Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
As UAE-Kuwait Week is celebrated across the Emirates, many Kuwaitis living in the country are marking the occasion with a deep sense of comfort and belonging they feel in their home away from home.
From Abu Dhabi to Sharjah, they describe how shared traditions, familiar values and strong ties have made the UAE feel like an extension of Kuwait.
For Salim Alenezi, a 33-year-old Kuwaiti resident of Abu Dhabi, that connection runs deep. He moved to the capital more than a decade ago and says he rarely feels the distance from Kuwait.
"Abu Dhabi is a second home to me, the environment feels familiar, and the people even more so. I do not feel like I am away from home - I rarely even feel homesick because we do have a lot of similarities, whether in the culture, food, environment, everything," he told Aletihad.
When asked what drew him to the UAE, he pointed to a mix of practical reasons and a strong sense of comfort.
"It is a land of opportunity, but also a place where values like family and hospitality mirror those of Kuwait. I have always felt respected, welcomed, and understood," Alenezi said.
"We may have different accents or city names, but our traditions, our sense of community, they are the same. Whether it is a majlis in Abu Dhabi or one in Kuwait City, I feel the same warmth."
As someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, Alenezi finds a natural connection with the UAE's landscapes and desert traditions. He spends time fishing off the coast, diving in Fujairah, and never misses the annual Liwa Festival.
"Liwa festival had just finished, and I was there for the entirety of it, enjoying the races and the atmosphere, with other Kuwaiti friends and our Emirati friends too. It is an annual tradition that I have been doing for years," he said.
Each February, Alenezi marks Kuwait's National Day by raising the Kuwaiti flag at home, cooking traditional dishes, and gathering with friends to celebrate.
In Sharjah, 21-year-old Kuwaiti student Aisha Ali feels a similar connection. She moved to the UAE for her studies and has grown to love the peaceful rhythm of life in the cultural capital.
"It has been comfortable and positive. Sharjah is safe, calm, and very family-friendly. I chose the UAE for its opportunities and stability, and Sharjah for its peaceful lifestyle and cultural environment," Ali told Aletihad.
What makes Ali feel most at home is "the shared Gulf culture, language, traditions, and hospitality", which she described as "very familiar."
On occasions like the UAE-Kuwait Week and Kuwait's National Day, Aisha finds a sense of unity and pride even while abroad.
"I celebrate with my friends from university. The university organises the day for us to celebrate, and we get to share our culture and celebrate together," she added.
