The National Times - October 20 Milestones Trace Decades of Kuwait’s Development

A review of events on October 20 records milestones in Kuwait’s cultural, diplomatic, infrastructure and public-sector history from 1958 onward.

Following are events that took place in Kuwait on October 20:

1958 -- Kuwait Writers Association held its first meeting since its establishment in May 1958. The meeting was held at Shuwaikh High School, the association's interim headquarters.

1971 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah signed a decree separating Kuwait University's Faculties of Sciences, Arts and Education into: Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Arts and Education.

1973 -- State of Kuwait Army's Al-Jahra Brigade headed to Al-Sheikh Mountain in Syria to take part in the October 1973 War.

1992 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the 7th Legislative Session of the National Assembly, the first elected house since the parliament's dissolution in 1985. MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun was elected speaker of the house.

1996 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the National Assembly's 1st regular term of the 8th Legislatve Session, during which MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun was elected speaker.

2001 -- State of Kuwait and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed, in Paris, an agreement to establish the UNESCO/Amir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The prize was worth USD 500,000.

2002 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah decorated Kuwait University's former President Dr. Fayza Al-Kharafi with the Order of First Merit in recognition of her service and contributions to higher education.2015 -- Abdulameer Al-Turki, a renowned writer, director and producer, passed away at the age of 70.

2020 -- Kuwait Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the 5th regular term of the 15th Legislative Session of the National Assembly.

2020 -- Kuwait National Assembly approved a bill to organize structure of population, intended to specifying number of foreign workers in Kuwait. The parliament also approved a draft law amending some regulations concerning people with the special needs to improve services towards this segment of society.

2021 -- Kuwaiti Government implemented final steps to return to normalcy as of October 24 following COVID-19 restrictions. This included allowing conferences, festivities, social gatherings and weddings. Face masks were required in closed spaces and could be removed in open areas.

2021 -- Kuwait Government assigned the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to implement the third phase of a plan to operate Kuwait International Airport at full capacity as of October 24 following COVID-19 restrictions.

2024 -- Kuwait's Civil Service Commission (CSC) disclosed that evening work period at government departments would start on January 5, 2025 based on a Cabinet decision.

D.S.Robertson--TNT