Areas of Kuwait

Kuwait is divided into six governorates, and in each there are several areas (Arabic: مناطِق). They are much less commonly called by other names such as districts or towns. However, they are commonly known inside the English-speaking community in Kuwait and are officially translated to as areas.^[1]^[2]^[3] The Arabic word for area, Mintaqah, means both area and region.^[4]^[5] Areas are further sub-divided into blocks, each of which is referred by a number. All blocks are divided into streets (Arabic: شارع) šāriʿ. Then some areas may be further sub-divided into (Arabic: جادة) Jadda, which is translated to avenue or lane.

Each area in Kuwait has an official governmental facility called a co-op society or just society (Arabic: جمعية). They are mainly supermarkets that provide foods and products and they take part in maintaining some of the areas landmarks, but they're not legally obliged to. They have elected members who manage them. Only residents of the area can vote for their society's membership.

Asimah Governorate

Location of Capital Governorate in Kuwait

The centre of Kuwait City at night, with the Kuwait National Assembly

Failaka Island ruins

Date seller in Kuwait's traditional Sūg li-Mbārkīya

The Capital Governorate (Arabic: العاصمة, romanized: al-ʿĀṣima Gulf Arabic: il-ʿĀṣma) comprises the core areas of Kuwait City and several offshore islands, among them Failaka Island.

**Areas of Capital Governorate**
Official English	Arabic	Gulf Arabic Transliteration	Year Established	# of Blocks^[6]	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes
Abdulla Al-Salem	ضاحية عبد الله السالم	Ð̣āḥyat Abdalla is-Sālim	1963^[7]^[8]	4	13,098	Often referred to simply as ið̣-Ð̣āḥya 'the suburb'.
Adailiya	العديلية	li-ʿDēlīya	1963^[7]	4	11,006
Al-Sour Gardens	حدائق السور	Hādiqat il-sūr	1963^[7]	4
Bnaid Al-Qar	بنيد القار	Bnēd il-Gār		1	13,171
Daiya	الدعية	id-Diʿīya	1957^[7]	5	11,289
Dasma	الدسمة	id-Dasma	1954^[7]	6	12,455
Doha	الدوحة	id-Dōḥa		5	22,047
Doha Port	ميناء الدوحة	Mina id-Dōḥa			573
Faiha	الفيحاء	il-Fēḥa	1956^[7]	9	12,333
Failaka Island	فيلكا	Fēliča			147	A historic island. Its name comes from Greek φυλάκιο(ν) - fylakio(n) 'outpost'. Used to be inhabited until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Birthplace of Fēliča (sub)dialect of Kuwaiti Arabic.
Granada	غرناطة	Ġirnāṭa		3	8,752	It was named after the city of Granada in Spain. Appears officially in variant forms, including Granda and Ghornata.
Jibla	جِبْلَة			15	4,772
Kaifan	كيفان	Kēfān	1955^[7]	7	17,300
Khaldiya	الخالدية	il-Xāldīya	1961^[7]	4	9,820
Mansouriya	المنصورية	il-Manṣūrīya	1965^[7]	2	5,589	Location of Al-Arabi SC, one of the oldest sports clubs in Kuwait.
Mirqab	المرقاب	il-Mirqab		3	3,699
Nahdha	النهضة	in-Nahð̣a		3		Formerly East Sulaibikhat
North West Sulaibikhat	شمال غرب الصليبيخات	Šamāl Ġarb li-Ṣlēbixāt		3	7,941
Nuzha	النزهة	in-Nizha	1963^[7]	3	8,372
Qadsiya	القادسية	il-Qādsīya	1958^[7]	9	14,389
Qortuba	قرطبة	Qurṭuba		5	28,736	Named after Cordoba in Spain
Rawda	الروضة	ir-Rōð̣a	1965^[7]	5	21,535
Shamiya	الشامية	iš-Šāmīya	1955^[7]	10	14,708
Sharq	شرق			8	3,699
Shuwaikh	الشويخ	li-Šwēx	1954^[7]	8	3,012
Shuwaikh Industrial Area	الشويخ الصناعية	li-Šwēx iṣ-Ṣināʿīya		3	2,518
Shuwaikh Port	ميناء الشويخ	Mina li-Šwēx		-	185
Sulaibikhat	الصليبخات	li-Ṣlēbixāt		5	23,686
Qairawan	القيروان	li-Qayrāwan			15,200
Surra	السرة	is-Sirra		6	30,264
Ouha Island	جزيرة أوها	Jazīrat Ouha			0
Mischan Island	جزيرة ميشان	Jazīrat Mīschan			0
Umm an Namil Island	جزيرة ام النمل	Jazīrat Umm in-Namil			0
Yarmouk	اليرموك	il-Yarmūk		4	15,385
Total population (2011)					359,245

Hawalli Governorate

**Areas of Hawalli Governorate**
English	Arabic	Year established	# of Blocks	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes/Landmarks
Bayan	بيان		14	39,799	Known for Bayan Palace
Jabriya	الجابرية		14^{[note 1]}	56,392	Home of multiple hospitals, including Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Hadi Hospital, and Royale Hayat Hospital, as well as many embassies, the Blood Bank of Kuwait and Health Sciences Campus of Kuwait University.
Rumaithiya	الرميثية	1964	12	41,787	Has the largest number of Husainiya in Kuwait.
Salam	سلام			22,314
Salwa	سلوى		12	80,283
Al- Bida'a	البدع		1		Coastal area with many business with sea view.
Anjafa	أنجفة		1		Coastal area with many business with sea view.
Hawalli	حولي	1906	11	128,549	Notable for its huge commercial activities and dozens of malls.
Hitteen	حطين		4	20,809
Mishrif	مشرف		7	27,391
Mubarak Al-Abdullah	مبارك العبدالله		7
Salmiya	السالمية	1960s	10	196,153	Big commercial activities and a lot of malls.
Shaab	الشعب		8	10,084
Shuhada	الشهداء		5	15,258
Al-Siddiq	الصديق		7	26
Ministries Area	منطقة الوزارات		1
Zahra	الزهراء		8	23,792	Has the second largest mall 360 Mall in Kuwait.
Total population (2011)				672,910

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate

The Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate (Arabic: مبارك الكبير, romanized: Mubārak al-Kabīr Gulf Arabic: Mbārak il-kabīir) is the governorate most recently established. It is named after Mubarak the Great.

**Areas of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate**
English	Arabic	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes/Landmarks
Abu Al Hasaniya	أبو الحصانية	1,682
Abu Ftaira	أبو فطيرة	57
Al-Adan	العدان	48,095
Al Qurain	القرين	33,616
Al-Qusour	القصور	38,606
Al-Fnaitees	الفنيطيس	578
Messila	المسيلة	1,022
Al-Masayel	المسايل
Mubarak Al-Kabeer	مبارك الكبير	48,196	Governorate seat.
Sabah Al-Salem	صباح السالم	83,437
Subhan Industrial	صبحان	2,903
Wista	وسطي	570
West Abu Ftaira Herafiya	غرب ابو فطيرة حرفية
Total population (2011)		258,813

Ahmadi Governorate

**Areas of Ahmadi Governorate**
English	Arabic	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes/Landmarks
Abu Halifa	أبو حليفة	29,870
Mina Abdulla	ميناء عبد الله	24,415
Ahmadi	الأحمدي	21,469	Governorate seat.
Ali Sabah Al-Salem	علي صباح السالم	42,173
Egaila	العقيلة	13,579
Bar Al-Ahmadi	بر الأحمدي	723	Desert area of Al Ahmadi.
Bnaider	بنيدر
Dhaher	الظهر	33,197
Fahaheel	الفحيحيل	54,157
Fahad Al-Ahmad	فهد الأحمد	17,096
Hadiya	هدية	17,990
Jaber Al-Ali	جابر العلي	38,868
Al-Julaia'a	الجليعة
Khairan	الخيران	1,895
Mahboula	المهبولة	77,988
Mangaf	المنقف	73,378
Magwa	المقوع	32
Wafra Residential	وفرة السكنية	2,488
Al-Nuwaiseeb	النويصيب	537
Riqqa	الرقة	36,058
Sabah Al Ahmad	صباح الاحمد
Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City	مدينة صباح الأحمد البحرية
Sabahiya	الصباحية	56,640
Shuaiba Industrial	الشعيبة	26
South Sabahiya	جنوب الصباحية	73
Wafra	الوفرة	7,856
Zoor	الزور	2,230
Fintas	الفنطاس
Al Shadadiya Industrial	الشدادية الصناعية
Total population (2011)		588,068

Farwaniya Governorate

Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait

Sheikh Jaber International Stadium in Ardiya

The Avenues Mall in Rai

**Areas of Farwaniya Governorate**
English	Arabic	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes/Landmarks
Abdullah Al-Mubarak	عبدالله المبارك	61,441	Also known as West Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh.
Airport District	منطقة المطار	29
Andalus	الأندلس	42,325	Named after Al-Andalus, the Islamic name for Spain
Ardiya	العارضية	47,928	Known for having Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Ardiya Herafiya	العارضية حرفية	42,173
Ishbiliya	اشبيلية	21,848	Named after Seville in Spain
Al-Dajeej	الضجيج	99
Farwaniya	الفروانية	136,260	Governorate seat.
Ferdous	الفردوس	52,173
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh	جليب الشيوخ	227,980
Khaitan	خيطان	109,901
Omariya	العمرية	17,373
Rabiya	الرابية	18,620
Al-Rai	الري	1,054	Home to The Avenues, The world's second largest covered mall.
Al-Riggai	الرقعي	24,820
Rehab	الرحاب	15,682
Sabah Al-Nasser	صباح الناصر	38,507
Sabah Al-Salem University	جامعة صباح السالم
West Abdullah Al-Mubarak	غرب عبدالله المبارك
South Abdullah Al-Mubarak	جنوب عبدالله المبارك
Sulaibiya Industrial 3	الصليبية الصناعية
Total population (2011)		818,571

Jahra Governorate

The Red Palace in Jahra, Kuwait

**Areas of Jahra Governorate**
English	Arabic	Population (2011)^[6]	Notes/Landmarks
Abdali	العبدلي	6,839
Al-Mutlaa	المطلاع
Kazma	كازما
Bahra	بحرة
Kabd	كبد
Al-Sheqaya	الشقايه
Al-Nahda	النهضة	6,756
Amghara Industrial	أمغرة	8,623
Bar Al-Jahra	بر الجهراء	1,044	Desert area of Jahra.
Jahra	الجهراء	38,664	Governorate seat.
Jahra Industrial Herafiya	الجهراء الصناعية الحرفية	1,259
Naeem	النعيم	13,913
Nasseem	النسيم	18,745
Oyoun	العيون	31,009
Qasr	القصر	42,050
Jaber Al-Ahmad City	جابر الأحمد
Saad Al Abdullah	سعد العبدالله	65,394
Salmi	السالمي	1,187
Subiya	الصبية
Sulaibiya	الصليبية	58,275
Sulaibiya Agricultural Area	الصليبية الزراعية	6,778
Sulaibiya Residential	الصليبية السكنية
Taima	تيماء	52,740
Waha	الواحة	28,154
Bubiyan Island	جزيرة بوبيان
Warbah Island	جزيرة وربة
Total population (2011)		400,975

Notes

^ Blocks 1A, 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

"Public Authority of Civil Information Statistical Reports". Public Authority of Civil Information Statistical Reports. January 6, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.

References

^ "KUNA :: Private activities in Jabriya told to vacate premises for major projects 10/02/2011". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^ "You are being redirected..." www.moi.gov.kw. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^ "Ministry of Electricity and Water". Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
^ "area | translation English to Arabic: Cambridge Dictionary". Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^ "region | translation English to Arabic: Cambridge Dictionary". Retrieved 7 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Geoportal for Kuwait Census 2011". Central Statistical Bureau of Kuwait. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Alshalfan, Sharifah (2018). "The Masterplan for Kuwait: An Exploration of the Forces that Shape Kuwait City" (PDF). Barcelona Centre for International Affairs.
^ "Planning and Urban Development in Kuwait". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 1980. Retrieved 1 March 2021.

[note1-9] Blocks 1A, 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

[1] "KUNA :: Private activities in Jabriya told to vacate premises for major projects 10/02/2011". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

[2] "You are being redirected..." www.moi.gov.kw. Retrieved 7 August 2023.

[3] "Ministry of Electricity and Water". Archived from the original on 2015-07-11. Retrieved 2015-04-13.

[4] "area | translation English to Arabic: Cambridge Dictionary". Retrieved 7 August 2023.

[5] "region | translation English to Arabic: Cambridge Dictionary". Retrieved 7 August 2023.

[geoportal2011-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Geoportal for Kuwait Census 2011". Central Statistical Bureau of Kuwait. Retrieved 26 November 2019.

[:0-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ Alshalfan, Sharifah (2018). "The Masterplan for Kuwait: An Exploration of the Forces that Shape Kuwait City" (PDF). Barcelona Centre for International Affairs.

[:1-8] "Planning and Urban Development in Kuwait". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 1980. Retrieved 1 March 2021.

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