KUWAIT: One of the most infamous locations in Kuwait, it goes by many names. Indian and South Asian expats call it Abbassiya while expat Arabs call it Hasawi. The area is officially called Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Translated from local dialect, it means an area with water wells owned by sheikhs. Traditional folklore says that bedouins used to camp in the area, watering their camps from the wells and this is why it was also known historically as ‘Saihed al Awazem’ (the area of Al-Awazim tribe).

Nowadays, the area is heavily populated by expatriate workers, mostly from South Asia and Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria. Currently it is flanked by major roads – Ghazali Expressway and the 6th Ring Road and is less than 5 kms from the Kuwait International Airport.

Why Abbassiya/Hasawi?

Abbassiya was derived from a businessman named Abbas Munawer Al-Rashidi. He was one of the founding members of Kuwait’s parliament who owned a piece of land in Jleeb, but sold it in 1965. The name Hasawi, on the other hand, came from another businessman named Mubarak Al-Hasawi. He was also a prominent member of the National Assembly in the early years of the parliament in Kuwait. Now, the area is divided into five blocks. It’s known more for its vice dens, overcrowding, impoverished neighborhoods, overflowing garbage bins and crime rates than for the hundreds of thousands of decent, hardworking folk who live there.

A Filipina, who lived in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh for most of her life in Kuwait, says she liked the area very much and most of her unforgettable memories were formed in Jleeb. In fact, she was sad when she finally moved out last year when the building owner decided to construct a new multi-storey building on the same land.

“I got married, had kids and lived there for many years until they grew up and now they are in Manila for their college/university degrees,” she said. “Jleeb is like a sanctuary place for me and my family. I experienced heartaches and many other things, but I can only praise the place I called home…My husband died in 2007 and I continued to stay because I have beautiful memories of the place and I don’t want to lose them,” she added. “They said Jleeb is un-organized, dirty and poorly maintained environment. Yes; I think it’s true, but I don’t really mind, I feel I am home if I am in Jleeb.”

Many problems

Evanz, a 28-year-old expat from Ghana feels the same. “Oh well, this is where I live now, I don’t really mind about the cares of this place; but yes, the place is not so well-maintained,” Evanz said. “In summer, the water is on and off all the time, so I have extra gallons of water so I can still shower every day,” he said. Ramesh, 50, from State of Rajasthan in India has called Jleeb ‘a home’ despite the obvious problems of sanitation and hygiene all over. “I don’t see it worse. We have worst places in India. I lived here (in Jleeb) for over 15 years and this place is a home for me too,” he said.

Ramesh lives just opposite his work at a small salon shop, near the police station. He works and goes home straight from his hair-cutting job.

Rajesh, 36, another resident of Jleeb who is from Kerala has many complaints about Jleeb. Compared to Salmiya where he lived for about a year, Jleeb needs proper rehabilitation and maintenance. “Maybe there is already a plan but I don’t know. I see very often here some damaged drainage system, the smell is overpowering, especially if ministry fails to fix the problem as quick as possible,” he said. Another complaint was about the small and medium businesses which they also have in many places in Jleeb, but most of the time, it contributes to congested roads traffic problems on the roadside. “Imagine the traffic it created, I don’t really know if the government cares about the residents of Jleeb any longer; small businesses on the side-streets usually delays our transactions automatically; it also affects the delivery of goods and services,” he said.

Despite the many problems, the area thrives with a large community of small and medium businesses, hundreds of shops, baqalas, groceries and services as well as several major schools.

Schools in various locations of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

• Indian Educational School, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

• Indian Central School

• United Indian School Abbassiya

• Integrated Indian School Abbassiya

• Kuwait Indian School Abbassiya

• Al-Rashed Indian School

• Indian Learners Own Academy

• The New Philippines Kuwait International School

• The Pakistani Schools in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

• Pakistan English School & College and more…

By Ben Garcia