Madinat al-Hareer

The first phase of the Silk City project includes construction of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway[14][15] In May 2019, the causeway was completed and inaugurated.[16] The causeway connects northern Kuwait to Kuwait City. It was one of the largest and most challenging infrastructure projects in the entire world.[17] The project is part of Kuwait Vision 2035,[18] and is named after the 13th Emir of Kuwait to commemorate his leadership. The causeway had an estimated construction value of approximately US$3 billion.[19] It crosses two artificial islands (Bay Island North and Bay Island South) which were constructed for entertainment and tourism purposes.[20][21][22][17]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.[2][1] Under China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the first phase of the Silk City project.[2][1][23] In September 2020, it was reported that the port is 53% complete.[24] In March 2021, it was announced that Kuwait and Pakistan will develop linkages between Gwadar Port and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port.[25][26]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is currently under construction.[9][10][11][12] In April 2021, the port's first phase was completed (4 berths).[10] As part of Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's development, Bubiyan Island will contain power plants and substations.[27][9][28][29] A 5,000-megawatt power plant has already been built in Subiya.[30] There is a current road project connecting Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's first phase to the existing road network in Bubiyan Island.[31][10] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's first phase is among Kuwait's largest infrastructure projects in 2021.[32][33] The port is set to be environmentally sustainable.[34][27] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's fire stations are currently under development.[35]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the Gulf Railway project in Kuwait.[36]

Madinat al-Hareer (Silk City) is being developed in a phased manner, including Subiya as part of the first phase of the city. With the completion of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway, a slow but steady development is taking place in Subiya.[30] A deadline for accepting tenders for Silk City has been set for 31 March 2022.[37] A power plant of 5,000 megawatts has already been built in Subiya,[38][30] the Subiya power plant is the nation's largest electrical generation facility.[39][40][41] New police and fire stations recently opened in Subiya.[42][43][44] In addition, several mosques and an ambulance hospital recently opened in Subiya.[45][46] There are a number of new power plants under development in Subiya at the moment.[47] The bridge connecting Subiya to Bubiyan Island recently finished construction.

In June 2019, the Supreme Council for Planning and Development's Secretary General, Dr. Khaled Mahdi, reported the following:[48]

There are three components to the Silk City project that are considered as main prerequisites for the success of the Special Economic Zone or Northern Region project - known locally as the Silk City project. (a) the masterplan which is currently in progress and is being finalized by the consultants who are also working out the project’s feasibility, zoning and implementation; (b) the financing model which will be developed once the masterplan has been articulated to allow 100% financing by the private sector. Until now, the engagement of the public sector hasn’t yet been addressed; and (c) the legislative framework, and, in fact, a draft of the new legislation has recently been submitted to the National Assembly for review. The Silk City Authority (Medinat Al-Hareer Authority) oversees the project; previously, it was under the authority of the Council of Ministers. Now, it is under the authority of the Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah.[48]