Kuwait's largest urban park, built as a memorial on the old city's green belt, has added its biggest phase, with an ice rink, snow park, karting and a 2,300-seat theatre.

KUWAIT CITY, October 2026 – Al Shaheed Park was due to open its third phase to the public on 1 October 2026, with a two-day carnival, according to press reports and the Amiri Diwan's announced ceremony. The new phase adds paid attractions to a park whose first two phases were mostly gardens, walks and two museums.

The change matters because the park now works as both a memorial and an entertainment destination in the city centre. Prices, hours and entry rules for the new area were still being published in late September, and I found no reports written after the opening. This article separates confirmed facts from reported details and open questions.

Al Shaheed Park Key Facts

Item Detail Status
Location Soor Street, opposite Al Tijaria Tower, at the edge of old Kuwait City near Dasman, Sharq and Mirqab Confirmed
Owner Al Diwan Al Amiri (the Amiri Diwan) Confirmed
Size Often given as about 20 hectares for the first phases; Phase 3 is reported at 243,605 sq m Sources differ
Phases Phase 1 opened in 2015, Phase 2 in April 2017, Phase 3 scheduled for 1 October 2026 Reported
Park hours About 5:00 to midnight Reported, as of October 2026
Entry The park is reported as free; Phase 3 entry terms had not been announced by 29 September Reported
Parking Underground car parks; Phase 3 adds 2,388 spaces Reported
Typical visit A few hours for the gardens and museums; a full day with Phase 3 activities Reported
Main costs Phase 3 attractions start at KD 5 to KD 13.500 per session Reported, operator's booking site
Sources disagree on size. One source gives about 20 hectares, another 355,000 sq m, another 78 acres. Phase 1 is listed at 220,000 sq m and Phase 2 at 135,000 sq m. The figures count different phases and areas, so treat any single number as approximate.

How Al Shaheed Park Came to Be

The land was part of a green belt proposed in Kuwait's first master plan in 1952. A reported design brief says it replaced the line of the old city wall, which dated from 1920. The earlier gardens were renamed in memory of the martyrs after the 1990 invasion, and the park was rebuilt in phases.

Period What happened
1952 The first master plan introduces a green belt around the old city.
1961 to 1964 Formal gardens are built after the old wall is demolished.
After 1990 The gardens are named in memory of the martyrs. The Amiri Diwan later reclaims them for national events, after concerns about their condition.
2013 to 2015 Phase 1 is built. A landscape designer reports its inauguration followed the National and Liberation Day celebrations in March 2015.
April 2017 Phase 2 opens with a youth complex, skate park, parkour area and open-air performance space.
August 2026 Times Kuwait announces Phase 3 will open on 1 October.
30 September 2026 An opening ceremony is set for 8 p.m. at the Al Soor Theatre, under the Amir's patronage.
1 and 2 October 2026 A public opening carnival is scheduled.

One planning source says the park was also meant to shield the city from sandstorms and reduce air pollution. Its buildings carry green roofs, and a roofing supplier puts the total at about 75,000 sq m, while another source says 55,000 sq m.

What Is in Al Shaheed Park Today

Remembrance Museum

The Remembrance Museum, also called Thekra, covers key events in Kuwaiti history, including the battles of the 1990 invasion. Reports say it has interactive kiosks where visitors can add their own stories. The museums are reported to have an audio guide. Opening hours differ from the park's.

Habitat Museum

The Habitat Museum is the environmental museum. It focuses on bird migration and Kuwait's natural habitats, with multimedia exhibits. A recent blog suggests it works well for children after the snow park.

Constitution Monument and the Phase 1 gardens

The Constitution Monument is a sculpture shaped like an open book, linked to the 50th anniversary of Kuwait's constitution. Around it are botanical gardens, lakes and fountains, a musical fountain, miniatures of old and new Kuwait and works by local artists. Two car park entrances lead up: a blue zone near the monument and a green zone near the Habitat Museum.

Phase 2 youth areas

Phase 2 added a skate park, parkour area, tree-top obstacle course, open-air performance centre and a multipurpose youth complex. A constructed river with water features links the area together.

Phase 3 ice rink and snow park

The Olympic-size ice rink has retractable seating for about 1,400 spectators, according to a Kuwait malls guide. The adjacent snow park is styled like a mountain village, with slides, zip lines and a climbing wall. A small museum inside the building keeps objects from the old Kuwait ice rink that stood on the site.

Karting and Sky Tunnel

The electric karting track runs over three floors and passes through the ice rink building. Press reports give about 650 metres, while the operator describes 280 metres of outdoor track. Karting is for ages 8 and up. The Sky Tunnel offers indoor skydiving with an instructor on every flight.

Al Soor Theatre, outdoor cinema and mosque

The theatre is reported to seat more than 2,300 people and to have the largest stage in Kuwait. An outdoor cinema and a multipurpose hall sit behind it. The new mosque's minaret uses beams salvaged from the old ice rink, a blog reports.

Getting to Al Shaheed Park and Booking Phase 3

The park has its own underground car parks, and most visitors are likely to arrive by car. I found no confirmed public transport details.

Parking and location

  • Soor Street, opposite Al Tijaria Tower
  • A large underground car park under the older phases
  • Phase 3 adds parking for 2,388 cars, per Times Kuwait
  • Opening weeks are expected to be crowded, so arrive early

Hours and tickets

  • Park: about 5:00 to midnight, reported
  • Phase 3 attractions are booked online only, by QR code
  • Payment by KNET, Apple Pay or card is reported
  • Hours for ticketed attractions were not published by 29 September
Hours, entry terms and ticket channel are still unclear. As of late September 2026, one report said the park had not named the booking site as its official ticket channel, and some attractions were listed as coming soon. It was also not clear which Phase 3 outdoor areas would be free to enter. Check the park's official social media account and the operator's site before you go.

A Worked Example of a Visit

An illustrative plan for Tuesday 20 October 2026. It falls after the opening fortnight, which a local guide expects to be busiest. Times are examples only.

  1. By Friday 16 October, check the park's social media and the operator's site for hours and which attractions are open for booking.
  2. Book timed sessions for the ice rink, snow park or karting online, and keep the QR code.
  3. Arrive earlier than your first session and park in the zone nearest your first stop.
  4. Visit the Remembrance and Habitat museums when they are open, then walk the Phase 1 gardens.
  5. End with your booked activity or an evening walk by the fountains.

Reported Costs at Al Shaheed Park

Item Reported price Note
Park entry Free Phase 3 entry terms not announced by 29 September
Snow Fun From KD 8 55-minute session
Ice skating From KD 7 45 minutes, skate hire included
Sky Tunnel From KD 13.500 15-minute session
Karting From KD 10 10 minutes, ages 8 and up
Outdoor Area From KD 5 Flexible sessions; unclear if it includes the tree-top course

Prices are starting prices from the operator's booking site, checked on 28 and 29 September 2026, and may be higher for busy times or longer sessions. They can change without notice.

Rules, Safety and Respect in the Park

  • Remembrance spaces. The park is a memorial. Keep your voice low in the museum and around the monument.
  • Mosque and prayer areas. Dress and behave respectfully near the mosque.
  • Cold and heat. Warm layers and gloves are advised for the ice rink and snow park. Outdoor areas can be hot in warmer months.
  • Age limits. Karting is for ages 8 and up. Other age and height limits were not published.
  • Skateboards. A blog says visitors can bring their own skateboards. An earlier plan to allow BMX bikes was reportedly dropped.
  • Restricted areas. I found no published list. Follow signs and staff instructions.

Entry and Travel Notes

Al Shaheed Park is in Kuwait City, so you need valid permission to enter Kuwait first. Check the list of eligible countries, prepare the required visa documents and review the current visa fees.

When you are ready, you can start your application or use the status checker for one already submitted. The official portal for Kuwait's visa is run by the Ministry of Interior. This site is a private information and assistance service, and its fees are separate from government charges.

What We Know and What Is Still Unclear

  • Known: the Amiri Diwan owns the park, and Phase 2 opened in April 2017.
  • Known: Phase 3 was scheduled to open on 1 October 2026 with a two-day carnival.
  • Unclear: whether all Phase 3 attractions are open now, since some were listed as coming soon.
  • Unclear: opening hours and entry rules for Phase 3 areas.
  • Unclear: the exact size of the park and its green roofs.
  • Unclear: whether a further phase is planned, as one encyclopedia entry says.

Voices and Sources

This report draws on Kuwait Times and Times Kuwait coverage of the Phase 3 opening, the Amiri Diwan's announced ceremony and an operator's published ticket prices. It also uses architecture and landscape project records, encyclopedia entries and visitor reviews. No interviews were conducted, and no quotes are attributed to individuals. Where sources conflict, the conflict is stated in the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

It was scheduled to open to the public on 1 October 2026, with a two-day carnival. Confirm current conditions before you go.

The park is reported as free. Phase 3 attractions are ticketed, and entry terms for its open areas had not been announced by 29 September.

The park is reported to be open from about 5:00 to midnight. Museum hours and Phase 3 attraction hours differ and should be checked.

Starting prices reported are KD 5 for the outdoor area, KD 7 for ice skating, KD 8 for snow, KD 10 for karting and KD 13.500 for the Sky Tunnel.

The Remembrance Museum, also called Thekra, and the Habitat Museum. A small museum about the old ice rink is reported inside the Phase 3 rink building.

Yes, underground parking serves the park, and Phase 3 adds 2,388 spaces. Fees were not found.

You need valid permission to enter Kuwait, which depends on your nationality. See the eligible countries page and, if you plan to apply, how to apply. Our refund policy and a page on visa rejection explain what happens if an application does not go through.

The operator lists karting for ages 8 and up. Other age and height limits had not been published.

Final Thoughts

Al Shaheed Park now serves two roles: a quiet memorial and museum garden in its older phases, and a ticketed activity area in Phase 3. Hours, entry terms and some attractions were still being confirmed in the opening weeks. Check current details with the park and the operator, and confirm your entry permission for Kuwait before you travel.

Disclaimer: This site is a private information and assistance service. It is not government-affiliated. The content is general information only, and details such as hours, prices and access may change. Last reviewed: October 2026.