SILK CITY (MADINAT AL–HAREER)
SUBIYA
Kuwait
Madinat al-Hareer, known as Silk City, is a massive 250-square-kilometre planned urban development in Subiya, northern Kuwait, designed as a free economic zone to diversify the economy beyond oil under Kuwait Vision 2035. Phase I includes the completed Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway (opened 2019) and the ongoing Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, with full completion projected over 25 years. Overseen by the Silk City Authority under the Deputy Prime Minister, it aims to house 700,000 residents, create around 450,000 jobs, and serve as a trade-finance hub linking the Gulf to Asia and Europe via China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Silk City (Madinat al-Hareer) transforms northern Kuwait into a private-sector-led trade and finance hub, evoking the historic Silk Road with infrastructure like the Sheikh Jaber Causeway, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port, and links to Bubiyan Island. The 2014-approved masterplan spans four quarters – residential, business, cultural, leisure, with an airport, duty-free zone, Olympic stadium, resorts, medical centres, and green belts. It partners with China on Belt and Road for FDI in housing, healthcare, transport, tourism, and renewables.
Future Cities criteria compliance
Environmental & Nature
Environmental focus includes nature reserves (2 km²), green belts, and sustainable port designs with fire stations and eco-friendly operations. Power infrastructure and zoning prioritise resource efficiency, aligning with regional climate goals amid phased development on islands like Boubyan. The project promotes low-impact urban growth through private-sector-led models.
Smart City
Silk City incorporates advanced smart infrastructure, such as deep-water navigation channels, high-capacity power plants (e.g., 5,000 MW Subiya facility), and Gulf Railway integration at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port. The centrepiece Burj Mubarak al-Kabir, a proposed 1,001-metre twisted skyscraper with double-decker elevators and wind-resistant ailerons, will feature mixed-use spaces for 7,000 people, symbolizing cutting-edge engineering. Digital connectivity supports a financial district targeting fintech and global banking.
Human-Centric
Centred on liveable communities, the plan fosters a “city of legacy and prophecy” with neighbourhoods linked by town squares, wellness amenities, education hubs, and live-work-play zones for families and workers. Amenities like resorts, cultural centres, and recreational islands emphasise quality of life, social interaction, and cultural legacy inspired by Arabian heritage. Inclusivity extends to multilingual economic zones (Arabic, English, Chinese).
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