{{Short description|Island in the Persian Gulf}} {{Infobox islands |name=Bubyan Island |native_name= {{Nobold|{{native name|ar|جزيرة بوبيان}}}} |location=Persian Gulf |image=Kuwaiti islands.jpg |image_caption=A false-color satellite image of Kuwaiti islands at the northwest corner of the Persian Gulf. Bubiyan is the light-blue mass taking up most of the right side of the image. |image_map=BubiyanLocation.PNG |map_caption=The location of Bubiyan Island in Kuwait |country={{flag|Kuwait}} |population=0 |coordinates={{coord|29|47|N|48|11|E|display=inline,title}} |length_km=40 |width_km=24 |area_km2=863 |elevation_ft = 322 |highest_mount = }} {{Designation list | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_offname = Mubarak Al-Kabeer Reserve | designation1_date = 5 September 2015 | designation1_number = 2239<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mubarak Al-Kabeer Reserve|website=Ramsar Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2239|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
'''Bubiyan Island''' ({{langx|ar|جزيرة بوبيان}}) is the largest island in the Kuwaiti coastal island chain situated in the north-western corner of the Persian Gulf, with an area of {{convert|863|km2|abbr=on}}. Bubiyan Island is part of the Shatt al-Arab delta.<ref name="Ancient_Bubiyan"/>
The Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is under construction on the island.<ref name="phase">{{cite web|title=الأشغال تنتظر مقاول ميناء مبارك لتسلم المرحلة الأولى ابتدائياً|website=Al Rai|date=30 March 2021|url=https://www.alraimedia.com/article/1528354/محليات/أخبار-محلية/الأشغال-تنتظر-مقاول-ميناء-مبارك-لتسلم-المرحلة-الأولى-ابتدائ|language=ar}}</ref><ref name="constructionweek">{{cite web|author=Ranju Warrier|title=Elsewedy Electric unit bags $53.2m contract for Kuwait's Boubyan substation|website=Construction Week|date=19 February 2021|url=https://www.constructionweekonline.com/projects-and-tenders/270759-elsewedy-electric-unit-bags-532m-contract-for-kuwaits-boubyan-substation}}</ref><ref name="kun" /><ref name="full" /> As part of the port's development, there are plans for Bubiyan Island to contain power plants and substations.<ref name="boubyan">{{cite web|title=Connecting Boubyan Island Area in Kuwait|publisher=Elsewedy Electric|date=March 2021|url=https://www.elsewedyelectric.com/en/news-room/connecting-boubyan-island-area-in-kuwait/}}</ref><ref name="constructionweek" /><ref name="mew">{{cite web|title=Kuwait's MEW to float tender for transmission stations|website=Zawya|date=23 March 2021|url=https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/business/story/Kuwaits_MEW_to_float_tender_for_transmission_stations-SNG_205175381/}}</ref><ref name="elsew">{{cite web|title=Elsewedy unit inks project in Kuwait|website=Zawya|date=17 February 2021|url=https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/business/story/Elsewedy_unit_inks_project_in_Kuwait-SNG_200852215/}}</ref> A 5,000-megawatt power plant has been built in the neighbouring Kuwaiti region of Subiya.<ref name="suba">{{cite web|title=Kuwait inaugurates massive causeway to free trade zone|website=France24|date=1 May 2019|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190501-kuwait-inaugurates-massive-causeway-free-trade-zone}}</ref>
Bubiyan is the largest of a group of eight islands situated just southwest of the mouth of the Shaṭṭ al-Arab, the river that divides Iraq and Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Būbiyān {{!}} Kuwaiti Island, Nature Reserve, Wildlife {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bubiyan |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
==History== ===Antiquity=== Bubiyan was formed by sediment from the Tigris–Euphrates river.<ref name="Ancient_Bubiyan"/> There is archaeological evidence of Sasanian (300–650 AD) to early Islamic (650–800 AD) periods of human presence on Bubiyan as evidenced by the recent discovery of torpedo-jar pottery sherds on several prominent beach ridges.<ref name="Ancient_Bubiyan">{{cite journal|first2=Robert|last2=Carter|first1=Linda|last1=Reinink-Smith|year=2022|title=Late Holocene development of Bubiyan Island, Kuwait|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/quaternary-research/article/abs/late-holocene-development-of-bubiyan-island-kuwait/FD3CB9742FC8B0A5EDE6EBAC8F15C301|journal=Quaternary Research|volume=109 |pages=16–38|doi=10.1017/qua.2022.3|bibcode=2022QuRes.109...16R |s2cid=248250022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
===Gulf War=== During the Gulf War of 1991, there was a large oil spill in the area. Four spans of the bridge were destroyed. They were rebuilt in 1999.<ref>[http://www.freyssinet.co.th/Magazines/Issue%20208.pdf] p.9</ref> The island itself was converted into a military base in 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visit-kuwait.com/info/geography-population.aspx |title=Kuwait Geography and Population |access-date=14 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905185626/https://www.visit-kuwait.com/info/geography-population.aspx |archive-date=2017-09-05 }}</ref> In November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1992), and 833 (1993) which formally ended an earlier Iraqi claim to Bubiyan Island.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1378818 | title = CIA World Fact Book - Iraq | publisher = everything2.com | date = 2007-01-14}}</ref>
===Ramsar Convention=== In response to Kuwait becoming the 169th signatory of the Ramsar Convention, the Mubarak al-Kabeer reserve was designated as the country's first Wetland of International Importance. The 50,948 hectare reserve consists of small lagoons and shallow salt marshes and is important as a stop-over for migrating birds on two migration routes, Turkey to India and Eurasia to Africa. Breeding waterbirds include the world's largest breeding colony of crab-plover (''Dromas ardeola''). The surrounding sea is a major nursery for many commercial fish species.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ramsar|title=Kuiwait becomes Ramsar state|url=http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=5210|website=BirdGuides|date=7 September 2015 |access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>
=== 2026 Iran war === On 1 May 2026, the island was subject to an armed incursion by six armed members of the IRGC as part of the 2026 Iran war. The incursion was repelled and resulted in the arrest of four of the attackers.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last=Naar|first=Ismaeel|date=2026-05-12|title=Kuwait Accuses Iran of Trying to Infiltrate Its Territory|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/world/middleeast/kuwait-iran-bubiyan-island.html|access-date=2026-05-12|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gambrell|first=Jon|last2=Lidman|first2=Melanie|date=2026-05-12|title=Kuwait says Iran attacked an island where China is helping to build a port|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/05/12/iran-us-israel-uae-iron-dome/b4f79bfc-4dd9-11f1-97e7-22c6c29ff0d8_story.html|access-date=2026-05-12|work=The Washington Post|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
==Geography== The island is mainly flat, while salt marshes cover some coasts. There are several intermittent ''wadis'' in the center of the island.<ref name=":0">{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bubiyan|title=Bubiyan {{!}} island, Kuwait|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-08-06|language=en}}</ref> It is separated from the Iraqi coast in the northeast by the ''Al-Zubayr'' channel and from the Kuwaiti mainland in the southwest by the ''Al-Sabiyyah'' channel.<ref name=":0" />
The ''Al-Sabiyyah'' channel wraps around the northern end of Bubiyan Island, separating it from Warbah Island. {{convert|5.4|km|0|abbr=on}} northwest of ''Ras al Barshah'', the southernmost point, Bubiyan is linked to the mainland by a concrete girder bridge over the ''Khawr as Sabiyah'' channel, {{convert|2.38|km|2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{Structurae|id=20000613|title=Bubiyan Bridge}}</ref> long, built in 1981-1983 and opened February 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.crbc.com/site/crbcEN/signature/info/2013/1368.html |title=CRBC |access-date=2017-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807021639/http://www.crbc.com/site/crbcEN/signature/info/2013/1368.html |archive-date=2017-08-07 }}</ref>
During high spring tides and southerly gales the wet, low lying mud flats that make up most of the island are encroached upon by sea water.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Gulf War and the Environment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O2nADAAAQBAJ&pg=PA26|first1=Farouk|last1=El-Baz|first2=R.M.|last2=Makharita|publisher=Routledge|date=2016|isbn=9781317219880|series=War and Security in the Middle East|page=26}}</ref> The island is considered to be at risk of inundation due to sea level rise.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The expected sea-level rise scenarios and its impacts on the Kuwaiti coast and estuarine wetlands|journal=International Journal of Ecology & Development|date=January 2014|first1=Subramaniam|last1=Neelamani|first2=F.|last2=Al-Shatti|volume=29|issue=3|issn=0973-7308|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289084309|pages=32–43}}</ref>
==Mubarak Al Kabeer Port== {{Main|Mubarak Al Kabeer Port}} Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.<ref name="beltroad2" /><ref name="bri">{{cite web|title=Phase One of Kuwait's BRI-Backed US$130 Billion Silk City Opens|work=Hong Kong Trade Development Council|date=10 June 2019|url=https://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/insights/phase-one-kuwaits-bri-backed-us130-billion-silk-city-opens}}</ref> Under China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the first phase of the Silk City project.<ref name="beltroad2">{{cite web|title=China and Kuwait to Build New Port|website=Port Technology|date=21 February 2019|url=https://www.porttechnology.org/news/china_and_kuwait_to_build_new_port/}}</ref><ref name="bri" /> In September 2020, it was reported that the port is 53% complete.<ref name="completion">{{cite web|title=Kuwait SCPD provides updates on $10.4bn worth of projects|website=Middle East Construction News|date=20 September 2020|url=https://meconstructionnews.com/43441/kuwait-scpd-provides-updates-on-10-4bn-worth-of-projects|quote=On the other projects, the top Kuwaiti official said the work on Mubarak Al Kabeer Port project had reached 52.7% completion}}</ref> In March 2021, it was announced that Kuwait and Pakistan will develop linkages between Gwadar Port and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port.<ref name="pk">{{cite web|title=Pakistan, Kuwait agree to develop linkages b/w Gwadar & Mubarak Al Kabeer Port|website=radio.gov.pk|date=18 March 2021|url=https://radio.gov.pk/18-03-2021/pakistan-kuwait-agree-to-develop-linkages-bw-gwadar-mubarak-al-kabeer-port}}</ref><ref name="pka">{{cite web|title=Pakistan, Kuwait agree to strengthen links between Gwadar, Mubarak Al Kabeer ports|website=arabnews.pk|date=19 March 2021|url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1828076/pakistan}}</ref> The Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is under construction.<ref name=phase/><ref name=constructionweek/><ref name="kun">{{cite web|title=المجلس الوزراء الكويتي يعقد اجتماعه الاسبوعي - حكومة - 15/03/2021 - كونا|website=Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)|date=15 March 2021|url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2964229&language=ar|quote=ثم أحيط مجلس الوزراء علماً بتوصية اللجنة بشأن إفادة وزير الأشغال العامة عن الأعمال التنفيذية لتشغيل المرحلة الأولى من مشروع ميناء مبارك الكبير، والترتيبات القانونية والإدارية والتعاقدية لتنفيذه|language=ar}}</ref><ref name="full">{{cite web|title=جهاز الحرير وبوبيان يستكمل ميناء مبارك الكبير بعد... 2024|website=Al Rai|date=26 April 2021|url=https://www.alraimedia.com/article/1532402/محليات/جهاز-الحرير-وبوبيان-يستكمل-ميناء-مبارك-الكبير-بعد-2024|language=ar}}</ref> As part of Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's development, Bubiyan Island will contain power plants and substations.<ref name="boubyan" /><ref name="constructionweek" /><ref name="mew" /><ref name="elsew" /> A 5,000-megawatt power plant has been built in Subiya.<ref name="suba" />
==In literature== The island is mentioned in the 1933 science fiction work ''The Shape of Things to Come'' by H. G. Wells, in which it provides the recreational facilities for a conference at Basra.<ref>{{cite book|title=Three Kings in Baghdad, 1921–1958|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wc26AAAAIAAJ|first=Gerald|last=De Gaury|publisher=Hutchinson|date=1961|page=120}}</ref>
==See also== * Battle of Bubiyan * Economy of Kuwait * Mubarak Al Kabeer Port * Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway * Madinat al-Hareer * Al Mutlaa City
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * {{cite web|url= http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub172/172sec16.pdf |title=Nautical description }} {{small|(607 KiB)}}
{{Islands of Kuwait}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Islands of Kuwait Category:Disputed territories in the Persian Gulf Category:Iraq–Kuwait border Category:Islands of the Persian Gulf Category:Uninhabited islands of Kuwait Category:Ramsar sites in Kuwait Category:Archaeological sites in Kuwait