Wikipedia

Madinat al-Hareer

Silk City (Arabic: مدينة الحرير romanized: Madinat al-Hareer) is a large infrastructure project in northern Kuwait which is currently under development (Phase I).[1][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][2][excessive citations] The project will be built in individual phases.[1] In May 2019, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway opened as part of the Silk City project's first phase,[1] the project's first phase also includes Mubarak Al Kabeer Port which is currently under construction.[9][10][11][12][1][2] The Silk City project is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[13][1][6]

Madinat al-Hareer
مدينة الحرير
Madinat al-Hareer is located in Kuwait
Madinat al-Hareer
Coordinates: 29°37′01″N 48°04′01″E / 29.617°N 48.067°E / 29.617; 48.067
Country Kuwait
DistrictJahra Governorate
Construction began2019 (Phase I)[1]
Founded by China[1][2]
 Kuwait[1][2]
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)

Development

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Phase one

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Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway

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Main article: Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway

The first phase of the Silk City project includes construction of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway[14][15] In May 2019, the causeway was completed and inaugurated.[16] The causeway connects northern Kuwait to Kuwait City. It was one of the largest and most challenging infrastructure projects in the entire world.[17] The project is part of Kuwait Vision 2035,[18] and is named after the 13th Emir of Kuwait to commemorate his leadership. The causeway had an estimated construction value of approximately US$3 billion.[19] It crosses two artificial islands (Bay Island North and Bay Island South) which were constructed for entertainment and tourism purposes.[20][21][22][17]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port

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Main article: Mubarak Al Kabeer Port

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[2][1] Under China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the first phase of the Silk City project.[2][1][23] In September 2020, it was reported that the port is 53% complete.[24] In March 2021, it was announced that Kuwait and Pakistan will develop linkages between Gwadar Port and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port.[25][26]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is currently under construction.[9][10][11][12] In April 2021, the port's first phase was completed (4 berths).[10] As part of Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's development, Bubiyan Island will contain power plants and substations.[27][9][28][29] A 5,000-megawatt power plant has already been built in Subiya.[30] There is a current road project connecting Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's first phase to the existing road network in Bubiyan Island.[31][10] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's first phase is among Kuwait's largest infrastructure projects in 2021.[32][33] The port is set to be environmentally sustainable.[34][27] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's fire stations are currently under development.[35]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the Gulf Railway project in Kuwait.[36]

Development of Subiya

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Main article: Subiya, Kuwait

Madinat al-Hareer (Silk City) is being developed in a phased manner, including Subiya as part of the first phase of the city. With the completion of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway, a slow but steady development is taking place in Subiya.[30] A deadline for accepting tenders for Silk City has been set for 31 March 2022.[37] A power plant of 5,000 megawatts has already been built in Subiya,[38][30] the Subiya power plant is the nation's largest electrical generation facility.[39][40][41] New police and fire stations recently opened in Subiya.[42][43][44] In addition, several mosques and an ambulance hospital recently opened in Subiya.[45][46] There are a number of new power plants under development in Subiya at the moment.[47] The bridge connecting Subiya to Bubiyan Island recently finished construction.

In June 2019, the Supreme Council for Planning and Development's Secretary General, Dr. Khaled Mahdi, reported the following:[48]

There are three components to the Silk City project that are considered as main prerequisites for the success of the Special Economic Zone or Northern Region project - known locally as the Silk City project. (a) the masterplan which is currently in progress and is being finalized by the consultants who are also working out the project’s feasibility, zoning and implementation; (b) the financing model which will be developed once the masterplan has been articulated to allow 100% financing by the private sector. Until now, the engagement of the public sector hasn’t yet been addressed; and (c) the legislative framework, and, in fact, a draft of the new legislation has recently been submitted to the National Assembly for review. The Silk City Authority (Medinat Al-Hareer Authority) oversees the project; previously, it was under the authority of the Council of Ministers. Now, it is under the authority of the Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah.[48]

Design

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Projects such as Silk City are part of Kuwait Vision 2035.[1] According to Kuwait Vision 2035, the northern region of Kuwait will be developed through the Northern Economic Zone (Bubiyan Island, Abdali, Subiya, and other areas in the northern zone). The northern zone entails developing mutually beneficial economic ties with Iraq and Iran.[49] When Silk City is completed, nature reserves, business and residential facilities, as well as hotels and residential areas, will be included in the free trade zone. A causeway linking northern Kuwait to Kuwait City is named Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway 36-kilometer-long (22 mi).[1] By using the causeway, driving time from Kuwait City to northern Kuwait is cut to only 15 minutes, instead of at least one-and-a-half hours normally taking to go around Kuwait Bay.[1]

Kuwaiti Government approved a decree in June 2014 establishing an entity that is responsible for developing Silk City and Boubyan Island.[50] Also, Kuwait and China signed a collaboration agreement for developing Silk City and its economic belt.[51] In the final masterplan of Silk City, approved on 3 June 2014, previous proposals were discarded and newer designs were created.[52] As one of the city's economic languages, Chinese will be included alongside Arabic and English.

Four sections are tentatively set to be included in the city.[53]

Proposed skyscraper

One of the project's main proposed attractions is the Burj Mubarak Al Kabir which would stand at 1,001 m (3,284 ft) tall in order to reflect the Arabian folk tale collection One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.[54] Skyscrapers do not normally exceed 80 floors. Although the Mubarak al-Kabir Tower would have a greater number of floors, the elevators would have to be double-deckers due to the amount of space taken up by elevators. Due to its immense height, the building is vulnerable to high winds. To maintain stability in the face of these winds, the proposed design includes three interlocking towers, each twisted 45 degrees to support the structure. Moreover, there would be vertical ailerons running the entire length of the building on each edge. As these ailerons were positioned, the winds would be redirected so as to minimize structural noise. Linking the neighborhoods will be several four-story town squares.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Phase One of Kuwait's BRI-Backed US$130 Billion Silk City Opens". Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "China and Kuwait to Build New Port". Port Technology. 21 February 2019.
  3. ^ "MADINAT AL HAREER, SABRIYA AND BOUBYAN ISLAND MASTER PLAN, KUWAIT". MGP City.
  4. ^ "Madinat Al Hareer". Civic Arts.
  5. ^ "Kuwait, China in deal to build $82bn Silk City project". Trade Arabia.
  6. ^ a b "What You Need to Know about Kuwait's Silk City". Ehsan Bayat. 2 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Kuwait Is Building A $132 Billion City Around A Skyscraper With An 'Arabian Nights' Theme". Business Insider.
  8. ^ "LARGEST MIXED-USE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT IN THE WORLD". Tamdeen.
  9. ^ a b c d Ranju Warrier (19 February 2021). "Elsewedy Electric unit bags $53.2m contract for Kuwait's Boubyan substation". Construction Week.
  10. ^ a b c d e "جهاز الحرير وبوبيان يستكمل ميناء مبارك الكبير بعد... 2024". Al Rai (in Arabic). 26 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "الأشغال تنتظر مقاول ميناء مبارك لتسلم المرحلة الأولى ابتدائياً". Al Rai (in Arabic). 30 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "المجلس الوزراء الكويتي يعقد اجتماعه الاسبوعي - حكومة - 15/03/2021 - كونا". Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) (in Arabic). 15 March 2021. ثم أحيط مجلس الوزراء علماً بتوصية اللجنة بشأن إفادة وزير الأشغال العامة عن الأعمال التنفيذية لتشغيل المرحلة الأولى من مشروع ميناء مبارك الكبير، والترتيبات القانونية والإدارية والتعاقدية لتنفيذه
  13. ^ "Silk City: Kuwait's City of Dreams". We Build Value. 27 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Causeway". Road Traffic Technology.
  15. ^ "Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah Causeway". SSHIC.
  16. ^ "Kuwait inaugurates the fourth longest bridge in the world for new megacity". The National News. 2 May 2019.
  17. ^ a b "The Long Bridge to "Silk City"". NASA Earth Observatory. 8 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Sheikh Jaber Bridge to give impetus to Kuwait's 2035 vision in northern region". KUNA.
  19. ^ "Sheikh Jaber al Ahmed al Sabah Causeway, the world's biggest maritime causeway project".
  20. ^ "Bid To Expedite Two Artificial Islands Development". Kuwait Local.
  21. ^ "Kuwait Is Opening 2 Artificial Islands For Entertainment And Touristic Investment". Arabia Day.
  22. ^ "Kuwait Opens up 2 Artificial Islands for Investment". Albawaba.
  23. ^ "Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port to play key role in international trade". Kuwait News Agency. 1 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Kuwait SCPD provides updates on $10.4bn worth of projects". Middle East Construction News. 20 September 2020. On the other projects, the top Kuwaiti official said the work on Mubarak Al Kabeer Port project had reached 52.7% completion
  25. ^ "Pakistan, Kuwait agree to develop linkages b/w Gwadar & Mubarak Al Kabeer Port". radio.gov.pk. 18 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Pakistan, Kuwait agree to strengthen links between Gwadar, Mubarak Al Kabeer ports". arabnews.pk. 19 March 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Connecting Boubyan Island Area in Kuwait". Elsewedy Electric. March 2021.
  28. ^ "Kuwait's MEW to float tender for transmission stations". Zawya. 23 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Elsewedy unit inks project in Kuwait". Zawya. 17 February 2021.
  30. ^ a b c "Kuwait inaugurates massive causeway to free trade zone". France24. 1 May 2019.
  31. ^ "الأشغال تُسلّم "شركة كوبري" موقع عمل طريق ميناء مبارك - بوبيان مطلع ديسمبر". Al Rai (in Arabic). 22 November 2020.
  32. ^ "الوطني: 40 % منها ترتبط بالبناء والتشييد". Al-Anba (in Arabic). 25 April 2021.
  33. ^ "الأشغال: طرح 92 عقداً خلال العام المالي 2021 / 2022". Al-Anba (in Arabic). 2 May 2021.
  34. ^ "GSAS to be adopted in Kuwait following a strategic partnership between GORD and NTEC". e-mc2.gr. 18 April 2019.
  35. ^ "أكاديمية الكويت لعلوم الإطفاء... الصرح الثالث على مستوى العالم". Al Rai (in Arabic). 18 April 2021. بالإضافة إلى مركزي إطفاء بري وبحري في جزيرة بوبيان في ميناء مبارك، بالتعاون مع وزارة الأشغال
  36. ^ "الحكومة تبحث عن كلفة أقل لمشروع سكة الحديد", Al Qabas (in Arabic), 19 July 2021
  37. ^ "Civil Works And Construction Tenders - Kuwait". cwtenders.com. May 2021.
  38. ^ "Sabiya Power Plant In Kuwait". Global Power Journal. 12 July 2017.
  39. ^ "GE's Gas Turbine Upgrades Increase Output And Efficiency At Kuwait's Sabiya West CCGT 2,000 MW Power Plant". Utilities Middle East. 24 July 2019.
  40. ^ "Sabiya West Combined-Cycle Power Plant". NS Energy.
  41. ^ "Kuwait's Sabiya Power Plant at Full Power to Meet Country's Summer Peak Electricity Demands". General Electric.
  42. ^ "Subiya Police Station".
  43. ^ "Fire Station - Subiya 1".
  44. ^ "Fire Station - Subiya 2".
  45. ^ "Subiya Ambulance".
  46. ^ "Al Fetooh Mosque".
  47. ^ "Kuwait plans 1,000MW power scheme". MEED. 9 February 2021.
  48. ^ a b "MAHDI: SILK CITY, PRIVATIZATION & KUWAIT'S STRATEGIC PLAN" (PDF). Union of Investment Companies (UIC). June 2019. pp. 21–22.
  49. ^ Nader Habibi (4 June 2018). "The Foreign Policy Implications of Kuwait's Vision 2035: Closer Economic Ties with Iran and Iraq". Payvand.
  50. ^ Cabinet OKs bills, informed about honoring late Amir's bodyguards
  51. ^ Kuwait, China ink cooperative deals, MoUs
  52. ^ Kuwait approves Silk City masterplan
  53. ^ "What makes Madinat Al Hareer in Kuwait the next big thing?". Weetas. 7 January 2018.
  54. ^ "LARGEST MIXED-USE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT IN THE WORLD". Tamdeen Group.
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