The Kuwait Towers are a group of three slender towers in Kuwait City, standing on a promontory into the Persian Gulf. Built as part of a water distribution project, they were officially inaugurated in March 1979. Today they are rated as a landmark and symbol of modern Kuwait. The largest tower holds 4,500 cubic metres of water, a restaurant, a café, a lounge and a reception hall. The towers have been closed since March 2012 for maintenance.Photograph: Richard Bartz