Kuwait City High School Athletics Depend on Local Venues and Infrastructure Upgrades

Kuwait City high schools opened registration this week for the 2026-2027 athletics season, with most teams now training at four main public venues instead of school yards.

The shift follows a Ministry of Education directive issued in March that requires every secondary school to schedule at least three weekly sessions at approved facilities. Officials say the rule aims to reduce injuries on uneven school grounds and give athletes access to proper tracks and weight rooms before the November inter-school championships.

Venues used daily

Teams from Shuwaikh Secondary School and Hawalli Boys School now share the tartan track at Al-Salam Stadium on Gulf Road, booking slots between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays. The stadium, managed by the Public Authority for Youth and Sports, added LED floodlights in late 2025 that allow evening sessions through the summer heat. Further east, schools in Salmiya send athletes to the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Sports Complex for football and basketball drills on its indoor courts and grass pitches.

Both sites sit within a 15-minute drive of most central districts, cutting transport costs that previously forced some teams to cancel away matches. Coaches report that access to these fixed venues has lifted average training hours from six to twelve per week for the 1,200 students registered across 18 public high schools.

Ministry records show the authority spent 1.8 million Kuwaiti dinars last year on resurfacing the Al-Salam track and installing new goalposts at Mubarak Al-Kabeer. A separate 450,000 dinar contract awarded in April covers maintenance at three smaller fields in the Jabriya area used by girls' teams.

Next steps for families

Parents can collect registration forms at school offices until 25 July. Sessions at Al-Salam Stadium and Mubarak Al-Kabeer require a 12-dinar seasonal pass available from the Public Authority for Youth and Sports office on Beirut Street. Schedules for the first league matches will appear on the Ministry of Education website by mid-August.