Country Profile: Kuwait

As an affluent nation, Kuwait certainly has the financial means and the infrastructure – Tamdeen Group’s 1,200 to 5,800-cap Arena Kuwait opened in the capital’s 360 Mall two years ago – to provide a lucrative stop for international tours. Yet the political situation remains somewhat unpredictable.

That being said, family entertainment does well. UAE- based All Things Live was involved in last year’s Disney Princess concert and booked Shrek the Musical into a theatre. CEO Thomas Ovesen says he’s looking forward to helping organise more shows here: “We just need to understand when and what we can do.”

Much easier to promote are local acts and Arabic music in general. “Our calendar is dominated by Arabic content,” Ken Jamieson, general manager of The Arena Kuwait told IQ recently. “With the rise and appeal of new Arabic talent growing every day, we are looking forward to welcoming a steady stream of new Arabic artists from the whole of the Middle East region on a regular basis.”

“Our calendar is dominated by Arabic content”

And Jamieson is optimistic about the prospects for international artists. “We have received an increased volume of enquiries for artists on regional tours, as Kuwait is now firmly on the touring map in the Gulf region. We expect to schedule a number of Western artists in 2024 and beyond.”

Alongside The Arena Kuwait and All Things Live, other active promoters include Live Nation Middle East, MAC Global, EventCom, Pacha Group Kuwait (who are putting on Amr Diab later this autumn) and Free Jabriya Productions.