If you’ve wandered through the streets of Kuwait City with a charming, hand-illustrated map in hand, chances are you’ve already encountered the work of Moe. Quietly creative and brimming with thoughtful energy, Moe is an artist who doesn’t just draw buildings—he breathes new life into them. Through his collaborative map project, he’s turned exploration into a personal, artful experience.

“I usually introduce myself as Moe, an artist—and when my confidence is at its peak, a comic artist,” he laughs.
Though art wasn’t always a clear career path, it was always in the background. “I’ve always liked to draw,” Moe reflects. “Me and my sister used to write and draw short stories too. But I wouldn’t say that I’ve always wanted to be an artist. Perhaps I never thought that it could be a path to go through in life at the time.”

Still, the passion never faded, and years later, it found its perfect canvas in an unexpected place: a black-and-white map handed to him during a backpacking trip through Mumbai. “The map was simple but it was very personal,” he recalls. “It highlighted things that only a local friend can tell you about—where to do your laundry, where to eat, and so on.” That spark of hyper-local storytelling through illustration stayed with him. “It was this map that made me itch to do something for Kuwait City.”

The first map of Kuwait was entirely hand-drawn by Moe. It featured offbeat nuggets of knowledge like where to borrow a free bike or feed pigeons, combining the whimsical with the practical. “We launched it with the help of Norah Al Jassar, who added digital colors. We were lucky to find a sponsor for printing, and we delivered the map ourselves around different venues across Kuwait City.”

That early effort quickly turned into a multi-map journey. Moe teamed up with Sulaiman Al Rodhan, who brought in-depth knowledge of the city’s architecture and cultural sites. Together, they created four different editions, including a version focused on Salmiya and an Arabic translation. The goal was always the same: to help residents and visitors experience the city in a new, more connected way.
“As for the journey,” Moe says, “well, I hope that this map would help in pouring life back into the old buildings and museums around the city.”

Each version of the map has had its own rhythm and team. For the latest edition, Moe took a step back from illustrating and instead managed the project alongside a talented Indian comic artist named Boris. “The idea we have in the future is to work with a new local artist to launch these hand-drawn maps,” he shares.

The team behind the project reads like a creative dream crew. “Sulaiman takes care of the project in terms of dealing with organizations within the map, gathering the extensive list you can find on the back, and handling social media. Norah Al Jassar worked on the cover and Arabic lyrics. Alaa Al Terkait helped us edit and translate the map. And then there’s me,” he says modestly.

Selecting the landmarks was no easy task, and there were limitations. “We wished the map was able to include Al Jahra and the north of Kuwait, but for visual purposes, we couldn’t,” Moe explains. “However, we tried to include everything we knew and thought of as important.”

When asked about his favorite part of the project, Moe’s response is as grounded as his illustrations. “I guess how well it was received,” he says. “And I wouldn’t change anything—this is a process, and with every new map we learn something new and build on it.”

As for what’s next, Moe and his team are thinking of ways to make the maps more interactive. “We’re thinking of launching a puzzle version for young kids,” he says. And beyond the map, Moe has been busy building something even bigger. He currently manages TaDang, an art residency and creative hub in DaLat, Vietnam. “We hope to get artists from Kuwait and the Middle East to the Southeast region and work together on some creative ideas.”

Will there be more maps in the future? “Yes, hopefully,” Moe says with a smile. “The puzzle… and perhaps other things.”

To aspiring creatives, Moe offers a heartfelt reminder: “Trust yourself, and God will show you the way. That’s what I say to myself.”

With a pen, a passion for storytelling, and a knack for collaboration, Moe’s maps are more than just guides—they’re invitations to rediscover our cities and see the beauty in the details we often overlook.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE
What do you most value about your friends?
Their friendship.
Which living person do you most admire?
I honestly don’t know. There are a lot of people that have some characteristics that I admire (and many other characteristics that I don’t).
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A healthy body, healthy mind, a decent income, a small home in nature (yet close enough to the city) and the perfect companion.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Perhaps food.
What is your most treasured possession?
Three paintings.
What is your greatest fear?
Hmm. Perhaps not reaching the place I see myself at (someday).
What is your most marked characteristic?
I am not sure.
Which talent would you most like to have?
A talent that allows me to be handy in my life: maybe carpentry or a cook…
What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
A year (and a half) ago I would have said my optimism. Now, I am trying to figure it out.
What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
A lot. But I’ll say hypocrisy (because it just popped into my mind.)
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
But…
What are your favorite words to live by?
These questions are very hard. I don’t think I have one.
Where would you most like to live?
In SE ASIA.
If you could have any job, what would it be?
Something in the creative field. But I believe I already have it.
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
I honestly don’t know. I have small achievements that are important to me but not sure if there’s one GREAT achievement, perhaps, not yet.
What do you hope for the future?
More joy.

You can follow Moe’s artistic adventures on Instagram @moe.nologues.