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  • 2 Other destinations
  • 3.1 History
  • 3.2 Climate
  • 3.3 Terrain
  • 4.1 Entry requirements
  • 4.2 By plane
  • 4.5 By boat
  • 5.1 By road
  • 5.2 By public transport
  • 5.3 By taxi
  • 5.4 By rental car
  • 9.3 Shopping
  • 14.1 Extreme weather
  • 14.3 Photography
  • 15 Stay healthy
  • 17.2 Mobile
  • 17.3.1 Mobile Internet
  • 17.3.2 Connection points
  • 17.3.3 Home Internet
  • 17.4 Telephone

Kuwait [dead link] (Arabic: الكويت) is a monarchy situated at the Persian Gulf, nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia .

Historically, Kuwait was a strategic trade port between Mesopotamia, India, and Persia. Like many of its neighbours, Kuwait is endowed with oil and gas wealth.

Cities [ edit ]

Map

There are 6 governorates in Kuwait, each of which has several areas in it. Most of Jahra, Ahmadi and Mubarak al-Kabeer are residential with no tourists attractions.

  • 29.375 47.98 1 Kuwait City – the capital
  • 29.333333 48.033333 4 Hawalli – the closest southern suburb, about 10 min from Kuwait City by car

Other destinations [ edit ]

Understand [ edit ].

Kuwait has a population of 3,806,616 (Jun 2012), including about 2 million non-Kuwaitis, with ethnic groups consist of 45% Kuwaiti, 35% other Arabs, among whom Egyptians predominate, 9% South Asian, 4% Iranian, and 7% others. Kuwait ranks among the most liberal Gulf nations in terms of religion. While Islam is the official religion with fully 85% of the population practicing the Muslim faith (divided into 70% Sunni and 30% Shia), others including Christians, Hindus and Zoroastrians make up 15% of the population.

The country is divided to governorates, which are divided into areas, which are divided into blocks. Knowing the area and block is necessary, as the street numbers may be repeated across different blocks of the same areas. Area names are not repeated across the country, so it would be unusual if you mention the governorate after the area. See the Get around section.

Electrical current is 220 Volts a/c, plugs are either standard British, Europlugs (2 prong diamond-shaped) or German Schuko variety—adapters are readily available.

History [ edit ]

The Kuwaitis trace their roots to the Al-Anisa and Al-Utub tribes from Nejd province, which is now in Saudi Arabia. They moved to Qatar and then to Al-Qurain, now in Kuwait, by around 1710. By 1752, the long term residents of Al-Qurain decided that they needed a central authority to tamp down tribal warfare in the area. The Al-Sabah tribe was chosen to rule, and the first sheikh, Sabah ibn Jaber, reigned as Sabah I from 1752 to 1756. The Sabahs mediated religious and tribal disputes with diplomacy. They also played the Ottomans, Egyptians and European powers against each other while maintaining their autonomy. In 1899, Mubarak I signed an agreement making Kuwait a British Protectorate, with the sheikhs maintaining local control while putting their foreign policy in the hands of the British, in exchange for military protection from other powers. The British had already had a presence in Kuwait for some time: in the 1770s, Abdullah I already had a contract with the British to deliver mail for them up to Aleppo , Syria .

In the 1920s and the 1930s, Kuwait's main product was pearls. However, income from the precious stones took a hit shortly thereafter, when the Japanese flooded the market with cultured pearls. In 1938, oil was first struck at the Burgan oil field in Kuwait, and by 1946, oil exports began. In 1961, Kuwait nullified the treaty of 1899, and became an independent nation.

In the early 1990s, Kuwait was annexed and invaded by Iraq. In the months to follow, a US-led coalition completely liberated Kuwait in four days and drove out the Iraqi forces.

Kuwait is an emirate and a developed country. The Kuwaiti dinar, the country's currency, is the strongest currency in the world. Although it has one of the world's largest oil reserves, it is often considered to be the most oil-dependent country in the Middle East .

Climate [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters. Natural hazards  : sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they occasionally bring heavy rain which can, in some rare cases, damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August. Common temperatures range from 5°C in Dec/Jan to over 50°C from Jun to Aug.

It would be prudent for travellers to pack clothes accordingly. Sunglasses for heat or during sandstorms won't be amiss.

Terrain [ edit ]

Flat to slightly undulating desert plain. Highest point: 306 meters above sea level, in the al Jahrah desert.

Get in [ edit ]

Entry requirements [ edit ].

Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ( Bahrain , Oman , Qatar , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ) may enter Kuwait without a visa and stay indefinitely.

The nationals of 54 countries are eligible of visas on arrival at Kuwait's airport and land borders. The on-arrival visa is valid for a single entry of up to 3 months and costs KD 3, plus KD 3 for a "stamping" fee (visa and stamping fee not required for nationals of Italy , Norway , Sweden , Turkey , United Kingdom and United States of America ). Those 54 nations are: Andorra , Australia , Austria , Belgium , Bhutan , Brunei , Bulgaria , Cambodia , Canada , Croatia , Cyprus , Czechia , Denmark , Estonia , Eswatini , Finland , France , Georgia , Germany , Greece , Hong Kong , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Japan , Laos , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Malaysia , Monaco , Netherlands , New Zealand , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania , San Marino , Serbia , Singapore , Slovakia , Slovenia , South Korea , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , United Kingdom , United States of America , Vatican City and Vietnam .

All other nationals need advance visas, which require an invitation from a sponsor in Kuwait. Kuwait Airways offices and major hotels can provide invitations, but the process can take up to a week and may require a fee. The Embassy of Kuwait in Japan has some information.

Import restrictions: Alcohol and pork are not legal and may not be imported into the country. If you bring either in, it will be confiscated at the airport and you may be subjected to fines for attempting to import these banned goods. Your bags will be X-rayed and/or hand-searched on arrival.

By plane [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

The national airline, Kuwait Airways , serves Frankfurt , Geneva , Rome , Kuala Lumpur , London , New York City , Paris and several other European, Asian, African and Middle Eastern destinations, but is best avoided. It is a flag carrier with a poor reputation, its planes are old (although some long haul routes have gotten new planes), delays are frequent, poor and rude cabin attendants, and weak customer service. You will have to use Kuwait Airways if you are travelling directly from New York's JFK Airport , however. Almost all its flights are served at Terminal 4. Flights to and from JFK still go to the old terminal, Terminal 1, due to the increased security requirements for US flights.

Semi-low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways provides a popular alternative for regional flights. It is the only user of Terminal 5.

International airlines serving Kuwait include British Airways from London , Lufthansa from Frankfurt , KLM from Amsterdam , Singapore Airlines from Singapore , and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul , plus connections through other large Gulf hubs ( Dubai , Doha , Abu Dhabi , etc.) are accessible through Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airlines, and Gulf Air. Airlines that operate seasonal flights to Kuwait include Malaysia Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, Bulgaria Air and Czech Airlines. Code shares with other members of international airline alliances often offer cheaper air fares than the carrier servicing the route to and from Kuwait. All of these other airlines use Terminal 1 as well, except for Aegean, which uses Terminal 3, a small building meant for private planes at first.

If you need a visa on arrival at the airport, do not head down to Arrivals; instead, look for the "Visa Issuing" desks next to gate 2, opposite the Dasman Lounge. Join the mob (no queuing is possible) to have your passport copied and pick up a queue ticket, fill out a visa entry form, and wait for your number to be called. (Be careful, you will only have 2 or 3 seconds to respond before you are skipped.) Payment for the visa stamp is accepted only in Kuwaiti dinars, have the exact change (KD 3) ready or pay by credit card, there are a number of bureaux de change in the arrivals area, where the best rates appear to be for U.S. dollars, Australian dollars and euros. You'll also get an A4-sized sheet entirely in Arabic, which you must keep -- this is your visa! You can now proceed straight through immigration without queuing, just show your visa form at any desk and they'll let you through. Generally, you can pass through the open gate for flight crew and show your visa to the guard just past passport control.

Airport taxis can be found outside arrivals, with the fare to most points in the city being no more than KD 5. If you want to go to a central location busses are a viable and cheap option (less than KD 1), use Google for planning. Most hotels can arrange a transfer for the same price if not free of charge, which may be safer, especially for single females, and a more comfortable option. When in operation, you can also use the "limousine" service which is located to the right of the outside exit for KD 6-10 depending on destination. These generally have a reputation as having much safer drivers than the airport taxis (driven by Kuwaiti nationals who usually do not observe posted speed limits and will even drive on the verge/shoulder at 140 km/h). It is illegal for a regular taxi to pick up arrivals passengers at the airport so most will refuse to do so because of the fear of hefty fines and possible imprisonment or deportation. Regular taxis are a worse choice in most cases anyway, being driven by chronically underpaid expats from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and usually poorly maintained. Drivers of regular cabs are often totally unaware of how to get anywhere, often speak little or no English and frequently have poor or no concept of personal hygiene.

By car [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

Kuwait shares its borders with only 2 nations: Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The political situation in Iraq is volatile, so it is advisable not to use that route. There are long-distance bus services to Dammam and other points in Saudi Arabia, but you will of course need to have a valid Saudi visa.

By bus [ edit ]

There are 3 bus lines in Kuwait: KPTC, City Bus, and KGL. KPTC, the Kuwait Public Transportation Company, operates only within Kuwait and is used mainly by the poorer expats in menial jobs. Buses are frequently poorly maintained, sometimes non-air-conditioned (and thus hazardous in summer). Apart of that they are a reliable and very cheap option (under 1 KD into the city center), especially compared to taxis. Just use Google to find the appropriate lines.

KGL is the only one of the three that provides routes to other GCC countries, but visas will probably be an issue for non-GCC citizens.

By boat [ edit ]

Scheduled ferries to and from Iran are handled by Kuwait-Iran Shipping Company, phone +965 2410498, fax +965 2429508. The ferries go three times a week from Ash Shuwayk in Kuwait to Bushehr in Iran. One-way tickets from KD 37.

Speedboats also go between Ash Shuwayk and Manama in Bahrain. A ticket is KD 45.

Ports and harbors:

  • Ash Shu'aybah
  • Ash Shuwaykh
  • Kuwait City
  • Mina' 'Abd Allah
  • Mina' al Ahmadi
  • Mina' Su'ud

Get around [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

With an area of 17,820 square kilometres (6,880 sq mi), Kuwait is among the smallest countries in the world. A journey from the capital city to Umm Qasr in Iraq will take you roughly 60-80 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

By road [ edit ]

Kuwait has a good road system. All signs are in English and Arabic. The major north-south roads are effectively freeways numbered Expressway 30, 40, etc. These are traversed by increasingly widely spaced ring roads named First, Second, etc., making navigation fairly easy.

Using Google Maps for navigation is a good option, as it offers traffic and roads, and all major destinations. However, if you need to find a location using its address (which you probably won't need to). Google Maps will even give you wrong address for your current location and places. This is due to how Kuwait addresses work mixed with lack of proper support of Kuwait subdivisions in Google Maps platform. Areas are labelled as neighbourhoods and blocks as sub-neighbourhoods . For example, if you are in Street 1, block 1, Jabriya, your address will appear as Street 1, Kuwait City (since it is the only city in Kuwait, and neighbourhoods aren't supposed to be included in addresses). So if you intend to go/find a place using its address, make sure you install the free and easy-to-use official Kuwait Finder GIS system on your phone from its apps market.

By public transport [ edit ]

Kuwait's public transport is adequate with three companies (KPTC, City Bus and KGL) running dozens of routes in every major city. Waiting times for buses range from one minute for most frequent routes to 1 hour minutes for less used routes. All buses are equipped with air-conditioners and usually one can find a seat without much trouble. Although, during peak hours (7-9AM, 2-4PM, 8-9PM) most routes are packed and public transport should be avoided for those seeking comfortable travelling. Although areas with expatriates majority are covered with many routes, Kuwaiti residence areas are scarcely connected with public transport buses and are reachable mostly by taxis only.

Bus nr 500 runs to Abdaly, a village in the north on the border with Iraq. It departs every 3 hours (6AM, 9AM, etc.) from KPTC bust station in Hassawi.

By taxi [ edit ]

These are recognisable by orange licence plates and may be hired by the day, in which case fares should be agreed beforehand. Although most taxis have meters these are rarely used as in practice, meters are always "broken", covered, missing or just ignored, and you'll need to agree on fares in advance. Beware that cabbies will often ask for ridiculous prices. Share-taxis are also available. Hailing taxis from the road is the most practical approach. However some sources have reported it was not advisable, particularly for females, and they recommend that taxis are booked in advance by telephone from a reputable taxi company. The cream-colored taxis are the cheapest, but also likely to be poorly maintained and possibly dangerously so, considering the general speed and size of the rest of the vehicles on Kuwaiti roads.

A standard rate is applicable in most taxis, but those at hotel ranks are more expensive. Naive westerners routinely pay 2 to 5 times more than the standard rates which are typically KD 0.500 for up to a 5 minute ride plus about KD 0.100 per minute thereafter. The only exception being airport departures which are approximately KD 3. Tipping is not expected, however you should negotiate fares before boarding the taxi. It is customary to collect all baggage and exit the taxi before offering payment to avoid conflicts or loss of personal property should a taxi driver demand more than the agreed price after arriving at the destination. This way, the passenger can drop the money in the seat and walk away if necessary.

It is common to share a taxi (which is often an unofficial taxi or a private car) from bus stations to more remote destinations such as Abdaly on Iraq border. Taxi drivers often wait until the car fills up with passengers and this may take an hour. Expect to pay KD 2-3 for the shared taxi with 3-4 other passengers. Do not agree to pay more. If the driver refuses, just wait a couple of minutes for another driver.

kuwait tourism wikipedia

By rental car [ edit ]

Self-drive is available. If you produce an International Driving Permit, the rental company will, at the customer's expense, be able to arrange the statutory temporary insurance, which is drawn on the driver's visa. If you arrive at Kuwait International Airport, you will find the car hiring companies located at your left after you exit from the baggage claiming area. You can find international companies such as Avis and Budget among others.

However, driving in Kuwait, especially for those new to driving in the country, can be extremely chaotic and frightening. Turn signals and lane divisions are effectively optional, speeding and aggressive driving is commonplace, and there is little active enforcement of traffic laws. This is especially true for Kuwait city. Driving outside the city, you may have three lanes almost to yourself as there is little traffic. However, the speed limit is 120 km/h beyond which a fine of 20 KD will be imposed upon you. This may be frustrating to drivers seeing the vast expanse of space ahead of them in the highways.

A law has been passed to disallow the use of cell phones while driving (including voice calls and text messaging or SMS.) If driving, ensure you keep out of the left hand "fast" lane unless you are very relaxed about large 4-wheel drive vehicles tailgating you.

If involved in a car accident , do not attempt to move your car until police arrive and have made a report or you will be arrested.

Hiring a car may be a good (the only?) opportunity to experience the desert, the coast and the oilfields.

Prices are comparable to hiring a car in European countries, e.g. KD 10 for a small two door Japanese made car, 4WD and American made sports cars may cost around KD 25. Petrol costs KD 0.1 per litre, gas stations are plenty. However, you need to pay with cash or KNET; foreign credit cards are generally not accepted.

Talk [ edit ]

Arabic is the official language. Although in schools the classical version of Arabic is taught, just like everywhere in the Arab world, Kuwaitis use the Kuwaiti dialect in everyday conversation. English is widely used and spoken. Most of the traffic signs in Kuwait are bilingual. English is taught as a second language in schools in Kuwait beginning at the first grade. Many Kuwaitis speak English fluently as there are lots of private English and American schools and universities where all subjects are taught in English and Arabic is taken as a subject. A lot of Kuwaitis enroll their children in these schools.

Due to a large population of working Indians living here, languages like Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam are also widely spoken.

See [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

See Kuwait City for listings of attractions in the city. Kuwait is not the ideal vacation spot in the region, but if on a business trip, there are some sites worth seeing:

  • 29.430592 48.270764 1 Failaka Island , [email protected] ( take KPTC ferry from Ras Al Salmiya (Ras al Ardh) near scientific center or private speedboat near Marina Mall ), ☏ +965 66111924 . A port with many old dhows, Failaka Island can be reached by regular ferry services. There are also some Bronze Age and Greek archaeological sites well worth viewing, including the island's Greek temple. Failaka Island was named Ikarus by the Greeks who, under Alexander the Great, established an outpost in the island. Failaka was heavily damaged during the Iraqi invasion. Plans are underway to develop the island into a large-scale tourist attraction. KD 3 .  
  • Al Jahra city . Traditional-style boums and sambuks (boats) are still built in Al Jahrah, although, nowadays, vessels are destined to work as pleasure boats rather than pearl fishing or trading vessels.  
  • Mina Al Ahmadi . Mina Al Ahmadi, lying 19 km (12 miles) south of Kuwait City, is an oil port with immense jetties for supertanker traffic. The Oil Display Center pays homage to the work of the Kuwait Oil Company (reservations needed).  
  • 29.421867 47.684854 2 Kazmah desert cliffs ( go on Road 80, turn right to Road 801 to Bubiyan, take first exit and turn left ). Being one of the few elevations in the Kuwaiti desert these cliffs allow a good view on the bay if the visibility is good. A lot of young Kuwaitis come here on weekends to challenge their Jeeps and quads uphill.  
  • Desert , anywhere ( go north on Road 801, west on Road 70 or south on road 306 ). Although the city keeps growing, Kuwait is still largely a vast and uninhabited desert. Going away from the city many roads will take you to places where there is nothing but sand, sand and more sand. While this may be a form of excitement you'd look for every weekend in the winter as the locals do, it's also a nice experience once if you are visiting during the extremely hot summer.  
  • War sites and memorials . The Gulf War in 1990-91 affected Kuwait's economy and ecology, however there are some sites from the war that can be found across the country.  

Do [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

See Kuwait City for more activities in the city.

  • Sea Clubs & spas . Many of Kuwait's sea clubs offer a wide variety of facilities and activities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beaches, tennis courts, gymnasiums, bowling and even karate.  
  • Riding . Horse-riding clubs flourish in the winter. The Hunting and Equestrian Club is on the 6th ring road near Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Armed Forces Hospital.  
  • Golf . The golf course "Sahara Club" is located near the Hunting and Equestrian Club beside 6th ring road. It features a five-star restaurant and a spa.  
  • Swimming and diving . Swimming is allowed on various public beaches along the Gulf Street. Women in swimwear are rare and might offend locals. The beach resorts as Radisson SAS and Palms offer beaches to both genders but will charge. However, since most beach areas are also the dump sites for raw, untreated sewage, swimming near the mainland is not recommended. Few homes have swimming pools and those that do are generally indoors, below ground. Many of the big hotels and spas have reasonably sized pools, but again can be quite expensive for those who are not guests.  
  • Boating . Sailing and scuba diving are available. Powerboating is a Kuwaiti passion. Contact any of the hotels on the beach and they can arrange a trip for you. The best beach front hotels are the Hilton Resort, Movenpick Resort, Marina Hotel and the Radisson SAS. Hiring a boat should be done with caution and the boat should be inspected carefully for signs of neglect before agreeing on a rental. Many unwary tourists have been stranded at sea for hours while the coastguard ineptly attempts a rescue because like automobiles in Kuwait, mechanical maintenance is generally not a high priority for most boat owners.  
  • Shopping in Malls . The largest mall in Kuwait is The Avenues on 5th ring road behind road 60. It is one of the largest malls in the whole Middle East and features a lot of clothing and electronics stores as well as a Carrefour and an Ikea. Furthermore it offers the best cinematic experience in Kuwait with VIP theatres with massaging reclining seats and a personal butler. Other popular malls include Marina Mall (Salmiya), Souq Sharq (Sharq), 360 Mall (includes a 3D Imax cinema, located in Jinoob al Surra between 6th ring road and road 50) and Al-Kout Mall (Fahaheel) which is famous for its orchestra musical fountains.  
  • Shopping on Markets . Regardless of the growing amount of malls, Kuwait still hosts a lot of small markets. See the buy section in the Kuwait City article.  
  • Drive to the Iraqi border ("Highway of death") . Rent yourself a car and drive north along highway 80. This six-lane road has almost no traffic and is almost straight, but gained some history during the war. You may get as far as the border control towards Iraq (around 1½ km before the border), but it's unlikely that you will get in (read: forget about it). Caution: check the current situation beforehand, be aware and know what you are doing! The border may be dangerous and border police is very alerted by cars approaching them! There is a gas station and a small supermarket right before the border control.  
  • Drive through oil fields . There might be tours but you can easily drive through oil fields yourself. The areas are rather spread out so you will only see a glimpse. Also, fields are heavily protected (do not approach the fences!). Every entrance gate is also protected (there will be police). Do not take pictures. But all this adds to the overall impression and shows the status if the black gold. The unnamed road behind Al Abdaliyah might be a good point to start with, then driving south of Al Jaber Air Base towards Wafra.  

Buy [ edit ]

Money [ edit ].

kuwait tourism wikipedia

The national currency is the Kuwaiti dinar , denoted by the symbol " د.ك " or "KD " (ISO code: KWD ). It has the distinction of being the world's strongest currency.

The dinar is divided into 1,000 fils. Notes are available in denominations of KD ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20. Coins are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 fils. Notes feature inscriptions in Arabic on the front and English inscriptions on the back, with Arabic numerals (the numerals used in English) on both sides.

Notes issued before 1994 , many of which were stolen during the Iraqi occupation, are no longer legal tender. You are unlikely to see these in Kuwait (the designs are different), but unscrupulous dealers elsewhere have been known to try to pass them off. See the Central Bank of Kuwait for pictures.

Exchanging money can be difficult and exchanging travelers cheques even impossible. Stick to ATMs , which are ubiquitous and work fine. Higher-end establishments accept credit cards .

Costs [ edit ]

Although Kuwait is a tax haven 0% VAT and 0% income tax, it would be hard to manage on under US$100 per day, and you can very easily spend US$250 or more just on an ordinary hotel room, though hotel rooms start at around €50.

Tipping is generally not necessary. Taking a service charge is illegal in Kuwait.

Prices on common expenses (as of May 2022):

  • Medium burger combo meal: KD 2 (McDonald's)
  • Pizzas for 2 regular size: KD 7–8 (Domino's, Papa John's)
  • Meal for 2, mid-range restaurant, three-course: KD 10–12
  • Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: KD 1 (Shawarma & Fatayir restaurants)
  • South Indian Takeaways: KD 0.5 to 2
  • Oranges (1 kg): 400–450 fils
  • Milk (1 litre): 300 fils
  • Single medium latte with an add-shot at Starbucks: KD 2
  • Falafel sandwiches: 100 fils (includes chips (fries), salad and tahina, law doesn't permit restaurant to increase that price)
  • Khubiz Irani (flat bread), fresh from the baker: 20 fils

Petrol prices are among the cheapest in the world and most of the time are less than water, literally, which explains the Kuwaiti penchant for huge fuel-guzzling U.S. import vehicles.

Shopping [ edit ]

Kuwait is a tax-free country. Custom-made items, imported items, and shipping out of the country can be expensive, so shop wisely. Businesses are required by law to allow exchanges on credit cards purchases, and returns or exchanges on non-credit cards purchases for a period of a fortnight. If in a rare case you think a store isn't obeying the laws, don't hesitate to call Consumer Protection Department at 135.

Eat [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

There is a huge array of restaurants in Kuwait. Because nightlife is virtually non-existent, most people go out to restaurants and malls. A wide variety of international cuisines is available in high-end restaurants, although some heavily pork-based cuisines (German, e.g.) are conspicuously absent. Kuwait is known for its culinary specialties and catering services. Restaurants can be found in food courts in malls, and alternatively many international restaurants are grouped together in certain areas in Kuwait, namely:

  • Behind the Roman Catholic Church in Kuwait City
  • Outside the Mövenpick Resort in Al-Bida'a, near Rumaithiya and Salmiya
  • In the Marina Crescent

Just ask any local where the "Restaurants Road" is and they will guide you to a road in Salmiya packed end-to-end with local restaurants serving a wide array of specialty sandwiches, juices and snacks. Alternatively, head to any of the major shopping malls which are also crowded with restaurants ranging from fast to gourmet food. Every conceivable U.S. chain is represented in Kuwait.

While rare, there are still some restaurants that serve traditional Kuwaiti food. Al-Marsa restaurant in Le Meridien Hotel (Bneid Al Gar location) has some traditional Kuwaiti seafood but with a relatively high price tag. A cheaper option is the quaint Shati Alwatia restaurant at the Behbehani Villa compound in the Qibla area of Kuwait City (behind the Mosques) and another Kuwaiti restaurant is Ferij Suwailih in salmiya area.

If you don't feel like going out to eat, just about every restaurant and eatery in the country delivers food anywhere. Order online from a number of sites and enjoy the same selections as at the restaurant for a tiny delivery fee (usually 200 to 400 fils) tacked onto the order total itself.

For general grocery shopping, each district has its own 'Co-operative Society' (Jumayya) which anyone can use, and they usually consist of a supermarket and a general do-it-yourself store. When paying for your grocery shopping the cashier will usually ask if you have a number (which is given to local customers as a way to build up credits). It is also normal that somebody will pack your grocery bags for you and will carry the bags to your car, unless you insist otherwise. It is customary to tip them about KD 0.500 if they do go to your car, although they do not normally wait around for it. Kuwait also offers a wide variety of hypermarkets ranging from local chains of excellent quality (The Sultan Company) to the ones operated by international heavy hitters such as Carrefour (By MAJ) and an Indian chain, LuLu. All of them offer selections of truly international range and usually at competitive prices.

Drink [ edit ]

Alcohol is banned outright in Kuwait. It may not be imported, manufactured, or possessed, even for personal use. Newspapers regularly report busts of illegal distilleries.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels in Kuwait are expensive, but major Western chains are well represented (see Kuwait City for hotel listings). Light sleepers should bring ear plugs as public announced prayers are broadcast before twilight and several times during the day.

Chalets and other weekend accommodation can be rented in many places along the southern part of the coast.

Work [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

The economy of Kuwait is best described as healthy: the standard of living is on par with many of the world's developed nations, the cost of living is low, unemployment is low, and taxes are virtually non-existent.

Many full-service office providers are available to businesses within Kuwait, such as IO Centers . Most large companies have high-quality office facilities but expect to see a significant portion of Kuwaiti businesses operating out of small 3- to 4-person offices. These businesses are usually owned by a Kuwaiti and staffed by Middle Easterners or Asians and don't usually hire nationals of Western descent. If you plan to work in Kuwait, check the academic requirements of desired positions, as in most cases, the Kuwaiti government insists on degrees from accredited universities.

Expect to be paid anywhere from KD400-800 for average middle-range positions to KD1000-1500 for higher jobs such as teaching or consulting. However, domestic maids can earn as little as KD50 per month, although food and accommodation are usually included with the job. Kuwait is heavily saturated with IT workers (mainly from India), so wages in the IT industry are meagre. If you are looking at accepting a job offer before coming to Kuwait, check carefully how much you will be paid and if your employer will assist you with accommodation. It is common for workers of Asian nationality to fall victim to promises of good pay and provision of accommodation only to find themselves having their passports confiscated and falling under the control of their sponsor. Be sure to check the reputation and creditability of any potential employer before accepting a position.

Any foreign national wishing to work in Kuwait must have a working visa under a Kuwaiti sponsor. There is no provision for freelance work. Foreign nationals found working without a work permit will be promptly apprehended and asked to leave, resulting in a possible ban from returning.

Stay safe [ edit ]

Kuwait, by and large, is a very safe country to visit.

Emergency telephone number (police, fire, ambulance) is 112 .

Extreme weather [ edit ]

Perhaps the biggest danger you will face is the hot climate . Temperatures can reach record highs in the summers, and this is strong enough to cause dehydration and exhaustion. Be sure to hydrate often when walking out during the day, and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the heat.

Crime [ edit ]

The crime threat in Kuwait is assessed as low. Violent crimes against foreigners are rare but do occur. Physical and verbal harassment of women are continuing problems. Kuwaiti drivers can also be quite reckless.

Photography [ edit ]

Photography is probably the easiest way for a visitor to (inadvertently) get into trouble.

Do not take pictures or record videos of government buildings or anything of strategic importance (airports, oil fields) or else you could be detained by the authorities.

Also, do not take pictures or record videos of Kuwaitis without their explicit permission; it is very rude.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Public health is entirely supported by the government at local clinics and hospitals, with a KD 5 fee paid by foreigners visiting Kuwait and KD 1 for expats with a resident visa, or a visitor's visa. Private non-governmental clinics are available as well, but charge much more at KD 30 and upwards. You will be entitled to free treatment in case of an accident or an emergency. In case of an emergency, call 112 .

Tap water is drinkable, although most of it is desalinated and not particularly tasty, and in summertime, you may have a hard time telling apart the hot and cold taps. Bottled water is available everywhere for a few hundred fils.

Respect [ edit ]

Much of what's considered good manners in the Arab world is applicable to Kuwait.

As is the case throughout the Middle East and North Africa , you should be very smart about what you openly say to someone — honour is an important part of Kuwaiti culture and you can be prosecuted or deported for disparaging someone's honour, i.e, insulting, humiliating, making fun of, embarassing, or making defamatory statements about someone in public.

The law is very broadly defined and open to interpretation. If you've got nothing nice to say to someone, do not say anything at all. Keep in mind that Kuwaitis, like their counterparts in the Gulf region, will not hesitate to react with anger if you do anything that makes them feel challenged or embarassed.

Kuwait adopts a live-and-let-live policy for clothing, and you'll see a wide range of styles: women wear anything ranging from daring designer fashions to head-to-toe black abayas with headscarves, while men can be seen both in T-shirts and shorts or the traditional dazzling white dishdashah . To avoid unnecessary attention, though, women will want to steer clear of showing midriffs. Ironically, low necklines are less offensive. Bikinis are fine at the hotel pool, but not on public beaches. Public nudity is prohibited everywhere and not tolerated.

Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the holy month of Ramadan or you may be fined or even go to jail. The fine is KD 100. Also, during Ramadan working hours may be shorter and restaurants will be closed during the day, even at the international airport. However, most supermarkets will remain open so food can still be purchased from there. Also, major hotels will offer breakfast (some start before dawn) and food during the day. Almost all restaurants offer Ramadan meals after dusk with set meals. If you are working, many employers will provide a space where Westerners may eat during Ramadan, but if not, it is inadvisable to consume anything in the presence of Muslim coworkers during Ramadan.

Although Kuwait is a relatively democratic country with some of the strongest press-freedoms in the Middle East , the ruling Al-Sabah family is venerated and the ruling family is projected by strict lèse-majesté laws, i.e, it is illegal to criticise them and challenge their authority. In Kuwait, the penalty for lèse-majesté is imprisonment . In 2013, a Kuwaiti teacher was sentenced to 11 years in prison for insulting the emir on social media.

Homosexuality is illegal, although you will frequently observe local men kissing when greeting and also holding hands when walking together, as this is not considered homosexual behavior in Kuwait.

Public display of affection between men and women is illegal.

Connect [ edit ]

kuwait tourism wikipedia

Phone [ edit ]

The country code for Kuwait is 965 . Local phone numbers are 8 digits long. Numbers starting with 2 are landline telephones, while numbers starting with 5,6 or 9 are mobile telephones numbers and numbers starting with 1 are service numbers. there are no area code and dialing within Kuwait will never require an additional 0 in the beginning.

Mobile [ edit ]

Kuwait uses GSM and mobile phones are widely available. The operators are Zain , Wataniya Telecom (Ooredoo) , and Viva . As roaming charges can be very steep, it makes sense to get a local SIM card. a new SIM can be obtained from any of the official branches. A SIM can be bought from most telephone stores, and doesn't require registration. Registration requires the passport of the one who's applying. The prices for a new SIM card are very low:

  • Viva: KD 2 with 1 KD 1 balance + KD 1 local talking time.

The charges apply on the caller only.

Kuwait is a small country. The whole country is covered, so don't worry about each operator coverage. However, since Viva is a relatively new company, you'll get lower signal and even lower LTE signal.

Internet [ edit ]

There are several internet and telecom service providers in Kuwait. The media in Kuwait is among the most outspoken in the Gulf states, journalists self-censor on issues related to royal family. Kuwait is one of the fastest growing ICT markets in the region. Majority of the Kuwaiti population can afford to have Internet services at home, the reason the country has fewer Internet cafes than other Gulf countries.

Major Internet service providers in Kuwait.

  • FASTtelco Tel: +965 22256688 Email: [email protected] Website: www.fasttelco.net
  • Gulfnet Tel: +965 1816666 Website: www.gulfnet.com.kw
  • Mada Tel: +965 1822888 Website: www.mada.com.kw
  • Qualitynet Tel: +965 1804444 Website: www.qualitynet.net
  • Zajil Telecom (KEMS) Tel: +965 1820820 Email: [email protected] Website: www.zajil.com

Telecommunications

Fixed (Landline) line telephony services are provided by the Ministry of Communications (MoC). To subscribe you need to apply at your local branch of the MoC. Typical documents required are Tenancy contract, employer letter and civil id. Most expats don't tend to bother however and choose one of the 3 mobile operators.

Mobile Internet [ edit ]

LTE is available nearly everywhere. if there's no LTE, the connection will be changed to HSPA+, which is very fast. VIVA offers LTE for the same price as 3G. However, their network is relatively slow. Zain's and Wataniya's LTE prices are different from the 3G prices, but their network is fast.

Connection points [ edit ]

  • Shopping malls: Fastelco [dead link] , one of the ISPs provide you with one hour of free high speed Wi-Fi each day. KEMS [dead link] , another ISP have a lot of access points, but their internet isn't free.
  • Starbucks: Starbucks' Wi-Fi is free for an hour but requires a Starbucks card. However, connection speed in Starbucks is limited to less than 512 Kbps, so it's not recommended. Also electricity sockets aren't available if you plan to charge your device while using it.

Home Internet [ edit ]

If you already subscribed to mobile phone internet, you can always turn on the portable hotspot in you phone and then connect to the internet in you computer/laptop, tablet or any other device.

Internet is available via different ways, the most stable and popular way is via ADSL subscription. Subscribing to ADSL service requires a landline. Internet access starts at KD 39 a year at 1Mbit/s. ADSL connection are mainly available via annual subscription. However, 1 month, 3-month and 6-month subscriptions are also available.

Some people may choose to use an LTE mini routers or CPEs (fixed routers) and use mobile internet services from Zain, Wataniya (Ooredoo) and Viva, this is a good option if you're planning on staying for a little time. However, connecting this way is capped.

Another recommendation is to try a relatively new service, "Mada". This service is Wimax and up to 10 Mbit/s download speed (although the speed never reaches this rate, and in some areas it will not even reach 1 Mbps). the cost is KD 40 for the main router and KD 25 per month.

Websites containing adult content are censored by all of the internet providers by direction of the Minister of Communications. Skype is legal in Kuwait. All other VoIP clients like Line, Tango and Viber and Skype can easily be download from phones' applications' markets (e.g. Appstore or Google Play).

Telephone [ edit ]

Kuwait has high international call rates. Although calling overseas is also very cheap It's recommended to use apps and services like Line or Skype to call overseas. For home usage, Phoneserve cards are available (mostly in Hawally) that can be used for cheap calls worldwide. Users with credit cards use Skype and Yahoo Voice for communication as well, but Skype website is banned now (However, the app can be used).

Some traditional corner-shops called "Baqqalat" (singular. Baqqala) sell an international calling card called Big Boss which offers good rates to Europe but only when calling landlines. For the rest of continents the rates are decent even when calling mobile phones.

Go next [ edit ]

Like when entering Kuwait, most people leaving will probably do so by plane. Thus, you can choose among several interesting small Gulf states including the UAE , Qatar and Bahrain reachable by plane in just one hour or so. Iran and Oman are also close by.

Going elsewhere overland can be a bit tricky. Saudi-Arabia requires virtually all foreigners to obtain a visa and doesn't issue them for just "tourism". In the same way practically everyone needs a visa to enter Iraq, and while you probably could get a tourist visa, consider that Iraq is one of the world's most dangerous countries. By boat, you can reportedly travel to Iran and Bahrain.

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Kuwaiti walking in front of Scientific Centre.

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Cradled between Saudi Arabia and Iraq in one of the most ancient and contested corners of the world, Kuwait has a certain cachet. It may be as oil-rich as other Gulf countries, and its architectural landscape as experimental and audacious, but it hasn't embraced glitz and glamour in the same way: perhaps it's the years lost to the Iraqi invasion and its aftermath, or maybe it's a conscious decision not to give in to commercialism.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Detail of entrance to Tareq Rajab Museum.

Tareq Rajab Museum

Kuwait City

Housed in the basement of a large villa, this exquisite ethnographic museum should not be missed. There are inlaid musical instruments suspended in glass…

A date shop at Al Mubarkia souk in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Souq Mubarakiya

Once the centre of trade before the nation found oil, Kuwait City's old souq has retained its sprawling, bustling glory. The historical centre of the…

Ramadan prayer at Grand Mosque of Kuwait at night , Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Grand Mosque

The largest of the city’s 800 mosques, opened in 1986, completely survived the Iraqi invasion. It cost KD14 million (US$46 million) to build, with…

Kuwaiti walking in front of Scientific Centre.

Scientific Center

One of the largest aquariums in the Middle East is housed in this sail-shaped building. The giant spider crabs (3.8m leg to leg), fluorescent jellyfish…

Mirror House

Mirror House

For a brilliantly bizarre art-in-action experience, visit this residential house covered with mirror mosaics. It's the creation of gloriously eccentric…

Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya

Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyya

This exceptional cultural centre has stunning galleries that contain some of the highlights of the world-class Al Sabah Collection, part of which was in…

Kuwait Towers

Kuwait Towers

The Kuwait Towers, with their distinctive blue-green ‘sequins’, are the instantly recognisable symbols of the nation. Designed by a Swedish architectural…

Al Qurain Martyrs’ Museum

Al Qurain Martyrs’ Museum

In the residential suburb of Qurain, this excellent small museum is a sobering memorial to a cell of young Kuwaitis who tried to resist Iraqi arrest in…

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Kuwait and beyond

Kuwait Towers

The 9 best things to do in Kuwait City

By Holly Louise Eells

RC65DD Al Haddad Mosque in Kuwait City

Kuwait may be diminutive, but size means nothing. The emirate is surrounded by golden sand and benefits from an irresistible 500-kilometre-long coastline, as well as a tradition of welcome and a healthy museum and food culture. The country is set to reveal a number of ambitious developments within the next few years, including Silk City (Madinat Al-Hareer), a 250 square-kilometre, $132-billion city development and home to Burj Mubarak Al-Kabir, the world’s next tallest tower topping out at 1,001m. Known to most for its oil reserves and holding the most valuable currency in the world, the Kuwaiti Dinar, Kuwait is slowly coming into its own as a travel destination . The majority of the country's four million residents (70 per cent of whom are expatriates) live in the capital, Kuwait City, which is home to a fascinating blend of culture, distinctive public spaces and impressive shopping.

Here are our picks of the best things to do in Kuwait City.

The Kuwait Towers sit on a promontory jutting out into the Arabian Gulf

The Kuwait Towers sit on a promontory jutting out into the Arabian Gulf

1. The Kuwait Towers

A beloved and undisputed national symbol, the three slender, sky-piercing figures of The Kuwait Towers, were created to represent independence and sovereignty. Opened in 1979, the landmark is a futuristic vision with thousands upon thousands of enamelled steel discs reflecting myriad shades of the sea and sky. Designed with practicality rather than tourism in mind, all three towers have an everyday purpose; the smallest tower supplies electricity, and the middle functions as a water reservoir, but nothing beats the spectacular panoramic view of the city and Arabian Gulf’s serene blue waters from the platform inside the upper sphere of the 187-metre-high Main Tower, which rotates 360 degrees in 30 minutes and houses a cafe; entry is $9.70. Make it an occasion and book a table for an international buffet at Horizon Restaurant or Japanese cuisine at Amimoto Restaurant also inside the upper sphere, in which case entry to the Towers is free.

Shaheed Park is a popular place to wander

Shaheed Park is a popular place to wander

The Celebration Gate at the main entrance to Al Shaheed Park

The Celebration Gate at the main entrance to Al Shaheed Park

2.  Al Shaheed Park

Escape the city heat for a couple of hours and wander Al Shaheed Park; an impressive cultural complex and immaculately kept green space, fringed with Kuwait's signature skyscrapers, it welcomes rise-and-shine walkers and moonlight strollers all keen to embrace its tranquility. Conceived by the late emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to honour those who have died fighting for Kuwait, including in the Gulf War, the ambitious infrastructure project currently consists of two complete phases with museums, botanical gardens, cafes and walkways. For an insight into Kuwait’s heritage, a visit to Phase One is recommended for its award-winning art, striking architecture, and two noteworthy museums: The Habitat, an environmental museum and The Memorial Museum.

A dates seller plies his wares at Souk Al Mubarakiya

A dates seller plies his wares at Souk Al Mubarakiya

3. Souk Al Mubarakiya

Absorb the atmosphere and immerse yourself in all the scents, sights and sounds of one of Kuwait's oldest traditional markets, Souk Al Mubarakiya. More than 200-years-old, every pathway is dedicated to a specific fare with a vibrancy of colours of fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, Arabic handicrafts, traditional clothing and perfumes. Keep your eyes peeled for curiosities, and if gift buying, try haggling. Try sampling dates and olives, and for aromatic teas visit Shah’s Light Foods Restaurant. For pocket-friendly, tasty food, head outside and join the locals at one of the cafes. Open from 9am to 9pm (some vendors close between 1.30pm and 4.30pm).

The busy Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre

The busy Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre

4. Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre

Kuwait is home to one of the biggest cultural centres and opera houses in the Middle East , the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre (JAAC) which opened its doors in 2016 and runs a programme of film, theatre, workshops and spoken-word events. The four aesthetically pleasing buildings are not just an architect's dream, with thousands of squares of titanium stretched across the exteriors and memorable Islamic and modern design motifs within, but it boasts a jam-packed calendar of events and activities throughout the year. Booking is not essential, and it's worth making time to roam around the public park, interactive water fountain, countless eateries and the centre itself.

The Sheikh Abdullah alSalem Cultural Centre is one of the worlds largest cultural housing a total of 22 galleries

The Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem Cultural Centre is one of the worlds largest cultural housing a total of 22 galleries

5. The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre

The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre provides the chance to discover a wealth of Islamic and Arab cultural history in one session. One of the world's biggest museum complexes, dedicated to promoting art, science and natural history, it doesn’t fail to disappoint. Home to six impressive components, including a National History Museum, Space Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum, and Fine Arts Centre. With more than 1,100 engaging exhibits, the centre is filled with interactive and informative games, exciting things to do and see, and larger-than-life replicas; in short, enough to entertain the whole family.

Beneath the main dome inside of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City

Beneath the main dome, inside of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City

6. The Grand Mosque

Covering some 45,000 square metres, Kuwait City's Grand Mosque is known for its delicate Andalusian-style minaret and impressively intricate carved interiors. Completed in 1986, the mosque can hold 10,000 worshippers in the main hall, with its marble-clad courtyard and gardens providing space for the faithful during Ramadan prayers. Take advantage of the free guided tours during the week from 9am-11am and 4pm-6pm. Modest dress is essential.

The Avenues Mall the country's largest shopping centre is the second largest in the Middle East

The Avenues Mall, the country's largest shopping centre, is the second largest in the Middle East

7. The Avenues

As malls go, they don't come much more impressive than The Avenues. A miniature kingdom unto itself; shopping at the Middle East's second-largest mall is a whole day affair. Open from 8am until late, there are more than 800 stores across 2.28 kilometres to explore, including a wealth of high-end fashion, luxury brands, department stores, a supermarket, two cinemas, a souk and even an Ikea. If shopping is not your passion, take a tour of its abundance of cafes and restaurants; Kuwaitis love their coffee, and Toby’s Estate is highly recommended. Divided into distinct districts, it feels like a city within a city walking down its streets.

Sip a coffee at Marina Crescent overlooking the marina

Sip a coffee at Marina Crescent overlooking the marina

8. The Marina

No trip to Kuwait is sufficient without a visit to a local favourite, the Marina, with its tree-lined promenade, fresh sea air and rows of shiny yachts. Enter via the Marina Mall Bridge to browse the yacht-filled berths, before sipping a coffee outdoors on the promenade of shops and cafes on curving Marina Crescent and admire the views out over Kuwait Bay.

The Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy is a trove of artefacts

The Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy is a trove of artefacts

9. Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy

One way to better understand Kuwait is by exploring its museums. One of its finest is the exquisite Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy, which is only a ten-minute cab ride from the City to Jabriya, and well-worth the trip to see its sizeable collection of Quranic and Arabic manuscripts from the earliest Umayyad Caliphs in the seventh century to the Qajars of Persia in the early 20th century. Founded in 1980 by Kuwait’s first Director of Antiques and Museums, the late Tareq Rajab and his British wife Jehan, the collection tells the story of the development of early calligraphic styles and houses the remarkable work of renowned calligraphers. Early examples include a seventh century ma'il script from Hijaz in modern-day Saudi Arabia and one of the only known complete copies of the Quran written in Kufic script from CE1002. Its sister museum, the Tareq Rajeb Museum, is currently closed for renovation.

Category : Tourism in Kuwait

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  • Visitor attractions in Kuwait ‎ (5 C, 1 F)

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Kuwait Guide - Visiting and and Living in Kuwait City

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Tourist information and travel tips.

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich constitutional emirate, with foreign workers constituting 90 percent of the labour force. Kuwaiti nationals constitute 1.1million of the 3.4million population in the country, and they get to enjoy the benefits of a generous social welfare system that guarantees employment, housing, education and healthcare.

Kuwait City has numerous attractions which include excellent museums, a corniche ornamented with combed beaches and extravagant restaurants, modern shopping complexes and marinas, long and lazy retreats, and new beach resorts.

Outside Kuwait City, however, there are only few attractions, except at resorts along the coast. Tourist development of the historical Failaka Island is still in developmental stage. There are flat desert plains that are given over for oil excavation, and there are few distinctive features.

West of Kuwait City is the Al-Jahra area, the place that unfortunately famed for the violence that took place there as Iraqi troops retreated during the Gulf War. Considering the numerous building projects there, it is possible to almost overlook the Iraqi invasions, and a decade has passed since the invasion. But, Kuwaitis are still coming out of their devastating experience, as there visible reminders of the war.

As for travellers, while in Kuwait, there are some definite rules that need to be followed to avoid any faux-pas, so that local populace is not offended. Further, the tips given herein can help you in taking care of all that you need to, before planning a trip to Kuwait .

kuwait travel tips

What is the best time to visit Kuwait?

Kuwait's weather pattern is similar to that of Europe, although the weather here is hotter and drier. Summers (April to October) are hot and humid with very little rain. Winters (November to March) are cool with limited rain, while Spring (February to April) is cool and pleasant.

If you happen to visit Kuwait in summer, there are plenty of air-conditioned amenities to make your summer visit tolerable. The winter months are chilly in the evenings, but, with pleasant daytime temperatures. During Spring, the desert is laced in a transparent lime green, decorated with petunias, making it the ideal time to visit.

  • Transportation

Kuwait has cheap and well-spread transport system with local and intercity buses that operate round-the-clock. Taxis charge a flat rate between the city and airport. Local taxis without meters are available for getting around. To hire a car, one must have an International Driving Permit.

Women travellers / travellers with special needs

Women travelling alone may have some problems entering and leaving the country, or when getting around the country, or staying in a hotel by themselves. Check with your local Kuwaiti Consulate, before travelling, to ensure all is fine, and get a contact name and number.

Women have reported stray incidences of harassment, in areas around the Salmiya locality, but, most shopkeepers are willing to help out if someone is especially persistent. Female travellers should keep in mind the cultural differences among several people who co-exist in Kuwait, and should be aware that unwitting actions may invite unwanted attention. Female travellers may dress modestly and generally maintain a low profile, as it may deter harassment. General modesty of behaviour and dress is expected in public. Women wearing shorts or tight-fitting clothes, particularly in downtown areas are likely to attract unwelcome attention.

Individuals with special needs may find accessibility and accommodation easy in Kuwait , as the law mandates access to buildings for people with disabilities. The government enforces such provisions, and also supervises and contributes to schools and job training programs that cater to people with special needs.

A visa is required by all visitors to Kuwait , except GCC nationals, who have the right to enter and live in Kuwait without having to go through any particular formalities.

Nationals from several other countries, including Canada, Australia, US and the EU are eligible to apply for a Kuwait Visa online (eVisa). The online application process is quite simple and quick, as the applicants just have to answer a series of basic questions. Also, all expatriates residing in GCC countries, irrespective of their citizenship, can apply for eVisa Kuwait.

Prior to the introduction of eVisa system in Kuwait (before 2016), visitors had to visit an embassy or consulate, or line up at the border points to obtain a visa. With the eVisa now made available, this process is easier. However, other types of Kuwait Visa procedures are still available.

Upon submitting the Visa application form online, a copy of the visa will be sent to the applicant by email. For entering Kuwait, the visitor can show a copy of this visa along with their passport to the concerned authorities at the Kuwaiti border.

It should be noted that visitors who enter Kuwait are not allowed to work. If you wish to work in Kuwait , you should obtain a residence visa and a work permit.

The types of visas include a Visit Visa with validity period of 1 month, a Business Visa (validity of 6 months), Transit visa (validity of 1 week) and Tourist visa (valid for 3 months) and Residence visa (valid for 10 years, but, civil ID needs to be renewed annually).

Among the non-GCC countries, nationals of the below said countries will be granted visa on arrival in Kuwait, or they may take an e-visa prior to their arrival in Kuwait.

Such countries include All European Union nations, Andorra, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, Laos, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Swaziland, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Vatican City and Vietnam.

If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you may be refused visa, or if you plan to enter Kuwait over land from Iraq, you could obtain a visa in advance.

Travellers who overstay their visas, or do not complete Kuwaiti exit procedures, may be required to pay huge fines before departing Kuwait, and/or are likely to be imprisoned.

Kuwait Tourist Visa (e-visa)

This Kuwait online visa or eVisa enables you to visit Kuwait and travel around for touristic purpose.  All foreign nationals and residents in GCC countries, irrespective of their nationalities are eligible to apply for a Kuwait eVisa.  Those seeking a Kuwait Online Visa will have to complete an online application with their biographical information and valid travel document, passport information.

The processing time may be between one day and three business days. Once approved, the visitor will be sent an email of the eVisa, thereby saving him the hassle of going to an embassy or consulate to submit a visa application. The Kuwait Online Visa has a validity of  90 days  and is a  single-entry visa . For online application, visit  https://evisa.moi.gov.kw/evisa/home_e.do

Kuwait has also implemented biometrics, and fingerprints, which will be taken for both visitor and resident visa holders on entry and exit.

For further information on entry and exit requirements, travellers can contact their respective embassy in Kuwait.

Kuwait Customs

Kuwaiti customs authorities enforce strict regulations for temporary importation into or export from Kuwait on items such as religious materials, firearms, pornography and alcohol. Alcohol, pork products and pornography are considered illegal in Kuwait.

Travellers with prescription medications should carry them in their original packaging or bottle, as dispensed, along with a copy of their prescription, in case the authorities question about their importation to Kuwait.

Before visiting Kuwait, it is important to keep in mind that pork, alcohol, homosexuality, heterosexual sex outside marriage, pornography and cross-dressing are illegal.

All alcoholic beverages and associated materials, beef, pigs, pork, pigskin products (such as handbags, wallets), are denied entry into Kuwait.

A special permit from the Kuwait Ministry of Interior will be required to legally import any weapons into the country. Jewels, precious stones and metals may be imported subject to approval by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Authority should be obtained from the Health Ministry for drugs and medicines. Pets and other animals imported into the country will require Veterinarian Health Certification, and permission from General Directorate for Agricultural and Sea Wealth. All birds species originating from Italy, Malaysia, Jordan, Albania, Palestine, Thailand, Ukraine and Zimbabwe, and animals from Iraq are banned entry into Kuwait.

Baggages of all travellers are screened before entry into Kuwait.

Accommodation

Visitors to Kuwait should have accommodation and all such set-up beforehand, as independent travel is fairly new to the country. Hotels here range from deluxe to first and second class. Several top hotels in Kuwait feature restaurants, sport complexes and shopping malls. Serviced apartments with hotel-style room service are also available. Prices are usually high. All rates are subject to 15 percent service charge.

Contact your General Physician at least eight weeks prior to your trip to Kuwait, to check if you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Kuwait has a state medical service with local clinics and several good hospitals. Nationals can avail healthcare at low cost in government clinics. Apart from this, there are several doctors and dentists in private practice/hospitals. However, the fees are controlled by the State and are expensive. Ensure that you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover cost of medical treatment while in Kuwait and repatriation.

In case of any medical emergency, dial 112 for assistance. In case you are referred to a medical facility for treatment, contact your insurance/medical assistance company. When taking travel and medical insurance before travelling, check for any exclusions, and check if your policy covers you for all activities you wish to undertake.

Recommended travel vaccinations for Kuwait include Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, Anthrax, Meningitis, Measles, Polio, Mumps, MMR, Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia and Influenza.

Dengue is present in Kuwait. Repellents or netting are recommended for a trip to Kuwait, especially along the coast.

Personal Safety

There is general threat from terrorism, and terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. The attacks, therefore, cannot be ruled out, and may be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expats and foreign travellers.

International events and political developments (including elections) may also prompt demonstrations in Kuwait. You should take particular care in the areas of Jahra, Sulaibaya and areas near the border with Iraq. 

Just as in any other country, it is best to maintain a high level of security awareness and exercise caution in public places and on roads, and in general avoid large crowd and demonstrations.

Emergency Numbers

Emergency Line in Kuwait (police, ambulance, fire services) – 112 (accessible 24/7) Kuwait International Airport – 161 Public Institution for Social Security – 114 Electricity and Water Emergency – 152 Complaints of Consumer Protection – Ministry of Commerce & Industry – 135 Hotline of Kuwait Municipality – 139 Hotline of Ministry of Health – 151 Zakat House – 175 Civil Service Commission – 1828888 - 133

Kuwait has a good road network between cities. The Kuwait Transport Company operates a nationwide service which is reliable and inexpensive. Taxis are recognized by red license plates and may be hired during the day, wherein fares are agreed beforehand. Share-taxis are also available. Taxis can be made available by a phone call, and this service is popular and reliable. A standard rate is applicable to most taxis, but those at hotel ranks are more expensive. Tipping is not expected.

Self-drive is also available. Driving is on the right. Visitors can use international driving permits issued by their respective countries within the time limit of their visas. On producing international driving permit, the rental company will grant a temporary local license, with one month validity. It is illegal to drive in Kuwait without a driving license and car registration documents. Insurance should be arranged with Gulf Insurance Company or Kuwait Insurance Company.

Foreign visitors can bring their vehicles to Kuwait on temporary basis for upto three months. To obtain a Kuwaiti driver license, an applicant must be legally resident for at least two years in Kuwait. People who arrived from some countries (for instance, Westerners) may obtain a Kuwaiti driver license on the strength of their domestic driver licenses. Other must apply for a learner driver license and pass a driving test.

The highways and road systems in Kuwait are among the best in the world, with most highways being four lanes wide, and outside Kuwait city, there is hardly any traffic. When using road transport, only authorised road border crossing points into Iraq and Saudi Arabia should be used. Any other unauthorised movement in the vicinity of borders is considered illegal and dangerous. Off-road driving is discouraged, and if you happen to travel off-road, it is better to confine your movements whether by bicycle or on foot.

For trips to offshore islands, dhows and other small craft may be chartered. Kuwait has restrictions on eligibility requirements for driver licenses. Driving in excess of speed limits, switching lanes without warning, frequently ignoring traffic lights and use of mobile phones when driving are against rules. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offense, which may lead to imprisonment and/or deportation. In case of an accident, you should stay with the vehicle, and not attempt to move it. You can call the police, as it is an offence to leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive.

Photography

Taking pictures of government and public buildings, economic infrastructure and military installations, particularly those related to oil industry, is against law and can lead to arrest, investigation and prosecution.

If photographing public scenes or persons, visitors should seek permission beforehand, so as to not cause offense, else, it could lead to an official complaint to the authorities.

Alcohol / Drugs / Sex

Importing narcotics, pork products, alcohol and obscene material can lead to imprisonment. You are not allowed to import alcohol into Kuwait, although the penalties for trafficking can be severe, including death sentence. Possession and abuse of drugs can lead to imprisonment of five to ten years and a heavy fine. Bail is usually not granted for drug offences and penalty for drug trafficking can also attract death sentence.

Drunken behaviour in public or driving under influence of alcohol is a punishable offence and can lead to imprisonment and/or deportation and withdrawal of driving license.

Co-habiting of unmarried partners in Kuwait is illegal. If you wish to live with your partner in the same house, you need to be married. Pornographic materials are considered illegal in Kuwait, and can get you into trouble, if found in your luggage on arrival. Homosexual behaviour is illegal and so is any public display of affection between men and women.

There is a wide variety of cloth and dress material available. Readymade clothing in Kuwait can range from cheap quality to expensive designer couture. The various styles reflect the multinational culture of Kuwaiti population. Tailors and dressmakers are widely available. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are in plenty. Although Kuwaitis are broad-minded, Islamic traditions dictate clothing decorum. Beachwear worn by either sex, is not permissible in Suqs or in the street, and is strictly limited to the beach or home. Although the black aba (cloak) is not a must, the fashionable clothes worn by Kuwaiti ladies do not reveal shoulders and upper arms, and usually stretch down to mid-calf at least. In the work place, formality of dress varies among different companies and occupations in Kuwait, but, styles are modest.

Food & drink

Mains water is normally chlorinated, and although relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and it is better to use bottled water for the first few weeks of the stay.

Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, seafood, poultry, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Most food is imported and subjected to stringent testing by Ministry of Public Health. Shops are inspected regularly by the Ministry. As long as normal domestic precautions are taken, the food in Kuwait is safe to eat.

Currency in Kuwait is Dinar, abbreviated as KD. Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) = 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of KD20, 10 5 and 1, and 500 and 250 fils. Coins are denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 fils. Kuwait Dinar is stable, and is worth about $3.30.

As for credit and debit cards, American Express, Master Card, Diners Club and Visa are accepted. For details of merchant acceptability and other services, check with your credit or debit card company. Travellers cheques are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

The import and export of local and foreign currency is allowed.

Banks are open Sunday to Thursday 0800hrs to 1200hrs. ATMs and Banks are everywhere and all major credit cards are accepted.

Other General Information

Kuwait shares borders with Saudi Arabia. The Persian Gulf lies to the southeast where Kuwait has sovereignty over nine small islands (largest being Bubiyan and Failaka being most populous). The landscape is mainly desert plateau with a lower, more fertile coastal belt. Kuwait is located in the northwest corner of Arabian Gulf with the Republic of Iraq, and to the south and southwest it shares border with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Kuwait’s territory includes nine islands located off-coast of Kuwait – Failaka, Bubiyan, Miskan, Auhha, Warba, Umm Al-Maradim, Umm Al-Naml, Kubbar and Qaruth.

Kuwait follows traditional Arab monarchy. It gained complete independence from the UK in 1961. The Kuwaiti government is headed by HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-JAber Al-Sabah.

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase. UK-type flat three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

For telephones full IDD is available. Country code: 965. Outgoing international code: 00. For mobile telephones GSM 900 and 1800 networks are available.

Major network operators in Kuwait are Zain (formerly MTC), Ooredoo (formerly Watanya) and STC (formerly Viva). These operators are all offering LTE services and exploring 5G opportunities. There is a high ownership of smartphones in Kuwait. Improvements to fibre-broadband infrastructure are constantly underway.

Most hotels have fax facilities. Internet cafes are available throughout Kuwait, and offer public access to email and internet services. ISPs include Gulfnet International and QualityNet.

The general post office hours are 0700-1400 (Sat-Wed) and 0700-1200 (Thurs).

'Arab Times' and 'Kuwait Times' are popular English language newspapers, while BBC World Service and Voice of America are received on radio, although frequencies change from time to time.

Shopping Hours

Shopping malls are available in plenty in Kuwait, some of the popular ones being The Avenues Mall , The Marina Mall , 360 Mall , Souk Sharq etc.

Other popular centres include Al-Fanar Shopping Centre, Leila Gallery, boutiques and other small general stores.

The shopping hours in these malls/shopping centres are from 10am to 10pm

Office Work Hours

The work week in Kuwait is Sunday to Thursday for majority of businesses, government offices and commercial banks. Kuwait observes a Friday and Saturday weekend.

Government Offices

April to October - 7:00am to 2:00pm November to March - 7:30am to 2:30pm Ramadan - 10am to 2.30am

Private Companies

Office work hours: 8.30am or 9.00am to 5.30pm or 6.00pm Ramadan – 9.30am to 2.00pm

Arabic is the official language, but, English is widely understood, particularly in the commerce and industry.

95 percent are Muslim (mostly of the Sunni sect), with Christian and Hindu minorities.

10 to 15 percent tipping is okey at a restaurant. However, tipping a taxi driver is not customary in Kuwait.

General rules to be followed

Ensure that you carry your own passport or Kuwait civil identification card, if you have one, at all times.

Bouncing of cheques is illegal and the law does not grant bail to offenders. Post-dated cheques can be banked immediately.

Humiliating or insulting a person, including a police offer or public official, is a crime in Kuwait. Such behaviour from your end will be subjected to police investigation and possible prosecution and imprisonment.

Kuwait, being a Muslim country, you need to respect local customs, traditions, laws and religion at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that you do not offend other cultures, religious beliefs and religious areas, particularly if you happen to visit during the holy month of Ramadan.

Proselytizing is prohibited for all religions except Islam.

General modesty of behaviour and dressing is expected in public. Women wearing shorts or tight-fitting clothes, particularly in downtown areas, may attract unwelcome attention.

Robin Vinod

Writer/blogger who writes on topics such as travel, real estate, employment and everyday life on GCC countries.

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Kuwait Tourism: A long road to nowhere

kuwait tourism wikipedia

Last week media sources in the United Kingdom and elsewhere hinted that Kuwait would be added to the UK government’s red category of countries, which would then place it among more than 40 countries that travelers from the UK need to avoid visiting as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 virus. Also, travelers from Kuwait to the UK would then have to spend a mandatory 10-day period in hotel quarantine on their arrival.

Luckily, Kuwait has not been added to the list and the UK embassy in Kuwait released a statement saying that “rumours circulated about Kuwait going to the Red list were inaccurate. Kuwait remains on the amber list. There have been no changes on Kuwait’s status since.”

In view of the large influx of visitors from Kuwait to Britain each summer, placing Kuwait in the red light category with the aim of regulating their entry to the UK as a precautionary measure would have been an understandable step. What is less comprehensible is warning travelers from the UK about choosing Kuwait as their travel destination. In the first place, the relevance of this warning fades given that only Kuwaitis and their first-degree relatives are currently allowed to enter Kuwait. Moreover, even before the eruption of COVID-19 crisis, very few British travelers considered Kuwait as a travel destination of choice.

Official travel data from the UK government show that around 10,000 people from the UK visited Kuwait in 2019. While at first glance this would appear to be a relatively fair number of visitors, it is worth noting that many of the visitors are spouses or children of the nearly 8,000 Britishers employed in Kuwait. Prior to the pandemic, and even much earlier, inbound tourism to Kuwait was a sluggish sector, with only an insignificant number of arrivals compared to many other countries worldwide, and even in the region.

The majority of tourists to Kuwait arrived from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with most of this travel consisting of business trips and people visiting their families. According to data from the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO), inbound tourism netted Kuwait a total of $1.8 billion in 2019, with per arrival spending a mere $137 during their stay. Both in terms of total revenue earned from inbound tourism, and in individual tourist spending, Kuwait ranked the lowest among GCC states.

In comparison, the UAE, which topped tourist arrivals in the region, received $38.4 billion in revenue, with each visitor spending on average $1,782 during their stay..

Though inbound tourism is lethargic in Kuwait, the same is not true of outbound tourism, which has been flourishing in the country for years, arguably more so since the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The seven-month occupation of Kuwait and its aftermath probably gave a large section of Kuwaiti society their first exposure to countries in and around the region that provided shelter to the ‘affluent refugees’.

Since then, outbound tourism has become an almost unavoidable annual ritual for most families, with some making two or more leisure trips abroad each year. For instance, in contrast to the relatively small number of inbound British visitors to Kuwait, more than 180,000 travelers from the country visited the UK in 2019, with London being the preferred destination in Western Europe for many families.

Figures show that outbound travel and tourism in Kuwait grew at an average annual rate of 11.16 percent in the nearly two decades from 2000. In general, Kuwaitis, endowed with a sizable disposable income, tend to travel a lot. Available statistics from UNWTO and other travel databases reveal that more than 4.6 million passengers from Kuwait traveled abroad in 2019. Not only do they travel more, they also spend appreciably more at their destinations. In 2019, outbound travelers from Kuwait spent in excess of US$15.8 billion on international travel and tourism expenditure, ranking the country 24th globally in terms of expenditure on international tourism.

A closer look at why Kuwaitis tend to travel and spend abroad reveals the dearth of tourism attractions and venues in the country. In a highly telling condemnation of the limited entertainment and leisure infrastructure in the country, most people choose to travel abroad to relax even during short extended weekend breaks.

Latest numbers from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) show that a total of 21,000 people, mainly citizens, their first-degree relatives and the ‘all-important’ domestic helpers, traveled during last month’s five-day Eid-al-Fitr holidays. Of these numbers, the overwhelming majority (76%), or more than 16,000 people, spent their brief holiday abroad, while only around 5,000 came home to celebrate the Eid holidays.

Kuwait lacks many of the tourism inducements, both natural and man-made that draw international tourists. It lacks the iconic ancient attractions found in Jordan and Egypt, the modern attractions of Qatar and the UAE, the natural beauty and terrain of Oman, or the appeal of Bahrain, which despite its small size has made the most of its available tourism potential. Even Saudi Arabia, long a reclusive state to foreign tourists, has since opening up its economy welcomed tourists, facilitated their inbound travel, and developed attractions to lure visitors.

Tourist attractions currently available, and new ones rapidly coming up in the kingdom, could even pose a challenge to the glitzy and glamorous venues that have drawn millions of tourists each year to Dubai. Unfortunately, Kuwait remains far behind the region when it comes to tourism offerings, and more sadly, it appears in no rush to catch up with its neighbors.

It is not that Kuwait does not have attractions that could be leveraged to attract travelers. Other GCC states, especially Dubai the icon of tourism in the region, may have the biggest, glitziest and the first or best of everything, but Kuwait does have its own treasures and charms that may not be immediately apparent. It needs to be ferreted out by visitors willing to spend the time and effort on discovering Kuwait. They would be rewarded with wonderful cultural experiences, and interactions with local people, especially if they are white caucasian from Western Europe, the US, Canada or Australia.

In fact, despite its seeming shortcomings, some visitors have indeed waxed eloquently about the lovely mix of rich history and youthful culture that can be found in Kuwait. But these could at best be construed as back-handed compliments, seeing how their expectations of the country to begin with start from a low base. As they say, sometimes the lack of development is an attraction by itself, and even travel buffs could consider Kuwait among the highlights of their travels.

While the lack of attractions provide some visitors with positive vibes, it also means that the travel industry in Kuwait has very little to work on, in order to market the country to international travelers. However, it is not that Kuwait lacks attractions. Kuwait has a storied history, dating back to long before the Greek settlements on Failaka Island that are currently the country’s few claims to antiquity. In fact, Kuwait is now being considered an extension of the cradle of civilization that existed in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where the world’s first complex urban centers were discovered. Latest archeological findings in Subbiya and elsewhere by Polish, Kuwaiti and archeologists from other nations, confirm that human settlements have existed on this land from the time of the Ubaid civilisation more than seven millenia ago.

Rather than develop and promote these findings as a major tourism draw, or at least arrange for a virtual museum displaying the artefacts and narrating the findings, the authorities appear least interested in promoting Kuwait on the global tourism map. So it is not the lack of historic sites or the absence of attractions, if you are willing to dig deeper, figuratively that is, there are plenty of opportunities and ideas, especially being put forward by young entrepreneurs in the country to develop unique entertainment venues in Kuwait.

The government is cognizant of the importance of tourism to the country, but it appears paralysed when it comes to taking decisions and implementing policies designed to foster tourism. Since the oil crisis in the 1990s, in particular, after the steep fall in oil prices witnessed in mid-2014, Kuwait has been eager to move forward with diversification, privatization, liberalization and deregulation plans so as to support long-term sustainable economic growth and development of the country.

The promotion of the tourism industry was a core component of these strategies and a main focal point of the government’s ambitious economic diversification plans. Kuwait also made tourism an integral element in its New Kuwait 2035 strategic vision that aims to transform the country to a financial, trade and cultural hub. Sadly, very little of these plans have materialized and most remain confined to reports and surveys. Meanwhile, citizens and expats in a rare concurrence of views, continue to chorus about the lack of attractions and affordable recreational venues, which could make life more enjoyable and less monotonous in this country.

Tourism experts say that although Kuwait has all the potential to be a tourist destination, the government does not have any practical, long-term plans or policies on tourism, or even an effective tourism entity tasked with promoting developments in this sector. They point out that the absence of recreational facilities, which makes the tourism sector almost non-existent in the country, has worsened with the scrapping of available facilities, including with the dismantling of entertainment city, the closure of Shaab Park, and shuttering of the lone ice-skating rink in the country. The morbid inbound tourism sector could be rejuvenated and the country made attractive to international travelers, if the government has a serious desire to do so.

Among some of the suggestions offered by young entrepreneurs in the country to develop a distinctive tourism infrastructure and unique entertainment projects are for the government to:

Provide land for entertainment projects and support investment in this sector; Encourage the private sector by allocating Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) licenses for recreational projects. Designate Kuwait’s offshore islands for development and management by specialized local companies with legal and ethical restraints in place. Attract foreign investments to the tourism sector through roadshows and other marketing tools. Finally, it is also important to facilitate visa procedures, including e-visas for all foreigners, not just those from a few select countries, so as to encourage inbound tourism to a wider international audience.

However, for this to happen, the government needs to have a clear vision and interest to support and promote domestic tourism, as well as to place Kuwait on the global inbound tourism map. But the authorities apparently have no time for such mundane tasks, they have more important issues to handle at hand, including the matter of who sits where in the august Abdullah Al-Salem Hall in parliament.

But while the executive and legislative play musical chairs in parliament, the opportunity to develop a robust tourism industry in Kuwait is slipping away, just as so many other opportunities in various sectors have in the past.

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COMMENTS

  1. Category:Tourism in Kuwait

    Pages in category "Tourism in Kuwait". The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. This list may not reflect recent changes . Art of Kuwait.

  2. Kuwait

    Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia.It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. Kuwait also shares maritime borders with Iran.Kuwait has a coastal length of approximately 500 km (311 mi). Most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of the ...

  3. Economy of Kuwait

    The economy of Kuwait is a wealthy petroleum-based economy. Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the world. The ... In 2020, Kuwait's domestic travel and tourism spending reached $6.1 billion (up from $1.6 billion in 2019) with family tourism a rapidly growing segment.

  4. Kuwait

    Most of Jahra, Ahmadi and Mubarak al-Kabeer are residential with no tourists attractions. 29.375 47.98. 1 Kuwait City - the capital. 29.35 47.683333. 2 Jahra (Al Jahra) - 30 min northwest of Kuwait City by car. 29.090556 48.065278. 3 Ahmadi (Al Ahmadi) - 30 min from Kuwait City by car. 29.333333 48.033333.

  5. Kuwait

    Kuwait is largely a desert, except for Al-Jahrāʾ oasis, at the western end of Kuwait Bay, and a few fertile patches in the southeastern and coastal areas. Kuwaiti territory includes nine offshore islands, the largest of which are the uninhabited Būbiyān and Al-Warbah. The island of Faylakah, which is located near the entrance of Kuwait Bay, has been populated since prehistoric times.

  6. Kuwait

    Kuwait (Arabic: الكويت) is a country in the Middle East.It is located at the head of the Persian Gulf, with Iraq to the north and west, and Saudi Arabia to the southwest.. Understand [] History []. Kuwaiti people originate from many parts of the world especially Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, in addition, some Kuwaitis trace their origins back to Africa and India.

  7. Kuwait City

    Kuwait City is a bustling metropolis of high-rise office buildings, luxury hotels, wide boulevards and well-tended parks and gardens. Its seaport is used by oil tankers, cargo ships and many pleasure craft. Its most dominant landmarks are the Kuwait Towers, the Liberation Tower, and the Grand Mosque.

  8. Kuwait

    Tourism [edit] In 2020, Kuwait's domestic travel and tourism spending reached $6.1 billion (up from $1.6 billion in 2019) with family tourism a rapidly growing segment. [229] The WTTC named Kuwait as one of the world's fastest-growing countries in travel and tourism GDP in 2019, with 11.6% year-on-year growth. [229]

  9. Kuwait travel

    Kuwait. Middle East. Cradled between Saudi Arabia and Iraq in one of the most ancient and contested corners of the world, Kuwait has a certain cachet. It may be as oil-rich as other Gulf countries, and its architectural landscape as experimental and audacious, but it hasn't embraced glitz and glamour in the same way: perhaps it's the years lost ...

  10. Kuwait

    Destination Kuwait, a Nations Online country profile of the oil-rich, family-run emirate in the Middle East. The State of Kuwait is situated on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). Kuwait borders Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and it shares maritime boundaries with Iran.Several islands belong to Kuwait, the largest are Bubiyan, Warbah, and Failaka ...

  11. Kuwait City

    Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait. It has a population of 2.38 million in the metropolitan area. It is near the center of the country on the shore of the Persian Gulf. It has Kuwait's parliament ( Majlis Al-Umma ), most governmental offices and the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks. On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded ...

  12. Kuwait

    Kuwait city, Kuwait. Kuwait, city and national capital, eastern Kuwait. The city lies on the southern shore of Kuwait Bay of the Persian Gulf. Its name is derived from the Arabic kūt ("fort"). Kuwait city was founded at the beginning of the 18th century by a group of families who migrated to the coast from the interior of the Arabian ...

  13. The 9 best things to do in Kuwait City

    Credit JACC ( Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre ) 4. Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre. Kuwait is home to one of the biggest cultural centres and opera houses in the Middle East , the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Cultural Centre (JAAC) which opened its doors in 2016 and runs a programme of film, theatre, workshops and spoken-word events.

  14. Category:Tourism in Kuwait

    Media in category "Tourism in Kuwait" The following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Kishmubarak.jpg 650 × 455; 35 KB. The Palms Beach Hotel & Spa in Kuwait.jpg 6,000 × 4,000; 14.66 MB. Tourist accomodation at Failaka Island.jpg 1,944 × 2,592; 557 KB. ... In Wikipedia. العربية ...

  15. Outline of Kuwait

    The location of Kuwait An enlargeable map of the State of Kuwait. Kuwait is a sovereign emirate located on the coast of the Persian Gulf in Southwest Asia and the Middle East. Kuwait is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The name of Kuwait is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." It has a population of 4.1 million and an area of ...

  16. Kuwait Guide

    If you are planning a visit to Kuwait for touristic purpose, there are plenty of fun and free activities to do as a tourist. Languages spoken in Kuwait 02 March 2020 When is the cheapest month to visit Kuwait? 28 February 2020

  17. Tourist Information and Travel Tips

    Kuwait is a small, oil-rich constitutional emirate, with foreign workers constituting 90 percent of the labour force. Kuwaiti nationals constitute 1.1million of the 3.4million population in the country, and they get to enjoy the benefits of a generous social welfare system that guarantees employment, housing, education and healthcare.

  18. Tourism in Kuwait

    Tourism in the Kuwait is an important component of the Economy of Kuwait, and consists of domestic and international components. In 2018, tourist industry composed over 1.069 billion dinars to country's GDP. ... This article "Tourism in Kuwait" is from Wikipedia.

  19. Kuwait Government Online Tourism in Kuwait

    Activities In Kuwait. Events in Kuwait. Museums in Kuwait. Cinemas in Kuwait. Shopping in Kuwait. Tourist Attractions in Kuwait. Sports in Kuwait. Tourist Spots in Kuwait.

  20. Ministry of Information and Culture (Kuwait)

    The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kuwait is one of the ministries of the State of Kuwait. It was established in 1979 by a decree issued by Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The ministry undertakes the media, intellectual and cultural policy and contributes to sponsoring art. The Ministry of Information is also concerned with ...

  21. Kuwait Tourism: A long road to nowhere

    According to data from the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO), inbound tourism netted Kuwait a total of $1.8 billion in 2019, with per arrival spending a mere $137 during their stay. Both in terms of total revenue earned from inbound tourism, and in individual tourist spending, Kuwait ranked the lowest among GCC states.

  22. Kuwait Travel & Tourism Agencies Association

    Kuwait Travel & Tourism Agencies Association, Kuwait City. 178 likes · 3 talking about this · 3 were here. Travel agent

  23. Tourism

    Etymology. The English-language word tourist was used in 1772 and tourism in 1811. These words derive from the word tour, which comes from Old English turian, from Old French torner, from Latin tornare - "to turn on a lathe", which is itself from Ancient Greek tornos (τόρνος) - "lathe".. Definitions. In 1936, the League of Nations defined a foreign tourist as "someone traveling abroad ...