Sulaibiya

Sulaibiya (Arabic: الصليبية) or Al-Sulaibiya is a suburban neighbourhood in Al Jahra Governorate, Kuwait. It covers an area of roughly 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) and has a population of around 38,000 residents. Established in 1980, the area initially served as a camp for Bedoon (stateless) people. In 1982, it was developed into a residential area.^[1]

The suburb has become famous for being a haven for Bedoon residents, a marginalized group that has been caught in legal limbo, unable to gain citizenship while facing discrimination and lack of access to employment, education, and social services available to Kuwaiti nationals.^[2]

Sulaibiya is home to two industrial areas containing several warehouses and concrete factories. Moreover, it accommodates several agricultural and dairy farms, and the residential area consisting of 10 blocks.^[3][4][5][6]

A plan to relocate the neighbourhood for future development is underway and will involve transferring all residents of Sulaibiya to the in-development site of Al-Naayem.^[7]

On 31 July 2012, Sulaibiya set a new record for the highest temperature in Asia, reaching 53.6 °C (128.5 °F).^[8]

Infrastructure

Wastewater treatment plant

As of 2015, the General Electric-built waste-water treatment plant in the district waste the world's largest membrane technology-based water treatment facility handling 600,000 cubic meters of water a day.^[9]

Tire graveyard

Video of fire fighting during the 2020 fire by the Kuwait Fire Force
https://twitter.com/kff_kw/status/1317053501869051904

The industrial area contains a waste disposal area that includes the world's largest tire dump.^[10] It has been under development since at least 2010.^[11] In April 2021, a fire was reported at the site.^[12] In October 2020 a major tire fire in the graveyard was visible from space, burning 25,000 square meters of the deposit or about 1 million tires.^[13] A previous fire happened in the site during 2012.^[13] Both fires caused severe air pollution, and tire fires release large amount of heavy metals and oils that can contaminate the surrounding environment.^[14] Following the fire, the Kuwait Environment Public Authority said it would dispose of the tires.^[14]

References

1. "الصليبية منطقة سكنية في الكويت" [Sulaibiya, a residential area in Kuwait]. Ayam News (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
2. "تحقيق / الصليبية ... مدينة البدون الوضع مر ... والدواء بطعم المر" [Investigation: Sulaibiya, the City of Bedoons - The Situation is Bitter and the Cure Tastes Like Poison]. Al Rai (in Arabic). 30 December 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
3. Salah, Alaa (14 December 2019). "منطقة الصليبية في مدينة الجهراء" [Sulaibiya neighbourhood in the city of Jahra]. OpenSooq (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
4. Caraan, Jobelle (2021-09-13). "Aramex Kuwait Expands its facility in Agility Logistics Park in Sulaibiya". Agility. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
5. "Center produced 392 tons of milk in 2018". Arab Times. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
6. Mostafa, Amr (2022-05-31). "Firefighters put out blaze at farm in Kuwait's Al Sulaibiya area". The National. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
7. Al Zu'by, Ghunaim (14 March 2022). "موقع الصليبية خامووووش" [The Al-Sulaibiya site is khamoooosh]. Al-Anba (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
8. . Weather Underground. USA: Dr. Jeff Masters. 11 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
9. "Kuwait's Sulaibiya Plant to Set New Global Benchmark after Upgrade with GE's Advanced Water Reuse Technology | GE News". www.ge.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
10. "World's Biggest Tire Graveyard in Sulabiya, Kuwait". www.amusingplanet.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
11. Purdy, Ray; Harris, Ray; Carver, Jon; Slater, David (2017). "Smarter Regulation of Waste in Europe (LIFE13 ENV-UK-000549) LIFE SMART Waste Project Final Report". doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.25447.34728. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
12. "Kuwait's Tire Graveyard With Over 7 Million Dead Tires Poses a Fire Hazard". interestingengineering.com. 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
13. "Kuwait: Fire ripped through 25,000 square meters of Al Sulabiya tire site". gulfnews.com. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
14. Technologies, Mano. "EPA To Remove Tires From Site, Hand Over Land To PAHW Soon | Kuwait Local". Kuwaitlocal. Retrieved 2021-08-01.

29°17′10″N 47°49′05″E / 29.28611°N 47.81806°E / 29.28611; 47.81806