Kuwait City, September 14, 2026: Schools, colleges, and universities across Kuwait resumed operations today, Monday, leading to significant traffic congestion on major roadways. According to the Ministry of Education, the 2026-27 academic session commenced on Sunday, September 13, for first-grade students. Today, September 14, primary, intermediate, and secondary level students returned to classrooms, with kindergarten students scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 16. Official data from the Ministry of Education indicates that 481,511 students have returned to schools, including 391,604 in government schools, 86,762 in private Arabic schools, and 3,145 in religious education institutions. Additionally, approximately 56,000 students have returned to the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. These figures exclude thousands of students enrolled in international schools.
- Primary to secondary students returned to classrooms on September 14.
- Total of 481,511 students returned to government, private Arabic, and religious schools.
- Heavy traffic reported in Sabah Al-Salem, Salwa, Hawally, and Al-Manqaf.
- Ministry of Interior deployed 870 patrol units and 338 monitoring cameras.
According to the Times Kuwait and Ministry of Interior sources,
heavy traffic was reported at school gates and exits in areas including Sabah Al-Salem, Salwa, Hawally, and Al-Manqaf. These regions have a high density of private schools attended by a large number of Indian, Egyptian, and other expatriate families. Officials attributed the congestion to high vehicle volume during peak hours and ongoing road maintenance, though they noted no major blockages occurred.
The Ministry of Interior has implemented a comprehensive security plan featuring 870 patrol units, including 520 from the security directorate, 200 traffic units, and 150 emergency police units.
Traffic is being monitored via 338 cameras, and 258 intersections are connected to control rooms capable of adjusting signal timings based on traffic density. Helicopters and foot patrols are also deployed, and the public is advised to use the 112 emergency hotline.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Bu Hassan, Acting Director of the Traffic Awareness Department, issued a warning regarding double parking outside school zones.
Parents are instructed to use designated drop-off zones, avoid blocking roads, and utilize designated pedestrian crossings. The Ministry of Interior has also launched a year-long awareness campaign titled Prevention and Safety, which includes distributing safety materials to students. The event coverage was sourced from the Times Kuwait, Kuwait Times, Arab Times, Al-Jarida, KUNA, and the Kuwaiti Ministries of Interior and Education, with photo credit provided by Yasser Al-Zayyat.
