Manama: No concert has been planned for the New Year in Kuwait, a ministry of
information official has said.
"We have not received any application from any of the music companies or
promoters for a public concert," Gannas Al Adwani, the head of arts, said,
quoted by Al Qabas daily.
Regular music programmes at the local hotels and restaurants will be under the
strict supervision of the ministry, he said.
According to the paper, the stringent rules imposed by the information ministry
have deterred promoters from organising public concerts.
Kuwaiti liberals have often complained about what they saw as an overwhelming
dominance of conservative lawmakers and ideas on their society.
In neighbouring Bahrain, no concert has been planned either despite a more
liberal approach to social events.
In Egypt, singing sensation Amr Diab said that he was charging $300,000 for the
New Year concert, but did not specify the location, Al Bashayer news said. UAE
top singer Husain Al Jasmi will receive $150,000 for a concert in Cairo while
Lebanese singer Alissa will ask for $130,000. Iraqi Kadhem Al Saher who will
sing in the UAE will have $120,000.
According to the site, promoters said that concert tickets in Cairo would cost
between $200 and $900, a 25 per cent increase over 2009.
