Kuwait national day: Discover Kuwait - Where Heritage Meets Hospitality

Al-Diwaniya

Kuwaiti houses usually consists of one hall. However, wealthy families establish a separate hall or specify one room in one side of the house and call it the “Al-Diwaniya”. This room or hall is secluded from other parts of the house. It is an area to receive guests, neighbors and friends to discuss current events, exchange views in spare time.

The main doors of the diwaniya are kept open all day long. Along the door sides, more seats are set for passers-by. Some of the diwaniyas might have sea view where guests would like to enjoy the sea breeze in the summer. Sometimes the diwaniya includes a guest room for those who need to stay for one or more nights in the country. Today, some of the diwaniyas located along Al-Khaleej Street still receive guests.

The diwaniya include a main sitting place, called “Diwan”. Doors of the diwan overlook the internal hall that is comfortably furnished for guests. There are many cushions arranged in a specific way to be used as seats and armrests. The floor is covered with woven Persian carpets. The diwaniya, also, contains utensils for preparing coffee, which is redolent with cardamom. Using a special brazier, this coffee is prepared either on the far side of the diwan or in a small annexed room. Coffee preparing utensils consist of graduated sizes of brass coffeepots with lids and long beaked spouts called “Dallal”. Coffee is served in small cups made of pottery. Either the owner of the diwaniya prepares the coffee himself for guests or he hires a servant to do this job for him.

Diwaniya in Kuwait has preserved its importance in the social, political and economic life. Today, diwaniya is considered of the important social institutes that play influential role in the democratic and parliamentary life. It became a referential indicator and place where many decisions were made. The number of the diwaniyas increased to the extent that one diwaniya or more can be found in every street. Some of them receive guests daily, others receive guests for only one or two days per week, and others receive guests only on special occasions.

The general atmosphere of diwaniyas became similar to that of social clubs, cultural and literary forums and political salons. Some of these modern diwaniyas are equipped with television sets, radios, satellite dishes, computers and phones. Other diwaniyas set themselves goals to achieve, like sports, economic, political. They plan schedules and set dates to reach their goals. Others declare topics for discussion days before receiving guests. The funniest innovation in diwaniya is the women’s diwaniyas. These diwaniyas receive male guests who share their interests and activities.

Folk Songs, Music and Dances

For ages, folk songs, music and dances have represented important aspects in Kuwaiti society. The main musical instruments for most of the songs were drums and clapping. However, it is noticed that after oil was discovered, no more folk songs or music was created.

In the past, specialized women musicians used to perform songs and dances in private parties for women only. Some men might participate only by playing music. Women, at that time, were not allowed to sing or dance in public celebrations. Though folk songs and music still exist and are found in modern Kuwait, other genres spread. New image is created for old folk melodies as new lyrics are being written for the old traditional folk melodies.

The following are a selection of most important fold songs and dances:

• Al-Fann: Al-Fann is usually performed at weddings. The songstresses and drumbeaters stand together forming a line. They keep swaying to the right and to the left or leaning forward till the drums reach the ground.

• Al-Khamary: One dancer performs Al-Khamary wearing a cloak that cover part of her face. She bends her body and stands straight again quietly. Then, the dancer takes some steps backwards while shaking her shoulders.

• Al-Sameri: It is a song accompanied by a dance, which is usually performed at weddings. The performing band is divided into two groups. The first group beat the tambourines while the second sing. The dancer wears a “thoub” and covers half of her face with it. She takes few steps forwards and backwards while shaking her waist. Then, the dancer turns around and uncovers her head and face to shake her hair to the rhythm of the music.

• Al-Fareesa: This dance is performed on national and religious feasts by a special band. A woman is disguised as a man and wears the zeboun, ghutra, iqal and besht. She enters in a box in the shape of a horse as if she was riding it. The horse-shaped box is decorated with colored cloth, beads and gold jewelry. It is fixed by braces on the shoulders of the disguised woman. Two other women disguised as men enter. One is carrying a spindle while the other is carrying a sword. The two women dance with the first. The horse moves to the right and to the left, forwards and backwards, as if it is trying to avoid the attack of the two men. The man carrying the sword tries to kill the horseman. Meanwhile, the old man carrying the spindle waits for the death of both the horsemen and the man carrying the sword to take both the sword and the horse. The songstresses encourage the knight to escape danger by singing and strongly beating drums and tambourines.

• Al-Arda Al-Bahariya: It is one of the most famous Kuwaiti sailors songs that are known for its charming and distinct melodies. The song is performed when the ship comes close to the shore after weeks of sailing on the high sea. The sailors beat drums and tambourines to celebrate their safe arrival.

• Al-Arda Al-Barriya: This song and dance is about war and peace. Men perform this dance as they walk in a circle holding their swards demonstrating their use and skill with the sward. They are accompanied by the rhythm of drums and singing of a special band.

• Al-Nahma: The “Nahham” performs this song on the ship deck. Other types for Al-Nahma are performed accompanying each activity performed by sailors.

• Al-Sout: It is performed accompanied by a lute and a small drum called the “merwas”. Two men perform “Zaffan”, which is the dance accompanying the song. When Al-Sout is performed at night gatherings of men, it is called “Samra”, which means chatting by night.

• Mawleds: It is the celebration of certain religious occasions such as Al-Mawled Al-Nabawy (the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) and Al-Israa Wa Al-Mearaj (the Night of Prophet Muhammad’s Ascension). In the Mawled, an expert man or woman recites texts from the holy Prophet’s biography and chants in his praise. The attendants respond to him saying “Hai Allah” (Allah is the Everlasting). At the end of each line they bend forward saying “Hai” then straighten up saying “Allah”. These chants are performed without musical instruments and are usually in standard arabic.

Games and Enjoyments

In the past, Kuwaiti children used simple items from objects thrown in the streets and on the seashore to make their games. They spent plenty of time for recreation as their study hours were not long. From the long periods of time they spent watching their parents working, the children gained experience that enabled them to excel in creating their games. They created games such as:

• Al-Dowaira: They are models of Kuwaiti houses made in the traditional way and using similar materials. They used to keep their small birds or possessions inside these models.

• Boat Building: Influenced by their fathers’ professions, children of sailors used to play with small boats called “Al-Adal”. These boats were made of empty kerosene cans that floated on the surface of water. They used to hold racing matches with these boats. The older children used to make larger boats called “Tanak”. These boats carried two persons. Children would get into the Tanak, then, row and sail on the sea.

• Al-Arbana: It was a carriage made of a wood box fixed on wheels.

• Musical Instruments: Children made their own musical instruments, like “Al-Danbak”. It was a small drum made from a piece of sheep leather stretched over the mouth of a water jar. They, also, made stringed instruments, like the lute and rebec by stretching strings on empty kerosene jerry cans. Another instrument they made was “Al-Masoul”, which was a primitive flute made of bamboo.

• Hunting and Aviculture: Using the same methods their fathers used to train hawks to hunt, children used to train little birds. They would tie the bird legs with threads; then, holding the end of the thread, they would let the bird fly and run along with them. They, also, bred pigeons for purposes of selling, eating or racing.

• Playing on the Beach: During summer, children usually spent their time on the beach swimming or stripping pebbles across the water. They would count the number of times the each pebble hit the surface of water while saying some amusing expressions.

• Sherouka: Girls used to play “Sherouka” imitating their mothers. Each girl would bring a kind of bean or vegetable such as rice, lentils and tomatoes. Then, they would all cook these ingredients to make a wedding banquet for their dolls.

• Kardia: A toy girls used to make of two crossed sticks or from chicken and sheep bones. They would attach them together and then cover them with a piece of cloth. The head was made of a cylindrical seashell.

• Other Games: Girls used to make other toys and game, such as: seesaw made of wood, ropes, fans and some cosmetic material from by burning coconut shells to give the hands and nails a black color.

As the field of daily interests increased, different games and means of enjoyment were introduced. The way of dividing the day into work and study hours followed by weekends and vacations, helped in making a break between work and spare time.

In the past, children’s activities were limited to playing with the neighbors or going to schools teaching the Holy Qur’an. Nowadays, children enter regular schools at an early age according to their level. School starts with the primary stage till it reaches the university, institutes and vocational faculties in which study is during the day only. Hence, children, now, have enough spar time to perform different activities.

Before discovering oil in Kuwait, children made their toys from simple materials of discharged objects. They would find them in the house and streets. Today, however, many means of amusements are found inside the homes, such as televisions, electronic games, computers and ready-made toys. Children do not have enough time create their toys and make games.

Moreover, interest in the outdoor activities increased. Many families and friends meet in cafes and restaurants of famous hotels. Those places are now considered cultural and social centers, as they organize fairs for paintings, jewelry and food.

The cultural programs in Kuwait include shows held in museums, theatrical productions, folklore shows and movies in theaters. All these compete with television and recorded programs to attract the people.

Concerning sports in Kuwait, some traditional activities are still practiced, such as hunting using hawks. Modern games are, also, found in Kuwait, such as soccer, water skiing, and ice-skating in the skating rinks. In summer time, these places offer a refreshing place for the guests.

Through Kuwaiti Touristic Enterprises Company, the Kuwaiti government played an important role in developing the means and places for entertainment. This company manages a complex of residential towers, a number of marine clubs located along the seashore and Failaka Park.

From all these means of entertainment, Kuwaiti citizens choose to spend their weekend on seaside in beach cabins. Sometimes, they choose to spend other vacations in the traditional but modern way. Some Kuwaitis spend spring vacation going on picnics to the desert. Most Kuwaitis spend their vacations abroad.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026