Ramadan 2016 - 1437 Working Hours

Ramadan 1437 which coincides with June-July 2016 leads to some changes in Kuwait. The working hours of employees for government sector reduces from 35 hours a week to 25 hours a week. On the other hand, for private firms, it is reduced from 48 hours to 36 hours a week. Basically, 2 hours is removed from each day. This is the privilege that the government of Kuwait provides for the people during the month of Ramadan. The official timings for the government sectors are provided by the Assistant Undersecretary for Diwan Affairs & Manpower at the Civil Service Commission (CSC) which are as follows(Based on Circular no 1-2016 dated 17/05/2016):

The following government bodies are functioning from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
• Ministry of Justice.
• Ministry of Public Works.
• Ministry of Higher Education.
• Ministry of Communications.
• Ministry of Education.
• Ministry of Information.
• Public Authority for Housing Welfare.
• Kuwaiti Public Institutions
• Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources.
• Public Authority for Youth.
• Public Authority for Sports.
• Environment Public Authority.
• Public Authority for Industry.
• Public Authority of Minor Affairs.
• Kuwait General Administration of Customs.
• Kuwait Fire Service Directorate.
• Kuwait Credit Bank.
• Zakat House.
• Kuwait Municipality.
• Civil Service Commission.
• National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
• Ministry of State for Youth Affairs.

Rest of the government bodies will work from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm.

Words of caution, the work pace in the month of Ramadan in Kuwait slows down. Also, for the above mentioned times, people will be taking break during the Noon prayers (Zuhr/Dhur) which is around 11:50 am. So one will not find people sitting at the tables between 11:50 am till around 12:30 pm. So one should keep this in mind as one's patience will be tested.

Photo Courtesy to Civil Service Commission

The work timing of other businesses will be updated shortly.

CLICK HERE for previous year's post of Ramadan 2015 Working Hours.
CLICK HERE for previous year's post of Ramadan 2014 Working Hours.
CLICK HERE for previous year's post of Ramadan 2013 Working Hours.

CLICK HERE for the post on Ramadan 1437 - 2016 & Eid.

Ramadan Prayer Timings

Kuwait National Museum, Kuwait Police Museum, The Red Palace, Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum, Maritime Museum, Sadu House, Beit Al Bader Museum, Beit Dickson Cultural Centre, Sheikh Mubarak's Kiosk Museum, Museum of Formal Education - Mubarak School (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Morning 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Evening 8:30pm - 11pm
• Closed on Sunday

Kuwaiti Ceramics House, Museum of Modern Art (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Morning 9:30am - 12:00 noon
• Evening 10:00pm - 1am
• Closed on Friday and Saturday

Kuwaiti National Library (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Morning 9:30am - 12:30pm
• Closed on Friday and Saturday

Paintball Kuwait (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Sunday to Saturday: 8pm - 2am

Artspace Café / Art Studio (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Sunday to Saturday: 8pm - 1am

Géant Hypermarket - 360 Mall (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Sunday to Saturday: 9am - 2am

To receive Civil IDs - PACI (Public Authority for Civil Information) (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Sunday - Thursday: 10am - 6pm

IKEA (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Store Timing - Sunday - Saturday: 11am - 4pm & 8pm - 1am
• Restaurant Hours - Sunday - Saturday: 6pm - 12:30am

Kuwait Municipality - Timings across Burial Grounds / Graveyards / Cemetery for Burials (Source: Circular 2-2016 CLICK HERE)

• 10am
• After Asr/afternoon Prayers (around 3:22pm)
• 10pm

Center of the Arts | Art* (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Saturday to Thursday: 3pm - 6pm & 8pm - 11pm

Kuwait Central Blood Bank - Jabriya (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 2pm and 9pm -1am
• Friday to Saturday: 9pm - 1am

Kuwait Blood Bank Branches Timing (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Adan Hospital branch: Sunday to Thursday 9pm - 1am
• Jahra Hospital branch: Sunday to Thursday 9pm - 1am
• Al Amiri Center branch: Sunday to Thursday 8pm - 12midnight
• KNG Shuwaikh branch: Sunday to Thursday 8pm - 12midnight

Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 9am to 5pm

The Avenues Mall (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Operating Hours: 8am - 2am
• Store Timings: 10am - 4pm & 8pm - 1am (Most Stores - Do check)
• Carrefour Hypermarket: 10am - 2am

Trapped Inn  (Source: CLICK HERE)

• Timings: 1:30pm - 5pm & 9pm - 2am

Caffeine Restaurant (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 8pm - 1am

Eggcellent Restaurant (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 8pm - 2:30am

Caesars Restaurants (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 5:30pm - 2:30am

Caesars Confectionery (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 1:30 pm - 1:30am

Al Shaheed Park (Source: CLICK HERE)

• 3pm - 2am

Kuwait HAS: Escape Rooms

Photo Courtesy (Left to Right) to Trapped Inn, Room of Clues, Escape Land, Mind Maze, The Maze, Countdown Challenge, Kuwait Clue, Team Escape, Way Out and Escape Hunt Respectively

An escape room is a physical adventure game in which players are locked in a room and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit. The games are physical versions of "escape the room" video games. Games are set in a variety of fictional locations, such as prison cells, dungeons and space stations, and are popular as team building exercises. (Courtesy to Wikipedia)

The above explanation by Wikipedia is spot on. For more information and details check the wikipedia page out. Kuwait has right now 5 fixed location Escape rooms and 1 mobile maze (These are the ones I am aware of, there may be more). All the escape rooms have a fully functioning website and social media accounts which are used for booking and enquiring purposes. Some of the information is given below and the appropriate links are provided (in no specific order). 

1. Trapped Inn: Trapped Inn boasts of being the biggest escape game facility in the Middle East with eight different scenarios in one place. Scenarios (Lost, Decode, Assassin's Suite, Knight's Castle, Rescue Protocol, Joker's Illusion, Secret of the Pyramid and Countdown)

•  Website (CLICK HERE)
• Facebook (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Twitter (CLICK HERE)
• Youtube (CLICK HERE)
• Location: Symphony Mall, Salmiya
• Pricing: CLICK HERE
• Booking: CLICK HERE
• Timing: 12 noon to 12 midnight daily
• Contact Numbers: 25770518 / 99144911 / 99987893

2. Room of Clues: Locked in a room full of clues and puzzles. Consists of four scenarios - Othman Office, Carpenter's Workshop, Ward-13 and Prison Break

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Facebook (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Trip Advisor (CLICK HERE)
• Players in a scenario: 2-9 players
• Pricing: KD 8 per player
• Booking: CLICK HERE
• Location: Salem Al Mubarak Street, Salmiya
• Timing: 12 noon to 10 pm
• Contact Numbers: 99333205, 67788103, 96696770

3. Mind Maze: It is a live, interactive adventure game! A team is locked-up in a room. The aim of the game is to find the way out in less than 60 minutes. Consists of two scenarios - Alchemist's Chamber and Enigma

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Facebook (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Twitter (CLICK HERE)
• Players in a scenario: 2 or more
• Pricing: KD 15 per person for a group of 2/ KD 12.5 for group of 3/ KD 10 for group 4 or more.
• Booking: CLICK HERE
• Location: Al Tilal Complex, Mezzanine, Al Jahra Road, Al Shuwaikh
• Timing: Sunday - Thursday (4 pm - 11 pm); Friday (2 pm -11 pm); Saturday (10 am - 11 pm)
• Contact Numbers: 99365462

4. The Maze: A unique entertainment Concept developed to fit everywhere! A mobile maze built a day ahead from your event. It can be used for schools, events and corporate event as well. Participants will be on a count down watch running inside the maze to find their way out. Through multiple obstacles they will unlock the doors to their next obstacle! The question remains who will escape the maze on time!

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Powered by K-lue (CLICK HERE)
• Booking: CLICK HERE
• Location: 16 Fahad Al Salem Street, Block 14, Al Asimah
• Contact Number: 95575508

5. Kuwait Clue: (Athens Clue) Kuwait Clue is a new, intellectually stimulating labyrinth of clues and puzzles aimed to bring out participants’ inner private detective in a live room escape adventure. Enter a world of mystery and try to escape from our never before seen scenarios.  3 Rooms - Cabin in the Woods, The Score and Prison Break

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Location: Salmiya, Salem Al Mubarak Street, Noor Towers (Next to Mariam Complex)
• Contact Number: 99875912
• Players: 3-6 players
• Duration of Game: 50-70 mins
• Timings: 3pm -12am

6. Team Escape: Live Escape Games Kuwait City, brought to you by TeamEscape (from Germany), are the latest recreational activity for fun with friends, family and colleagues. Imagine, you find yourselves in one of our mysterious Kuwait City Escape Rooms. Suddenly the door closes and a clock begins to tick...

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Facebook (CLICK HERE)
• Twitter (CLICK HERE)
• Snapchat: TeamEscape_Kuwait
• Location: Salmiya, Salem Al Mubarak Street, Symphony Mall, Mezzanine
• Contact Number: 55064422, 99903354, 99308333
• Email: kuwait@teamescape.com
• Players: 2-14 players (2-7 per room)
• Rooms: 2 (The Gallery , Mr. Nobody's first Case)
• Pricing: KD 10 per person.
• Booking: (CLICK HERE)
• Duration: 75 mins per mission (15 mins of Introduction & 60 mins of Live Adventure)
• Timings: Sun - Thur - 5pm - 11pm and Fri - Sat - 1pm - 11pm

7. Countdown Challenge: "Test your wits in our Live Escape Games". (UPDATE:14/3/2017)

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE)
• Snapchat: Countdown_Kwt
• Location: M2, Al Tijaria Tower, Soor Street, Sharq, Kuwait (Mezzanine)
• Contact Number: 94461116
• Email: countdown_challenge@hotmail.com
• Players: 2-7 players
• Rooms: 3 (Last Will[ max 7], Stolen[max 5] and Crime Evidence[max 7])
• Pricing: Weekdays (KD 13 to KD 9 as more number of players); Weekends (KD 15 to KD 10)
• Booking (CLICK HERE)
• Duration: 60 mins within the escape room
• Timings: Sun - Fri - 3pm to 11:30pm and  Sat 11am - 11:30pm. 

8. Escape Land Kuwait: "Are you ready to Escape our Land? Welcome to one of the largest escape games facility in the world! SherLock Yourself." (UPDATE:30/8/2017) 

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE) @escapelandkw
• Facebook (CLICK HERE)
• Location: M2, Promenade Mall, Hawally (Mezzanine); (Opening in The Avenues in 2018)
• Contact Number: 22272274 - 22272273
• Email: info@escapeland.com
• Players: 2-8 players
• Rooms/Themes: 14 ( Divided into 2 major category - 'Layers of Fear' and 'Maze of Wonder') - Nightmares, Zombies Invasion, The Unknown, Matilda, Madness, The Tomb, Gravity Falls, SteamPunk: Airship, Pirate Cave, Cinemagic, The Complex, Rabbit's Hole. (Currently only 5 have started as of 30/8/2017)
• Pricing: Weekdays (Approx KD 17 - KD 15) Weekends (KD 20 - KD 16)  Varies by Theme, number of players and also Weekday/Weekends.
• Booking: (CLICK HERE)
• Duration: 60 mins within the escape room
• Timings: Sun-Wed - 12pm to 12 am; Thurs-Sat - 10am to 12am

9. Way Out: "Behold the Mystery, Your mind is your key." (UPDATE:10/9/2017) 

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE) @wayoutkwt
• Location: Baitak Tower, Ahmad Al Jaber Street, Kuwait City
• Contact Number: 98788203
• Email: info@wayoutkwt.com
• Players: 2-6 players
• Rooms/Themes: 2 (The Outside Reality and  Survivor Challenge)
• Pricing: 7 days a week (Varies by Group size) Amount per Player. KD 15/player for a group size of 2; KD 13/player for a group size of 3 and KD 10/player for a group size of 4-6. 
• Booking: (CLICK HERE)
• Duration: 60 mins within the escape room
• Timings: All 7 days - 4pm to 11pm (5 sessions - 4pm, 5:30pm, 7pm, 8:30pm, 10pm)

10. Escape Hunt: "The ultimate Live Escape Game." & "The Global leader of live 'Escape The Room' for public and corporate" (UPDATE:13/10/2017)

• Website (CLICK HERE)
• Instagram (CLICK HERE) @escapehuntkwi
• Facebook (CLICK HERE) @escapehuntkwi
• Twitter (CLICK HERE) @escapehuntkwi
• Youtube (CLICK HERE)
• Location: Al Bida'a, Al Ta'awen St., Movenpick Resort
• Contact Number: 90022644
• Email: kuwait@escapehunt.com
• Players: 2-5 players
• Rooms/Themes: 2 (Mystery of the Silk Cottage and The Elemental Dragon)(Upcoming - Steel Mill Meltdown and more)
• Pricing: 7 days a week (varies by group size) Days of the week/KD per Players (number of players); Sun-Mon-Tue / KD 15 (2p) / KD 14.5 (3p) / KD 14 (4p) / KD 13.5 (5p) ; Wed / KD 12 (2p/3p/4p/5p); Thur-Fri-Sat / KD 15.5 (2p) / KD 15 (3p) / KD 14.5 (4p) / KD 14 (5p). (Official holidays will be charged weekend rates)
• Booking: (CLICK HERE) to book all games (CLICK HERE)
• Timings: All 7 days - 10am till 12:30am (10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:30, 19:00, 20:30, 22:00, 23:30)

Other bloggers who have mentioned or experienced the Escape Rooms in Kuwait.

• Urban Expat Girl - CLICK HERE to check her Post 'A puzzling Experience - The Room of Clues'
• 2:48 am - CLICK HERE to check his post - 'Mind Maze Escape Rooms'
• 2:48 am - CLICK HERE to check his post - 'Trapped Inn - The largest Escape Game in the Middle East'
• 2:48 am - CLICK HERE to check his post - 'Room of Clues'
• CrazyinKuwait's - Life in Kuwait Blog - CLICK HERE to check her post - 'Room of Clues'
• Sala6a - CLICK HERE to check his post - 'My experience at the Room of Clues - Kuwait'
• Abdulla Alshtail's - 18Seven Blog - CLICK HERE to check his post - 'Room of Clues experience'
• Sash Designs - CLICK HERE to check his post (in Arabic click here) - 'Review Trapped Inn'
• Bojaper - CLICK HERE to check his post in Arabic - 'My experience in escape room in Symphony Mall - Trapped Inn'
• Outlawq8 - CLICK HERE to check his post in Arabic - 'Review of Trapped Inn'

Al Israa Wal Miraaj - The Night Journey & Heavenly Ascension

Photo Courtesy to Civil Service Commission Kuwait

Thursday, 05/05/2016 is a holiday declared by the Government of Kuwait in recognition of 'Al Israa wal Miraaj' which translates to ‘The Night Journey and Heavenly Ascension’. The Islamic date on which this took place was 27th Rajab (7th month of the Lunar Calendar). This year the date corresponds to 4th May 2016 (For the Arab world). In Islam, the lunar day begins at sunset, therefore on 3th May 2016 after sunset the Islamic date 27th Rajab 1437 begins. As per the Government Decree, that any holiday during the week is shifted to the closest day of the weekend, in the above case instead of Wednesday to Thursday.

Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj is an event which took place in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him). Here is a 20 minute audio narration of the event (in English language). It will give an insight and understanding about ‘Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj’ and why followers of Islam recognized this event. This event is not celebrated but remembered for its significance and also we Muslims should have a better understanding of our own religion, Islam.

CLICK HERE if the above video does not work