KUWAIT CITY, Aug 31: Once a key tourist attraction for over five decades, the Kuwait Zoo remains closed and mired in administrative limbo, with its future uncertain despite government moves to repurpose the land for public finance needs.

As the cooler season approaches and the Suhail star signals the return of outdoor tourism across Kuwait, the long-shuttered zoo in the Omariya area — closed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 — continues to face roadblocks in finalizing its land transfer to the Ministry of Finance. The closure followed a government resolution to protect public health, but the facility never reopened, with no plans for renovation after years of reported neglect and deteriorating infrastructure.

In the latest development, the Ministry of Finance submitted a renewed request to the Kuwait Municipality to reclassify the 106,000-square-meter zoo land in Block 1, Omariya, as “State Property” under the Ministry’s State Property Department. This move aims to replace a previous Municipal Council decision from July 8, 2024, which allocated the land to the State Treasury for in-kind settlement of the Public Institution for Social Security’s (PIFSS) actuarial deficit.

The new request, submitted in writing to the Municipality, calls for amending the original decision and authorizes the administrative authority to adjust the site’s boundaries if they conflict with existing infrastructure or regulations. A detailed site plan outlining proposed uses must also be submitted to the competent municipal department for further study and presentation to the Municipal Council.

A copy of the Ministry’s request noted that although over a year has passed since the Council’s decision, the site has not been handed over to the Social Insurance Institution. In response, the Kuwait Municipality expressed technical approval of the amendment, supporting the reallocation of the site to State Property Management instead of the State Treasury, under the same coordination conditions with relevant service ministries. The Services Committee registered no objections.

The Municipality also acknowledged receiving a letter from the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR) on July 16, requesting allocation of an alternative site to establish a new zoo, should the transfer of the current site be finalized.

Despite formal agreement from PAAFR to relinquish the land, the Ministry of Finance has not yet received control of the property. According to a source familiar with the matter, a Cabinet decision issued on January 30, 2011, prohibits the Agriculture Authority from transferring or reallocating any public park land without explicit Cabinet approval, effectively preventing the site from being handed over — even if PAAFR provides written consent.

Established in 1968 and originally managed by the Ministry of Public Works before being transferred to PAAF in 1983, the Kuwait Zoo served as a major public destination for over 50 years. However, it was officially closed on March 12, 2020, under Ministerial Resolution No. 527 due to COVID-19 precautions. Despite a Cabinet decision in July 2021 allowing for the reopening of public facilities, the zoo remained shut.

In September 2020, the zoo’s director issued a letter describing the complete deterioration of the park’s infrastructure and deemed it unfit for public use. The letter called for a full reconstruction of all facilities and cages, citing an estimated maintenance cost of at least KD 232,073. Since January 2018, KD 164,000 had already been spent on partial repairs, though many maintenance orders remained incomplete.

In July 2024, PAAF formally relinquished the zoo site to the Public Institution for Social Security for in-kind deficit coverage, halting any further development plans for the facility. The handover followed a letter from former Finance Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Dr. Anwar Al-Mudhaf, to former Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy and Minister of Housing Affairs, Dr. Mahmoud Bushehri.

In the letter, Al-Mudhaf cited Law No. 4 of 2022, which allows land to be transferred in-kind to settle financial obligations to the PIFSS. He requested that ownership of the zoo land, previously under PAAFR jurisdiction, be transferred in the public interest. Bushehri responded that PAAFR had no objection to the transfer of the 106,286-square-meter plot, and called on authorities to proceed with the necessary procedures.

Following this exchange, Kuwait Municipality promptly approved the transfer request and referred it to the Municipal Council for ratification, under conditions that include coordination with service ministries, flexibility in adjusting the site’s boundaries, and submission of a comprehensive usage plan. The Council also requested a report on potential alternative projects before proceeding with implementation on the Omariya site.

A 2021–2022 report by the State Audit Bureau detailed extensive infrastructure problems at the zoo. Observations included recurring electrical faults leading to transformer fires and animal deaths due to air conditioning failures, as well as a crumbling perimeter fence, collapsing canopies, and structurally compromised animal enclosures.

The report also cited deteriorating sanitation facilities, exposed electrical wiring, water leakage, and malfunctioning fountains. Several cages were deemed too small for the animals, leading to injuries and aggressive behavior. The Bureau highlighted a lack of veterinary equipment — such as ultrasound and x-ray machines — and a shortage of trained staff for handling reptiles and carnivores.

A source at PAAFR confirmed that the animals remaining in the zoo continue to receive full care, though their long-term fate is undecided. One possibility includes relocating the animals to PAAFR’s “Small Forest” project in Sulaibiya, where an investor could create a small, temporary facility.

However, no study has been conducted to establish a new zoo or select a specific site as an alternative to the Omariya facility. The source added that other options being considered include housing the animals in PAAFR quarantine facilities or exporting certain species — particularly rare and predatory ones — for sale abroad.

Until a final decision is made and an alternative site is secured, the Kuwait Zoo remains closed, its legacy suspended, and its land caught between competing government priorities.