes for planned renovation[1]
Other
The park closed on 6 June 2016 with the stated intention of being renovated. The site was later redeveloped rather than restored as the original park.
- 1994
Kuwait Entertainment City reopens after postwar recovery[1]
Other
Following recovery work after the Gulf War period, the amusement park reopened to visitors.
- 1990
Park operations disrupted by Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait[1]
Other
The park ceased normal operations during and after the Iraqi invasion and occupation. Rides and other property were reportedly removed, looted, or vandalized, with some railway equipment transported to Baghdad.
- 1984
Kuwait Entertainment City opens to the public[1]
Other
The amusement park opened on 14 March 1984 on the western outskirts of Kuwait City under the operation of Touristic Enterprises Company.
Sources1 sources
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