CHAPTER 187

DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE OF ARTIFICIAL BEACHES FOR

THE KUWAIT WATERFRONT PROJECT
1
2
3
Mohammad Al-Sarawi. and Michael Holland

Timothy W. Kana,

Introduction
One of the largest recreational waterfront projects ever designed (Sasaki
Associates, 1979) is located along 20 kilometers (km) of the City of Kuwait
on the Arabian Gulf (Fig. 1). Planning and design were initiated in 1976,
and the first phases of construction were completed in 1985. Amenities
included artificial beaches, promenades, waterfront parks, and an artificial
island.
Extensive armoring has also been installed, ranging from 10-ton,
dolosse breakwaters to large, quarry-stone revetments. Total investment in
the first two phases is upwards of US $100 million.

FIGURE 1.

Location map of the Kuwait waterfront showing principal features.

1) Coastal Science & Engineering, Inc., P.O. Box 8056, Columbia, SC, USA 29202
2) Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
3) Sasaki Associates, Inc., 64 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA, USA 02172

2545

2546

COASTAL ENGINEERING -1986

One aspect of the master planrecreational beachesrequired special

consideration because of the moderately high tide range of 3.5 m. typical of
Kuwait Bay. The present paper describes the participation of the authors
since 1977 in developing design criteria [Research Planning Institute, Inc.
(RPI), 1979], supervising engineering (Holland. 1981). and monitoring
performance (Al-Sarawi et al., 1986) of eight pocket beaches constructed for
the waterfront project.
Project Setting
The study area (Fig. 1) is located along the southeast margin of
Kuwait Bay at the head of the Arabian Gulf. This is a clastic shoreline
composed of sediments derived from the Shatt al-Arab mouth of the TigrisEuphrates River approximately 50 km to the north. The natural waterfront
along Kuwait City consists of a series of perched beaches and low headlands
formed of intertidal coral rock. Ras al Ardh, the most prominent headland,
marks the division between Kuwait Bay and The Arabian Gulf.
West of
Kuwait Towers is a commercial shoreline of dhow harbors which predate the
rapid build-up of the oil-export industry. With a tide range varying from
(est.) 3.0 m to 3.5 m from Ras al Ardh to Shuwaikh. a broad intertidal
terrace is exposed at low tide.
East of Kuwait Towers, the project area forms a broad arc bounded by
the headland at Ras al Ardh. Midway along the shoreline near the location
of Green Island (Fig. 1) is a slight bulge produced by a less prominent
headland (beach rock terrace).
Between Green Island and Kuwait Towers,
Bnade al Kar Sea Club divides the shoreline between recreational beaches to
the northwest and a steep rubble edge to the southeast. This area is part
of Phases I and II of the Kuwait waterfront (KWF) project.
Coastal Processes
Tide plays a dominant role in the shoreline dynamics along the KWF
because of its moderately high range [3.5 m between mean higher, high water
(MHHW) and mean lower, low water (MLLW); British Admiralty (1982)].
This limits exposure of the beach to wave action at middle and upper tide
levels only. The principal driving force for currents in the Arabian Gulf are
the tides which enter through the Strait of Hormuz. 950 km southeast of
Kuwait.
Local winds play an important secondary role in establishing
circulation patterns. Gait et al. (1983) report a net surface flow which is
counterclockwise at the head of the gulf under the northwest and southeast
winds which are most common. This produces a net ebb-directed flow (timeaveraged) in the nearshore area of the KWF project.
Coastal processes and longshore transport are highly variable, being
dependent on local winds, nearshore bathymetry, and wave-refraction patterns.
Hayes et al. (1977) found that wave energy and longshore transport are low
in magnitude along the developed waterfront of Kuwait City. Waves at the
shoreline in Kuwait Bay average less than 15 centimeters (cm) and thus
produce net sand transport rates on the order of 103-104 cubic meters per

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

2547

year (m3/yr). Longshore transport is higher along the Arabian Gulf shoreline
of Kuwait where inshore waves are typically 20-30 cm high.
Kana et al.
(1986) estimate net southerly rates of 5 x 104 m3/yr for a site 70 km south
of Ras al Ardh.
Long-term erosion rates are unavailable but. based on site-specific data
for the Kuwait City shoreline (Hayes et al., 1977), rates are low because of:

1) Protection by the rocky, low-tide terrace.

2)

The compartmentalized nature of the shoreline.

3)

Low wave energy.

Lacking tropical storms and associated storm surges, beach erosion is limited
to periods of highest tides and infrequent shamal winds from northerly
components.
Sediments and Beach Morphology
Sediments along the KWF are a mixture of sand, building blocks, rock,
and other debris (Hayes et al., 1977). Gravel-sized sediment was found to
occur at the base of eroding scarps, the upper swash line (limited small
sizes), at the toe of the beach, and at various positions on the low-tide
terrace depending on exposure or mining of the beach platform. Sand was
found to occur as a thin veneer over the mid-beach face and also as
intertidal sand bars on the low-tide terrace. Most remaining beaches prior to
construction of the KWF project had moderately to poorly sorted sand
ranging from 0.25 millimeters (mm) to 1.0 mm diameter. The principal mode
occurs at the break between medium and fine sand (Hayes et al., 1977).
With low wave energy, the active beach slope tends to be steep where
beaches exist along the KWF. Hayes et al. (1977) found that slopes ranged
from 0.08 to 0.13. or roughly 1 on 10.
Berms were widest between
Shuwaikh Port and Bnade Al Kar. Typical high-tide berm widths in 1977
were 20-30 m.
From a recreational standpoint. Kuwait City beaches are
normally usable for bathing only during higher tide stages because of exposure
of the low-tide terrace.
Design Planning
A field-monitoring program was initiated in 1977 (Hayes et al., 1977) in
order to provide basic criteria for design of improvements to the waterfront
edge. These measurements became the basis for a set of design criteria and
recommendations for artificial beaches as well as larger-scale structures such
as a 400-m-diameter artificial island. Beaches were designed to accommodate
the high tide range and high-density recreational use.
A key aspect of the early, field-survey program was measurement of
littoral processes over ten days, every quarter for two years at six represen-

2548

COASTAL ENGINEERING-1986

tative stations along the KWF. Beach profiles were also measured at over 30
stations every quarter (Fig. 2). For the most part, Kuwait coastal processes
are exceedingly weak and changes in the beach profile are minimal (Hayes et
al.. 1977). However, Kana and Sexton (1978) measured storm processes
during a moderate shamal in February 1978 and found that this one event
accounted for 25 percent of the gross annual longshore transport.
It also
produced 2-4 m3/m of erosion along the active profile where sand beaches
existed.
These field data provided confirmation of the predominance of
northwesterly winds and waves along the waterfront.

FIGURE 2.
waterfront.

Coastal process and selected beach profile stations monitored along the Kuwait

Wave-refraction models were developed for Kuwait Bay and the waterfront shoreline by RPI (1979) and Al-Sarawi et al. (1986).
Galvin (1979)
prepared the original estimate of design waves, using standard hindcasting
procedures which were applied in the earlier refraction analysis. The models
provided guidance on local longshore transport rates and directions, and the
presumed stable configuration of artificial beaches into the incident wave field.
Example regional and inshore diagrams are given in Figure 3.
These were
prepared with a program written by S.J. Siah using a finite-element grid
scheme (Al-Sarawi et al., 1986).

2549

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

^_z

WIND FROM NW,

TIDAL ELEV. +2.94 M KLD

/
/

/
/
(

//

i
)

//
1

( V
1

FIGURE 3. Regional (upper) and example inshore refraction diagram (lower) for the area
around Green Island. Input parameters are H1/3 = 1.37 m, T, = 4.6 s. Tidal elevation
approximates MHHW.

It was found that limited reaches of the Kuwait City shoreline would
accommodate recreational beaches. Some areas were considered unsuitable
because of exposure or proximity to tidal channels.
Other areas were
eliminated from consideration because of alternative land use such as a marina
or aquarium which were integral parts of the master plan.
RPI (1979)
recommended 6-8 pocket beaches bounded by groins which could double as
pedestrian promenades and outfall jetties for upland drainage.
Sand compatibility analyses indicated that an inland source would be required since nearshore deposits were considered unsuitable for environmental reasons. Sasaki
Associates (1979) incorporated these conceptual designs into the final master
plan.
Final design proceeded through 1981 with construction of Phase I
beginning that year.

2550

COASTAL ENGINEERING -1986

Construction
Phases I and II of the KWF project (Kuwait Towers to Doha Marina,
Fig. 1) were essentially complete by late 1986. Infrastructure and the major
design elementsretaining groins, the artificial island, and the "hook" at
Kuwait Towerswere completed before placement of sand in each artificial
beach.
Figure 4 illustrates a typical pocket-beach design and postconstruction
configuration in December 1985 (Fig. 4b). Given the local orientation of the
shoreline oblique to predominant waves refracting from the northwest, a
typical configuration consisted of a broad downdrift end with the widest part
of the berm measuring 150* m. Typical length of each beach was 500 m.
Each beach is backed by a revetment designed to +6.5* m Kuwait Land
Datum (KLD). The datum approximates local MLLW, thus placing the crest
of each structure about 2.5 m above highest still-water levels. Design berms
were set at +4.5 m KLD.
Figure 5 illustrates various stages of sand placement by land-based
equipment. The fill was placed in accordance with the design planform of
each beach to minimize losses. The beach face and lower part of the profile
were allowed to adjust naturally to an equilibrium slope (Fig. 5c).
Comparative profiles (Fig. 6) show the final configuration of two
representative beaches in relation to the original profile. Sediment sampling
by the authors in 1985 indicated the nourishment sand from upland matched
the native sand very well (Fig. 7).
Innovative Features
Two innovative design elements of the KWF project are shown in
Figures 8 and 9. The first. Green Island, consists of a 400-m-diameter artificial "island" armored with dolosse and connected to the mainland by a
"tombolo" beach.
Originally, the master plan called for a tidal channel
between the island and shore, but this concept was abandoned in favor of
recreational beaches. This design imitates the natural tendency of a shoreline
to develop an isthmus (tombolo) in the lee of an offshore island where
sediment supply is plentiful.
A second, unusual design element was the "hook" built on the exposed,
low-tide terrace adjacent to Kuwait Towers (Fig. 9). This feature anchors a
pocket beach facing west into the principal fetch direction.
Postconstruction Monitoring
Postconstruction surveys have been initiated by Al Sarawi et al. (1986)
in order to develop preliminary estimates of erosion and changes in local
coastal processes produced by the KWF project.
These surveys include
quarterly rod-and-level measurements and coastal process measurements over
ten-day periods. Additional measurements have been taken to monitor inshore

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

2551

turbidity levels adjacent to the beach fill. Surveyed profiles have been analyzed to compute sediment budgets for several compartments along the shoreline.

Z^^Z

METERS

NORTHWESTERLY WAVES -

FIGURE 4. (a) Typical pocket beach designed for the KWF project. Alignment is into the
predominant wave direction to minimize longshore sand losses. Retaining structures double as
promenades and outfalls, (b) Pocket beach nearing completion on 12 December 1985 along
the KWF project.

2552

COASTAL ENGINEERING-1986

FIGURE 5. Stages of beach construction by land-based equipment beginning with spreading

along the profile (top), natural adjustment of the beach face (middle), and final completion in
an equilibrium planform (bottom). Photos taken at low tide in March 1985 by T.W. Kana.

2553

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

KUWAIT WATERFRONT PROJECT
STATION
KT-16
VERTICAL EXAG 5 1

DASHED LINE
SOLID LINE
0

ig MAR 1877
16 SEPT 1984

NEW ARTIFICIAL BEACH

NEW BEACH FILL

84.1 m3/m

DISTANCE |M|

KUWAIT WATERFRONT PROJECT

10 -

STATION:
KT-19
VERTICAL EXAG 5:1

<>
5
ae

20 MAR 1977
17 SEPT 1884

NEW ARTIFICIAL BEACH

NEW BEACH FILL

l-

4 -

DASHED LINE
SOLID LINE

~~""552^u

I.

""X^- 51.1m3/m
V

-.^

Nv

*---.iN-_

0-

FIGURE 6. Comparative profiles from two representative artificial beaches showing the fill in
relation to the preconstruction profile (see Fig. 2 for station location).

GRHIN SIZE (MM)

B.SB

0.25

WTURfB. BEfiCHES
FILL BEBCMES

-0.5 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.S

3.0

3.5

4.0

GRAIN SIZE (PHI)

FIGURE 7. Frequency-size curves for composite samples of artificial and natural beach
sediments along the KWF study area. Note the slightly better sorting of natural deposits, but
generally very good correspondence between the two curves.

2554

COASTAL ENGINEERING-1986

KUWAIT BAY

FIGURE 8. Conceptual plan for Green Island (Sasaki Associates. 1979) and an aerial photo
of the feature nearing completion on 12 December 1985. Note the connecting beaches shaped
into a tombolo. Kuwait Towers is in the upper right corner.

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

2555

OUTER REVETMENT/
DOLOSSE ARMOR UNITS

FIGURE 9. Conceptual plan for the artificial beach at Kuwait Towers and an aerial photo of
construction on 12 December 1985. The beach is oriented into the primary fetch direction
from the west. The jetty shown extending from the hook in the photo is a temporary feature
for loading rock imported from Oman for the project.

2556

COASTAL ENGINEERING -1986

The typical unit-fill volume for artificial beaches was 50-85 m3/m.
Interestingly, this volume was less than might be expected because each of
the new beaches was "perched" on a low-tide terrace. This eliminated much
of the profile adjustment normally associated with profile renourishment. On
the other hand, the high-tide range required construction of the berm at
elevations much higher than typical for beach nourishment. Total quantities
of beach fill were unavailable at the time of this writing because some of the
beaches had not been completed by the time of the most recent survey (July
1985). However, through that date, approximately 300,000 m3 of sand had
been added to the KWF project in the beach zone. For beaches which had
been in place for at least one year, the extent of profile movement (sweep
zone) was typically less than 5 m3/m. or about 6-10 percent of the average,
unit-nourishment volume.
This compares with typical adjustments of 50
percent or more of the initial fill volume during other beach nourishment
projects in order to build up subtidal portions of the profile.
Compared with the 1977-1979 period, measurements of coastal
processes indicated little change in wave-energy flux at three monitoring
stations (P3 just west of Green Island; P2 at the easternmost pocket beach;
and PI, 3 km from Ras al Ardh along the hardened, existing shoreline).
Only one station monitored (P4, 1 km southwest of Kuwait Towers)
experienced a significant decrease in wave energy, with mean breaker heights
decreasing by 40 percent. This is probably a result of construction of the
hook at Kuwait Towers which tends to shift incident waves refracting around
the headland further downdrift.
Despite the similarities in wave-energy flux at most stations, there was
measurably reduced net longshore transport at P3 near Green Island and at
P2 near Al Shaab Sea Club (the only two sites where processes were
routinely measured along new beaches for comparison with the 1977-1979
surveys). This could be attributed, in part, to sheltering by Green Island
during winds from easterly components. Westerly component winds produced
comparable wave heights as the 1977-1979 data set. but lower longshore
transport rates because of the realignment of the pocket beach into the
predominant approach direction. At the other pocket beach, P2. the new
shoreline alignment is offset about eight degrees from the strandline, reducing
the incident wave angle into the compartment. Thus, net longshore transport
has also decreased.
Although long-term monitoring is needed to determine the ultimate
success and longevity of each artificial beach, preliminary evidence suggests
the fill has rapidly adjusted to an equilibrium planform and profile. Aerial
overflights in December 1984 and December 1985. as well as periodic ground
inspections, showed no evidence of large sediment plumes, sand spits, or
other geomorphic indicators of rapid longshore transport. This contrasts with
a situation documented by Hayes et al. (1977) in which a small-scale
nourishment project at Al Shaab Sea Club experienced rapid loss of fill
because of improper sediment size (too fine) and a design which presumably
was out of equilibrium with a natural planform into the predominant wave
direction.

ARTIFICIAL BEACHES DESIGN

2557

Conclusions
Early surveys after construction of artificial beaches along the Kuwait
waterfront indicate:
1)

It is possible to construct artificial beaches in high tide-range settings

(up to 3.5 m) which are usable for swimming throughout most of the
tidal cycle.

2)

Orientation of artificial beaches should be aligned into the predominant

wave approach to minimize sand transport. Wave-refraction models
using appropriate hindcast wind frequencies is a minimum design
requirement. However, site-specific littoral process measurements should
be made to confirm local sand transport patterns, especially where
inshore bathymetry is subtle and irregular such as Kuwait's shoreline.

3)

Retaining structures were necessary in the Kuwait situation because of

other design elements which required separation from recreational
beaches. The design of shore-perpendicular structures in this case was
modified to incorporate stormwater outfalls, pedestrian promenades, and
decorative lighting. Onshore amenities were sited at the downdrift end
of each beach where more people would be likely to congregate along
the wide part of the berm.

4)

Construction of perched beaches on a stable, low-tide platform is

facilitated in low-energy, mesotidal areas if the fill is placed at an
equilibrium planform and profile slope. Nearby natural beaches provide
the best guidance for berm elevations and slope.
Provided beach
quality fill is used, this reduces turbidity in the nearshore zone and
allows artificial beaches to achieve a natural look much faster.
Construction by land-based equipment also reduces turbidity levels in
comparison to a dredging operation.

Recommendations for Further Study

Given at least eight discrete and independent beaches constructed for
the KWF project, it will be possible to develop a controlled data base on
each one's response to the prevailing wave and tide regime. Additional profile
survey stations should be set up and monitored 2-4 times each year to
develop sediment budgets for each compartment.
Such surveys will
demonstrate whether each beach seeks an equilibrium planform, is retained
within the control structures, or tends to shift in the longshore direction
under seasonal wave patterns. The low-energy shoreline along Kuwait Bay
and the compartmented beach system also provide a workable prototype
setting to conduct experiments of onshore/offshore sand transport and the
role of natural low-tide sills in stabilizing the profile (i.e., a perched beach).
Experience gained from the KWF project beaches should be useful in the
design of artificial beaches in other high, tide-range settings.

2558

COASTAL ENGINEERING-1986

Acknowledgments
The Kuwait Waterfront Project is being developed by the Municipality
of Kuwait. The authors thank the director of the project for permission to
publish this work. Monitoring funds included a grant to Dr. Al-Sarawi from
the Kuwait Environment Protection Council. We acknowledge the many
people from the Municipality of. Kuwait, Kuwaiti Engineers' Office. Kuwait
University, Sasaki Associates, Research Planning Institute, and Coastal Science
& Engineering, Inc., among others, who have assisted in the project.
References
Al-Sarawi, M.. A.H. Bu-Olayan, M. Ghannoum, T.W. Kana, B.J. Baca, and S.J. Siah. 1986.
Assessment of coastal dynamics and water quality changes associated with the Kuwait
waterfront project. Final Report. Environment Protection Council; Faculty of Science,
Kuwait University, Safat, 199 pp. + appendices.
British Admiralty.
Britain.

1982.

Northern Arabian Gulf.

Chart for Navigation, London, Great

Gait, J.A., D.L. Payton, G.M. Torgrimson. and G. Watabayashi. 1983. Trajectory analysis
for NOWRUS oil spill with specific application to Kuwait. Tech. Rept.. U.S. Dept.
Commerce. NOAA, 60 pp. + appendices.
Galvin. C.J. 1979. Design wave height calculations for four sites on the Kuwait shore.
Tech. Memo, to Research Planning Institute. Inc.; by C.J. Galvin, Coastal Engineer,
Springfield, Vir., 5 pp.
Hayes, M.O.. J. Michel, and T.W. Kana. 1977. Beach processes study, including morphology
and sediments for Kuwait waterfront project. Tech. Rept. to Sasaki Associates. Inc.; by
RPI. Columbia. S.C., 52 pp.
Holland. M.F. 1981. Kuwait waterfront project: an interdisciplinary approach to design.
Proc. 7th Conf. Coastal Society, Bethesda, Md., pp. 53-60.
Kana, T.W., and W.J. Sexton. 1978. Beach processes study-Kuwait City waterfront.
Rept. No. 2-KWF to Sasaki Associates, Inc.; by RPI, Columbia, S.C.. 31 pp.

|n

Tech.

Kana, T.W.. B.J. Baca, and S.J. Siah. 1986. Chalets at Dubaiyeh: environmental impact
and coastal engineering studies. Final Report, Kuwaiti Engineers' Office: Coastal Science
& Engineering. Inc., Columbia, S.C.. 102 pp. + appendices.
Research Planning Institute, Inc. 1979. Kuwait waterfront project final report on coastal
studies (March 1977 through March 1979). Final Rept. to Sasaki Associates. Inc.: by
RPI, Columbia, S.C., 105 pp. + appendices.
Sasaki Associates. 1979. Master plan, final report, Kuwait waterfront project. Final Rept. to
Municipality of Kuwait: by Sasaki Associates, Inc.. Watertown, Mass., 85 pp. +
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