Hey Expats in Kuwait, The Party's Over!

Yesterday, I received this email below from MJ:


Dear All, (please see flyer above)

We regret to inform you that the PARTY NIGHT by Iszonica Modelling School scheduled to be held on 25th May 2012 at Zafran Restaurant in Salmiya has been cancelled. This is due to the recent clamp down on social events in Kuwait which have resulted in a number of events ending early or being forced to shut down even though a licence was obtained.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards,

MJ - Managing Director


This morning in the Arab Tiimes we read:


Crack down on ‘fun-seekers’ - Expats to be deported

Arab Times (Link), Kuwait City, May 16, 2012: Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khalifa has instructed officials from all General Security Departments to carry out security campaigns against immoral activities and corruption in all areas of the country.

An informed security source said special security teams have been formed to investigate suspected places and to arrest all visitors to these places.

He stressed that securitymen were instructed to carry out security campaigns during the weekend and those involved in immoral activities should be dealt with in a strict manner.

Expatriates arrested during the campaign will be deported to their home countries.

The security campaigns will be carried out at chalets, livestock pens, stables and suspected flats.

_______________________________________

After living as an expat in Kuwait for quite a while I’m rather used to censored books, magazines, movies and the non-existence of legal bars and clubs. If you drink water, chew gum, smoke or eat between sun up and sundown during the Holy month of Ramadan you can be arrested, fined and spend the entire month in jail. Did I mention this year that Ramadan is the month of August and outside temperatures reach over 130F?

Before those of you that are not familiar with living in Kuwait die of shock, please understand that Dubai and Bahrain are just a 50 minute plane ride away. Eleven months out of the year you can fly in, hit duty free and then board your expat magic carpet ride to lavish hotels, five star spas, live music, rave parties on the beach and cocktails while shopping at luxury stores in gigantic, exotic malls. Have you ever snow skied inside a Middle Eastern mall, during the month of June with a tequila buzz? Well, I have! :P Living in a dry country really doesn’t affect me since I’m not a drinker except a few glorious cocktails, tequila shots and fine wine while on vacation outside of Kuwait.

Lately I’ve seen several ads in Kuwait from popular Hotels with dinner, live music and dancing, advertised “party” events and fiesta boat cruises. I was kind of surprised these events were publically advertised since we do live in Kuwait where even most wedding parties are held separately for local men and women. I wouldn’t feel comfortable attending most of these events for fear that we would all get busted by CID, put on the front page of the Arab Times newspaper and deported. There are only a few select, exclusive, unadvertised parties I would attend in Kuwait. They are very safe and quite amazing if you are lucky enough to score an invite. That’s all I’m going to write about that…;)

The point of my little post is that I love living in Kuwait and try to respect its laws. I may not agree with all of them but I’m a guest in this country and I must respect it. Anytime I feel the need to have a “Girl’s Gone Wild” time I can just put myself on a plane to Dubai with my girlfriends. However, I do feel that there is nothing wrong with certain events like MJ’s above that was cancelled after she obtained a legal license. What precedent does this set for the small business community in Kuwait that is trying to promote their legal products and services? I hope this is not the new trend of things to come.

E&TC