As a luxury hotel photographer with a passion for architectural photography, my recent work trip to Kuwait City to photograph the new Marriott Executive Apartments was a dream come true. Since relocating to Europe to expand my photography horizons, photographing hotels in the Middle East has been a goal of mine, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to capture this beautiful new property.
In the heart Kuwait City
The Marriott Executive Apartments are situated right in the very center of Kuwait City, on top of the luxury Assima Mall. As I arrived in Kuwait in February, just before the hotel was due to open, I was excited to be among the first to photograph this stunning property. This was my first official shoot for Marriott in the Middle East, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
My knowledge of Kuwait up to this point was based on what I had seen in the news and read about the war in Kuwait in 1991. However, as soon as I arrived, I was struck by the warmth and hospitality of the people I met. From the moment I was met at the airport and fast-tracked through passport control and customs, I felt welcome and at ease.
Getting down to work
As usual on my photoshoots, I met with the hotel team the next morning for an extensive walk-through to determine when and how to shoot all the required shots. As the property was still new, there were certain areas that weren’t ready to be photographed, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to capture all the shots I needed. However, Khaled, the project manager, and Shereen, the director of sales, were extremely positive and made sure that everything I needed to photograph was ready by the time the shoot was under way.
Before the trip, I had sought permission to be able to take my drone and legally fly it in the middle of the city. Normally, drones are banned in Kuwait, and it would have been confiscated upon my arrival at the airport. However, the hotel’s government affairs officer managed to secure permission for me to fly, and I was able to capture some truly spectacular images from the air. With permission also obtained to fly from a nearby skyscraper, we took off from a helipad used by the Sheikh for his helicopter.
Time to explore the city
On the day of my departure, I had the whole day to explore Kuwait City a bit more. As it was February, the weather was cool, and I decided to take a walk from the Courtyard by Marriott, where I was staying, to the Kuwait Towers. These iconic towers were built in the 1970s and are a symbol of Kuwait’s modernity and progress. I was also told to visit The Avenues shopping mall, which is one of the largest malls in the world. As I walked through its vast halls, I was blown away by the opulence and grandeur of the place. With over 800 stores and restaurants, it’s a shopper’s paradise. As a coffee lover, I was also impressed by the coffee culture in Kuwait, which compensates for the lack of bars due to the country being dry.
In conclusion, my Middle East hotel photography experience in Kuwait City was a wonderful and memorable experience. The Marriott Executive Apartments are a stunning property, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to capture its beauty through my lens and add some images to my Hotel Portfolio. The warmth and hospitality of the people I met in Kuwait made me feel welcome and at ease, and I’m grateful for the permission to fly my drone and capture some truly spectacular images. The city itself is modern and vibrant, with plenty to see and explore. I left Kuwait with a warm feeling, knowing that I want to return one day to explore some more. As a luxury hotel photographer with a passion for architectural photography, this trip was truly a dream come true.
Check out the final images on the Marriott site by clicking here
Leave a Reply