The Governor of Al-Ahmadi and Chairman of the Green Urban Development Initiatives Committee, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, called on faculty members and students at the College of Architecture - Kuwait University to contribute ideas and designs that support the Committee’s work and have a positive impact on society.

This came during a lecture delivered by Sheikh Humoud titled “A Call to Participate in Green Urban Development Initiatives” at the College of Architecture in Adailiya, in the presence of the representative of the President of Kuwait University, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem; the Acting Secretary-General of Kuwait University, Dr. Thaqal Al-Ajmi; the Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar; Municipal Council member Dr. Hassan Kamal; Acting Dean of the College of Architecture and Committee member Dr. Adel Al-Momen; Committee member and rapporteur Counselor Fouad Al-Salman; as well as several faculty members and students.

During the lecture, Sheikh Humoud explained that the Committee’s vision is based on implementing initiatives that integrate environmental and developmental dimensions, support green spaces, enhance the urban landscape, and promote the concept of community and institutional partnership among government entities, the private sector, and individuals, in order to achieve sustainable development and create an aesthetically improved urban environment and a sustainable future in Kuwait.

He stated that the Committee’s responsibilities include assessing and developing green spaces and ornamental landscaping across various regions of the country, evaluating and studying submitted initiatives, and proposing sustainable, implementable development projects that preserve the environment, in addition to fostering partnerships with the private sector to support development initiatives.

Sheikh Humoud noted that the Committee has worked to facilitate the submission of initiatives by launching a dedicated electronic platform (www.gudi.gov.kw) to streamline submission, follow-up, and implementation processes.

He further explained that the Committee has developed a comprehensive guideline outlining standards and criteria for initiatives, including the development of public parks, painting bridges, murals, upgrading roundabouts, creating artistic installations and monuments, and landscaping public spaces and main roads.

He emphasized that clear regulations have been established for each initiative to ensure compliance with procedures set by relevant government entities, expedite approval processes, and maintain the country’s visual identity.

Sheikh Humoud added that the Committee recognizes contributors by categorizing initiatives into three categories: large-scale initiatives, honored with the Urban Development Award at the Prime Minister level; medium-scale initiatives, honored with the Urban Development Award for Medium Initiatives at the ministerial level, and small-scale initiatives, recognized with the Urban Development Award for Small Initiatives at the governorate level.

He affirmed that through cooperation and participation, a qualitative transformation can be achieved in supporting and empowering initiators and enhancing their role in community development to improve and advance society.

In remarks to the press following the lecture, Sheikh Humoud stated that the lecture aimed to strengthen cooperation between the Committee and students at the College of Architecture, benefiting from their ideas and creativity in developing enhancement projects across all governorates of Kuwait.

He added that the Committee will adopt these ideas and publish them on its website to make them available to interested initiators from the private sector, cooperative societies, and individuals to adopt and implement them.

He also stressed the Committee’s keenness to establish the College of Architecture as a partner in shaping aesthetic and urban projects across Kuwait, thereby reinforcing the role of youth and creative talents in developing the country’s urban landscape.

For his part, the Acting Secretary-General of Kuwait University, Dr. Thaqal Al-Ajmi, stated in similar remarks that the lecture highlighted the significant efforts undertaken by the Committee to overcome obstacles facing initiators, particularly with regard to official procedures and obtaining approvals, noting that a unified committee is now in place to bring together all relevant entities and facilitate these processes.

Dr. Al-Ajmi added that the ideas presented contribute to making Kuwait greener and more beautiful, while also supporting carbon neutrality initiatives, reducing emissions, and significantly improving the environment.

He expressed appreciation for these efforts, affirming that Kuwait University welcomes such initiatives and seeks to strengthen cooperation with the Committee, expressing hope to soon see student-led initiatives contributing to national projects.

On his part, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar stated that the lecture clarified the Committee’s role, the concept of initiatives, and how faculty expertise, student activities, and academic projects can contribute ideas, designs, and implementation approaches.

He noted that graduation projects by students could be utilized by the Committee, or that Committee projects could be integrated into academic curricula as part of development initiatives, emphasizing that students’ ideas are often creative and driven by passion, which can enhance the quality of submitted designs.

In turn, the Acting Dean of the College of Architecture and Committee member, Dr. Adel Al-Momen, stated that the College was established to contribute to creating a more beautiful, sustainable, and human-centered built environment—an objective that fully aligns with the Committee’s goals and principles.

He affirmed that students and faculty members possess a wealth of creative ideas in urban and architectural design, public spaces, and the visual and cultural identity of Kuwait, expressing hope that these ideas and initiatives will soon be transformed into projects that contribute to the development of Kuwait’s urban landscape.

He further stated: “At the College of Architecture, we are pleased with this community partnership and look forward to it being the beginning of further fruitful cooperation between the College of Architecture, Kuwait University, and the Green Urban Development Initiatives Committee in service of our beloved nation.”