Tag - Kuwait

Kuwait Photo Gallery

Kuwaitis are very patriotic, with their flag featured on all sorts of merchandise.

Kuwait Photo Gallery

This is a Kuwait Photo Gallery. To read about this destination, please refer to my Kuwait Travel Guide.


All images are copyright! If you wish to purchase any images for commercial use, please contact me via the Contact page.


 


About taste2travel!

Hi! My name is Darren McLean, the owner of taste2travel. I’ve been travelling the world for 33 years and, 209 countries and territories, and – seven continents later, I’m still on the road.

Taste2travel offers travel information for destinations around the world, specialising in those that are remote and seldom visited. I hope you enjoy my content!

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with the idea of travel. I started planning my first overseas trip at the age of 19 and departed Australia soon after my 20th birthday. Many years later, I’m still on the road.

In 2016, I decided to document and share my journeys and photography with a wider audience and so, taste2travel.com was born.

My aim is to create useful, usable travel guides/ reports on destinations I have visited. My reports are very comprehensive and detailed as I believe more information is better than less. They are best suited to those planning a journey to a particular destination.

Many of the destinations featured on my website are far off the regular beaten tourist trail. Often, these countries are hidden gems which remain undiscovered, mostly because they are remote and difficult to reach. I enjoy exploring and showcasing these ‘off-the-radar’ destinations, which will, hopefully, inspire others to plan their own adventure to a far-flung corner of the planet.

I’m also a fan of travel trivia and if you are too, you’ll find plenty of travel quizzes on the site.

Photography has always been a passion and all the photos appearing in these galleries were taken by me.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me via the contact page.

I hope you this gallery and my website.

Safe travels!

Darren


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Kuwait Travel Guide

The iconic Water Towers in Kuwait City.

Kuwait Travel Guide

Welcome to the taste2travel Kuwait Travel Guide!


Date Visited: February 2019

Introduction

Oil-rich Kuwait has dusted itself off following the invasion and subsequent occupation by Iraqi forces in August of 1990 and today exudes a quiet confident.

 

Unlike its brasher Gulf neighbours, Kuwait is far less commercialised. While it has ample funds, it has not invested them in a swag of big, showy mega-projects and has not fully opened its doors to tourism, which accounts for just 1.5% of GDP.

A new Norman-Forster designed airport terminal and various new, architecturally experimental, skyscrapers hint of the future direction of the country.

Kuwait Travel Guide: At 414 m, the impressive Al Hamra tower is the tallest building in Kuwait and the tallest carved concrete skyscraper in the world.

At 414 m, the impressive Al Hamra tower is the tallest building in Kuwait and the tallest carved concrete skyscraper in the world.

Once impossible to visit, unless you were an oil executive, Kuwait has now eased visa requirements considerably, to encourage more visitors into the country with many able to obtain a visa on arrival (see the ‘Visa Requirement’ section below for details on the process).

Kuwaitis are very patriotic, with their flag featured on all sorts of merchandise.

Kuwaitis are very patriotic, with their flag featured on all sorts of merchandise.

Kuwait is an interesting destination, offering enough sights and shopping/ dining opportunities to keep the average visitor occupied for 5-6 days.

The iconic water towers are a prime attraction of Kuwait.

The iconic water towers are a prime attraction of Kuwait.

To encourage more tourism, the country is currently investing some of its riches in tourism-related projects, with the renovation of the Kuwait National Museum nearing completion. Most of the sights, hotels and services are in Kuwait City, which is home to 98% of the population.

Woman’s Rights

The proud owner of a market stall who happens to makes one of the best carrot cakes in Kuwait.

The proud owner of a market stall who happens to makes one of the best carrot cakes in Kuwait.

One notable aspect of Kuwait, which sets it apart from its neighbours, is the involvement of woman in society. Women in Kuwait are among the most emancipated in the Middle East. In 2014 and 2015, Kuwait was ranked first among Arab countries in the Global Gender Gap Report. In 2018, 60% of Kuwaiti women participated in the labour force, outnumbering men, while 12.7% of the members of parliament are woman.

Additionally, Kuwaiti woman are not required to cover their hair and some don’t. Woman are free to be entrepreneurs and run their own businesses and as such, you experience much more interaction with Kuwaiti woman than you do with woman in neighbouring countries. A refreshing change in the Middle East!

Location

Kuwait City, Kuwait

 

Located in the north-west corner of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait is one of the world’s smallest countries with a total area of 17,818 km².

Kuwait is bordered by Iraq to the north and west, Saudi Arabia to the South and the Arabian Gulf to the east.

The country is generally low lying and comprised of flat, sandy desert with the highest point being 306 m (1,004 ft).

A view of the Arabian Gulf and Kuwait City from Kuwait Towers.

A view of the Arabian Gulf and Kuwait City from Kuwait Towers.

Beneath the desert sands lie huge reserves of oil and gas created millions of years ago by the Arabian sea.

The Burgan Oil field, in the southeast of the country, has the distinction of being the largest sandstone oil reserve in the world with a surface area of about 1000 km2 and an estimated oil reserve of 66 to 75 billion barrels, plus 70 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Currency

Known as the strongest currency in the world, one Kuwaiti Dinar is worth a little more than US$3.

Known as the strongest currency in the world, one Kuwaiti Dinar is worth a little more than US$3.

The unit of currency in Kuwait is the Dinar (KD) which is sub-divided into 1000 Fils, with bank notes issued in denominations of KD 20, 10, 5, 1, 0.500 and 0.250.

Kuwaiti one dinar banknotes.

Kuwaiti one dinar banknotes.

The dinar is pegged to an undisclosed weighted basket of international currencies and is the world’s highest-valued currency unit with a current exchange rate of 1 KD = US$3.29.

Such an exchange rate can give the illusion that prices are cheap when in fact they are not. For example, a large Big Mac combo meal at McDonald’s costs 1.95 KD which is US$6.41.

Kuwaiti one dinar banknotes.

Kuwaiti one dinar banknotes.

The Kuwaiti dinar is issued by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), whose headquarters are in the brand new, 238-m tall CBK Tower in downtown Kuwait City.

The new headquarters for the Central Bank of Kuwait opened in 2016.

The new headquarters for the Central Bank of Kuwait opened in 2016.

Costs

Affordable, fresh, local seafood is available from the Central Fish Market.

Affordable, fresh, local seafood is available from the Central Fish Market.

You can keep travel costs down by shopping at locals markets, although most produce in Kuwait is imported. For a country that boasts the world’s highest valued currency, travel costs in Kuwait are surprisingly affordable, but if you wish to have a ‘deluxe’ experience, there are plenty of upscale options. It’s no surprise that one of the most affordable items in oil-rich Kuwait is fuel which costs US$0.33 per litre – cheaper than a bottle of water!

Typical daily travel budgets:

  • Budget: 45 KD  (USD$148)
  • Mid-Range: 45-150 KD (USD$148 – US$500)
  • Top-End: 150+ KD (USD$500+)

Sample costs: 

  • Coca Cola (0.33 litre bottle): 0.17 KD (US$0.56)
  • Water (0.33 litre bottle): 0.15 KD (US$0.49)
  • Cappuccino: 1.54 KD (US$5.06)
  • Bus Ticket within Kuwait: 0.25 KD (US$0.82)
  • Car hire (compact car per day):  9.00 KD (US$30)
  • Litre of fuel: 0.10 KD (US$0.33)
  • Meal (inexpensive restaurant): 2.00 KD (US$6.57)
  • Meal for 2 (expensive restaurant): 12 KD (US$40)
  • Big Mac Meal: 1.95 KD (US$6.41)
  • Room in a budget hotel:  10 KD (US$33)
  • Room in a mid-range hotel (Ibis Sharq Hotel): 26 KD (US$84)
  • Room in a top-end hotel: 85+ KD (US$280+)

Flag

The Kuwaiti flag is flown everywhere throughout the country, including at this friendly political rally in Kuwait city.

The Kuwaiti flag is flown everywhere throughout the country, including at this friendly political rally in Kuwait city.

The flag of Kuwait is composed of three stripes in the traditional pan-Arab colours of green, white, and red with a black trapezoid featured on the hoist side.

The colours of the Kuwaiti flag are the Pan-Arab colours, with each colour having the following meaning:

  • Red – symbolises the blood on the swords of Arab warriors.
  • White – represents purity and noble deeds.
  • Green – represents the fertile land of Arabia.
  • Black – represents the defeat of enemies in battle.
The Kuwaiti flag on display at Sharq Mall.

The Kuwaiti flag on display at Sharq Mall.

In a country that was invaded and occupied in recent times, it’s not surprising that the flag is flown proudly and everywhere.

People

Guest workers constitute 70% of the population and can be found working everywhere, including at the local produce market.

Guest workers constitute 70% of the population and can be found working everywhere, including at the local produce market.

Kuwait’s population is currently 4.6 million people, of which 1.4 million (30%) are Kuwaitis. The remaining 70% is comprised of ‘guest workers’ with 1.2 million being other Arabs and 1.8 million being from Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines). Despite a government policy to reduce the number of foreign workers, Kuwaitis remain a minority in their own country.

Sights

Kuwait Towers

A great place to fly a kite - Kuwait Towers.

A great place to fly a kite – Kuwait Towers.

One of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks, the Kuwait Towers are situated on Arabian Gulf Street on a promontory to the east of the City centre.

The water towers are the most famous and iconic landmark in Kuwait City.

The water towers are the most famous and iconic landmark in Kuwait City.

The towers were the sixth, and last, of a larger group of 34 water towers constructed throughout the country.

The view from the observation deck inside the tallest tower.

The view from the observation deck inside the tallest tower.

The tallest of the three towers, at 187 metres, carries two spheres.

The lower sphere holds in its bottom half a water tank of 4,500 cubic metres while in the upper half there is a restaurant. The uppermost sphere, which is at a height of 123 metres holds a revolving observation area and a restaurant. This is the only tower open to visitors, with tickets costing 3 KD (USD$10) per person.

Designed by Danish architect Malene Bjørn, the Kuwait Water Towers are the iconic symbol of Kuwait.

Designed by Danish architect Malene Bjørn, the Kuwait Water Towers are the iconic symbol of Kuwait.

The second tower is 147 metres high and serves purely as a water tower, holding 1 million gallons of water while the third tower (which looks like a needle) houses equipment to illuminate the two larger towers.

The three spheres are covered by approximately 41,000 enameled steel discs.

The three spheres are covered by approximately 41,000 enameled steel discs.

Approximately 41,000 enameled steel discs cover the three spheres in eight shades of blue, green and grey, recalling the tiled domes of historic mosques.

Souk Al-Mubarakiya

The throbbing commercial and culinary heart of Kuwait, Souq Al-Mubarakiya is especially busy in the early evening.

The throbbing commercial and culinary heart of Kuwait, Souq Al-Mubarakiya is especially busy in the early evening.

Located in the heart of the old town, Souq Al-Mubarakiya is the largest, and most popular market in town.

A view of bustling Souq Al-Mubarakiya, the heart of Kuwait City.

A view of bustling Souq Al-Mubarakiya, the heart of Kuwait City.

Always abuzz with shoppers, you can spend hours in this market, strolling around and discovering bargains from every kind of shop imaginable.

A date shop inside Souq Al-Mubarakiya, Kuwait City.

A date shop inside Souq Al-Mubarakiya, Kuwait City.

Whether you’re shopping for gold jewellery, dates, nuts, a Persian carpet, traditional Arab perfumes, clothes or souvenirs, you’ll find it here.

Artwork at a café inside Souq Al-Mubarakiya, Kuwait City.

Artwork at a café inside Souq Al-Mubarakiya, Kuwait City.

The market is especially popular at mealtimes with lots of restaurants selling amazingly fresh Arabic cuisine.

Central Fish Market

A fish monger with his produce at the Kuwait Central Fish market.

A fish monger with his produce at the Kuwait Central Fish market.

Located on the waterfront between the Dhow harbour and Sharq Mall, the Central Fish Market is the main fish market in Kuwait City. Unlike many other fish markets around the world, which tend to be messy and smelly, the Kuwait market is not an assault on your senses. Housed in a modern, brightly lit, airy building, the market is kept spotlessly clean by a team of cleaners who are forever hosing and mopping the floor.

Kuwait Travel Guide: Colourful, marine-themed, mosaics line the walls of the very clean Kuwait fish market.

Colourful, marine-themed, mosaics line the walls of the very clean Kuwait fish market.

The walls of the market are lined with tiled mosaics featuring colourful marine life which adds to the pleasantness. Directly outside the market is the Dhow harbour where you can view the fishing boats which are responsible for providing the market with its fresh produce.

Dhow Harbour

Traditional Dhow fishing boats line the Dhow harbour in downtown Kuwait.

Traditional Dhow fishing boats line the Dhow harbour in downtown Kuwait.

Alongside the fish market is the dhow harbour which is home to a large fleet of traditional wooden ‘Dhow‘ boats which are used for fishing and trading purposes. Prior to the discovery of oil, Kuwait was a major trading port with Dhows playing an important part in maritime trade.

Kuwait National Museum

One of the galleries at the Kuwait National Museum.

One of the galleries at the Kuwait National Museum.

Located near the Grand Mosque, the Kuwait National Museum (open: Monday to Saturday: 8.30 -12.30 am & 4.30 – 8.30 pm/ Friday: 4.30 – 8.30 pm) is currently undergoing a huge renovation which will transform it completely. The original museum was opened in 1957 in a former Royal palace.

Plundered and destroyed by the Iraqi regime during the gulf war, today – 90% of the collection has been returned and new buildings are nearing completion. The museum houses the Al-Sabah collection of Islamic art which is one of the most comprehensive collections in the world. Displays showcase aspects of Kuwaiti culture and everyday life both from the past and present.

Kuwait Travel Guide: Artwork in the Kuwait National Museum.

Artwork in the Kuwait National Museum.

Al Sadu House

Colourful hand-woven pillow cases at the Al Sadu House gift shop.

Colourful hand-woven pillow cases at the Al Sadu House gift shop.

Located on the waterfront, next to the National Museum, the beautifully restored Al Sadu house is home to the Al Sadu society. The patron of the society is Her Royal Highness and their aim, according to their website, is “preserving, documenting and promoting the rich and diverse textile heritage of the Kuwaiti Bedouin, from the nomadic weaving of the desert through to the urban weaving of the town.”

A museum (open: 8 am –1 pm / 4 – 8 pm) provides exhibits detailing the history of textile weaving in Kuwait and a gift shop sells products made by the members. There’s also an excellent café (open all day), Jumo Coffee Roasters, in the courtyard – which serves excellent coffee.

Al Seif Palace

Located on the waterfront, historic Al Seif Palace is one very large, vacant palace.

Located on the waterfront, historic Al Seif Palace is one very large, vacant palace.

Located on the waterfront, opposite the Grand mosque, the beautiful Al Seif Palace was built in 1896 by Sheikh Mubarak. Heavily destroyed during the Iraqi invasion, but now fully restored, the palace serves as a residence for the royal family, but they prefer to live at another palace – the nearby, and much larger, Bayan Palace. Al Seif Palace is used only on special occasions, making it one very large, vacant property.

The dome of the Al Seif Palace clocktower is covered in real gold.

The dome of the Al Seif Palace clocktower is covered in real gold.

The palace is best known for its iconic watch tower which is covered in blue tiles and sports a dazzling roof plated in pure gold. During the occupation, the clock was destroyed by a direct missile hit. The UK clock specialists, Smith of Derby Group were awarded the contract to replace the clock after the war had ended, being the only non-US company to be awarded a contract during the reconstruction of the country.

Standing in front of the palace and taking photos is not allowed but you can get a decent photo from the opposite side of the roundabout in front of the palace.

Grand Mosque

The spacious Grand Mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers in the main pray hall.

The spacious Grand Mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers in the main pray hall.

Located opposite Al Seif Palace, the Grand Mosque was completed in 1986 and is an example of several traditional Islamic styles using modern technology. The mosque hardly encourages visitors, with fairly restrictive opening hours being from 9:00 – 10:30 am and 5:00 – 7:00 pm on weekdays only.

National Assembly Building

The National Assembly building was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.

The National Assembly building was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.

Located on the waterfront a short walk from the Grand Mosque, the Kuwait National Assembly Building was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon (famous for designing the Sydney Opera House) in 1972 and completed in 1982. Home to the Kuwaiti parliament, the building is not open to visitors.

Liberation Tower

Currently closed to visitors, Liberation tower dominates the skyline of Kuwait City.

Currently closed to visitors, Liberation tower dominates the skyline of Kuwait City.

At 372-metres, Liberation Tower is the second-tallest structure in the country and stands as a symbol of Kuwaiti liberation. The tower dominates the Kuwait City skyline and, from the top, the view must be amazing, but unfortunately, it is closed to visitors. Such a shame!

Construction of the tower commenced in 1990 but was interrupted by the Iraqi invasion. After the occupation ended, construction continued with the tower opening in 1996. It’s ranked as one of the tallest telecommunications structures in the world.

Shopping Malls

A quiet day at Souk Sharq, one of several shopping malls in Kuwait City.

A quiet day at Souk Sharq, one of several shopping malls in Kuwait City.

What do Kuwaitis do to escape the blistering heat? Go shopping in an air-con mall of course! Kuwaiti’s love their malls and there are many impressive commercial centres in Kuwait city.

One such mall is Souq Sharq, which is located next to the Central Fish Market on the waterfront and offers a good variety of shops and one of the best cafes in town – Baker & Spice.

The largest mall in the country is The Avenues, and with over 1,000 stores and restaurants, there is plenty to keep you busy and away from the scorching sun.

Beneath the iconic Al Hamra tower, lies Al Hamra mall which specialises in high-end designer fashion but has a great affordable, supermarket, numerous cafes and restaurants plus a cinema.

Accommodation

The Ibis Sharq Hotel is dwarfed by Al Hamra tower.

The Ibis Sharq Hotel is dwarfed by Al Hamra tower.

Booking.com and Hotels.com currently list 169 and 116 properties, respectively, in Kuwait City. Top-end hotels cost around US$300 per night, while mid-range hotels cost around US$100 per night.

During my stay in Kuwait, I stayed at the (highly recommended) Ibis Sharq Hotel which is located next door to the soaring Al Hamra tower. The tower complex includes the upscale Al Hamra mall where there are many dining options and fine cafes, all a short stroll from the hotel. Rates on Hotels.com are currently US$84 for a standard room which represents good value for this property. The breakfast buffet provides a good range of options which will set you up for a day of exploration.

Important: When checking into hotels in Kuwait, you are required to show your visa form which was issued at the airport.

Eating Out

Artwork on the wall of one of the many teashops at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

Artwork on the wall of one of the many teashops at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

Like its neighbours, Qatar and Bahrain, the restaurant scene in Kuwait is made much more interesting thanks to the 70% of the population which are the army of (poorly paid) guest workers. While you can enjoy expensive fine dining in glitzy, expensive restaurants, you can also walk next door to find an Indian or Egyptian-owned budget restaurant where the food is also excellent and very affordable, with a meal costing just 2.00 KD (US$6.57). The myriad malls offer all of the usual western chain restaurants.

Restaurants

A perfect meal of spicy Kofte, creamy Humus and crispy flatbread, fresh from the Tandoor oven at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

A perfect meal of spicy Kofte, creamy Humus and crispy flatbread, fresh from the Tandoor oven at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

Sure there are many restaurants around town, but I kept gravitating back to those which line the alleyways of Souq Al-Mubarakiya. The food at the highly popular Souq is prepared fresh in front of you with local flatbread (leavened and cooked in a Tandoor oven like Indian Naan bread) served piping hot. I’m still dreaming of the wonderfully creamy humus, the grilled meats and the amazing flatbread! Prices are very reasonable – there’s no ‘bill shock’ here but rather a pleasant surprise when you learn how little your meal cost.

The Souk is very busy with both shoppers and diners. At one restaurant I watched two chefs prepare hundreds of Kofte shish kebabs at the front of the house – a great way to entice diners. I can attest, the Kofte tasted divine!

Two chefs preparing Kofte shish kebabs at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

Two chefs preparing many Kofte shish kebabs at Souk Al-Mubarakiya.

Cafes

A divine café latte served at Jumo Coffee Roasters.

A divine café latte served at Jumo Coffee Roasters.

There’s no shortage of good cafes in Kuwait City where a qualified Barista will make you an excellent coffee. Two that stand out as exceptional are:

Jumo Coffee Roasters – located in the shady courtyard of the beautifully restored Al Sadu House craft centre, next to the National Museum, is this artisanal coffee roasting company. While the centre has restricted opening hours, the café is open throughout the day, serving freshly roasted coffee, with a café latte costing 1.85 KD. The café is staffed by a team of friendly Baristas from different parts of Africa, and offers a menu of sandwiches, cakes and different drinks,

Baker & Spice at Souq Sharq – if you need a caffeine fix while shopping at Souk Sharq, the excellent café/ restaurant at Baker & Spice is an excellent choice. Part of a small UK chain, this stylish emporium of fine food serves fresh salads, sandwiches, pastries, cakes and so much more.

Bars

Non-Alcoholic beers from famous brands such as Budweiser can be purchased in local supermarkets.

Non-Alcoholic beers from famous brands such as Budweiser can be purchased in local supermarkets.

With a strict ban on alcohol, it’s not surprising that there is no bar scene in Kuwait. Locals looking to socialise frequent lounges (which are like bars without the alcohol) and cafes which serve coffee, tea, juices and Sheesha.

Visa Requirements

Kuwaiti passport stamp.

Kuwaiti passport stamp.

Kuwait provides visa-free access to passport holders from the five Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The visa policy map of Kuwait, with VOA countries highlighted in light green.

The visa policy map of Kuwait, with VOA countries highlighted in light green.

Nationalities from 54 countries are entitled to receive an electronic eVisa, or a Visa-on-Arrival (VOA), upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport.

To check your requirements, you should consult the Visa Policy of Kuwait.

eVisa Process

Applying in advance for an eVisa will save you much time and hassle at the airport.

The application process is very straightforward with an approval letter emailed to you within 24 hours of application submission.

A single entry visa, valid for a stay of up to 30 days in Kuwait, costs KWD 3 per applicant, along with an additional KWD 1 service fee.

The eVisa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

You can apply for a Kuwait eVisa at:

https://evisa.moi.gov.kw/evisa/home_e.do

Note: There are many bogus eVisa websites which charge hefty service fees for processing your application. It’s always best to only use the official government website.

The eVisa email notification, which must be presented upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport.

The eVisa email notification, which must be presented upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport.

Upon arrival at Kuwait International Airport, you simply present the approval letter at the ‘Visa on Arrival‘ desk.

  • At terminal 1 (T1), the main terminal, the Counter for Visa Issuing is, strangely, located next to gate 21 inside the terminal – not in the immigration hall.
  • At the new T4 (Kuwait Airways flights), the visa issuing desk is, logically, located in the immigration hall.
  • Likewise, at T5 (Jazeera Airways flights), the visa issuing desk is located in the immigration hall.

Once you present your approval letter, the immigration officer scans the QR code, prints your visitor’s visa (which you must retain and surrender upon departure), issues you a receipt and then stamps your passport.

You are then free to exit the terminal, bypassing the queues at immigration.

Visa Upon Arrival Process

The following steps describe how to apply for a Visa upon Arrival at Kuwait International Airport:

  • If you’re one of the 54 nationalities which can apply for a Visa upon Arrival, you will first need to make your way to the ‘Counter for Visa Issuing‘ which is on the air side of Terminal 1, next to gate 21.
  • At T4 and T5, the visa desk is located in the immigration hall.
The 'Visa on Arrival' office, which is located next to gate 21 inside, terminal 1.

The ‘Visa on Arrival’ office, which is located next to gate 21, inside terminal 1.

  • Directly inside the entrance, there’s a desk where you complete the Request for Tourist Entry Visa form.
The Kuwait Visa application form.

The Kuwait Visa application form.

  • Next, you need to pay the 3 KD (US$10) application fee. This is done by inserting 3 KD cash into a vending machine (which doesn’t give change). The machine will dispense a 3 KD fiscal stamp.

Note: The application fee must be paid in KD cash. If you need cash, there’s an ATM available alongside the vending machine which thoughtfully dispenses 1 KD notes.

  • Once you have purchased your fiscal stamp, you take a number and wait your turn to be called. When I arrived, I was the only one in the office so I was called immediately.
  • Once you reach the counter, you hand over your passport, your 3 KD worth of stamps, your completed immigration form and your queue number.
  • The immigration officer will then enter your details into the system and issue you with an A-4 size form which is your Entry visa.
  • You will then have your passport stamped and you are free to enter Kuwait. The process took me about 10 minutes.

Note: It’s important you retain the Entry Visa form for the duration of your visit. Your hotel will ask for it and you will need to surrender it when leaving the country.

The Kuwait entry visa, which must be retained and surrendered upon departure.

The Kuwait entry visa, which must be retained and surrendered upon departure.

Getting There

Air

Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport.

Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport.

All flights into Kuwait arrive at Kuwait International Airport (IATA: KWI), which is located 16 kilometres south of Kuwait City.

The airport serves as the base for Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways both of which do not serve alcoholic beverages on their flights.

Inaugurated on the 8th of August 2018, Terminal 4 is used by all flights operated by Kuwait Airways.

Inaugurated on the 8th of August 2018, Terminal 4 is used by all flights operated by Kuwait Airways.

KWI has three terminals in operation:

  • T1 (the main terminal, used by all non-Kuwaiti airlines)
  • T4 (used by Kuwait Airways)
  • T5 (used by Jazeera Airways)

All terminals will be consolidated into one giant-sized Terminal 2 (T2), once construction (now delayed) is completed.

Terminal 1 & 4

Duty-Free shops, inside Terminal 1 at KWI.

Duty-Free shops, inside Terminal 1 at KWI.

Terminal 1 serves as the main terminal while the newest is Terminal 4, which was opened on the 8th of August 2018 and is used exclusively by Kuwait Airways.

The two terminals are 2 km apart and currently there is no shuttle bus (on the ‘land-side’) between them.

If you do not have your own transport the only way to connect between the two is via airport taxi which will charge you 4 KD (US$13) for the 4-minute trip.

If you are connecting on the ‘air-side’, there is a shuttle bus which departs from gate B10 at Terminal 1.

The New Terminal 2

An artist rendering of the new, Norman Foster-designed, Terminal 2.<br /><i>Source: Kuwait Airports.</i>

An artist rendering of the new, Norman Foster-designed, Terminal 2.
Source: Kuwait Airports.

Not be be outdone by its neighbours, the government of Kuwait is busy building a new Norman Foster-designed terminal which will act as (another) hub for the region.

The terminal is currently under construction and is scheduled to begin operations in 2024.

To view a video of Norman Foster introducing his design concept – click here.

Scheduled Services

The following airlines provide scheduled services to/ from Kuwait:

  • Air Arabia – flies to/ from Sharjah
  • Air Arabia Egypt – flies to/ from Alexandria, Assiut, Luxor, Sohag
  • Air Cairo– flies to/ from Alexandria, Assiut, Sohag
  • Air India – flies to/ from Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa
  • Air India Express – flies to/ from Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Mangalore
  • Al Masria Universal Airlines – flies to/ from Cairo
  • Armenia Air Company – flies to/ from Yerevan
  • Atlas Global – flies to/ from Istanbul
  • Azerbaijan Airlines – flies to/ from Baku
  • Biman Bangladesh Airlines – flies to/ from Dhaka
  • British Airways – flies to/ from London–Heathrow
  • Cham Wings Airlines – flies to/ from Damascus, Latakia, Qamishli
  • EgyptAir – flies to/ from Alexandria, Cairo
  • EgyptAir Express – flies to/ from Sharm El Sheikh
  • Emirates – flies to/ from Dubai–International
  • Ethiopian Airlines – flies to/ from Addis Ababa
  • Etihad Airways – flies to/ from Abu Dhabi
  • flydubai – flies to/ from Dubai–International
  • FlyBosnia – flies to/ from Sarajevo
  • FlyEgypt – flies to/ from Alexandria, Assiut, Sohag
  • Flynas – flies to/ from Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, Taif
  • Gulf Air – flies to/ from Bahrain
  • IndiGo – flies to/ from Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, Kannur
  • Iran Air – flies to/ from Ahwaz, Isfahan, Lar, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tehran–Imam Khomeini
  • Iran Aseman Airlines – flies to/ from Abadan, Ahwaz
  • Iraqi Airways – flies to/ from Najaf
  • Jazeera Airlines – flies to/ from Ahmedabad, Alexandria, Amman–Queen Alia, Assiut, Bahrain, Baku, Cairo, Delhi, Doha, Dubai–International, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Kochi, Lahore, Luxor, Mashhad, Mumbai, Najaf, Riyadh, Sohag, Tbilisi
  • Jordan Aviation – flies to/ from Amman–Queen Alia
  • KLM – flies to/ from Amsterdam, Bahrain
  • Kuwait Airlines – flies to/ from Abu Dhabi, Ahmedabad, Amman-Queen Alia, Bahrain, Bengaluru, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Beirut, Cairo, Chennai, Colombo, Dammam, Delhi, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai–International, Frankfurt, Geneva, Islamabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Kochi, Lahore, London–Heathrow, Manila, Mashhad, Medina, Milan–Malpensa, Mumbai, Munich, Muscat, New York–JFK, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Riyadh, Rome-Fiumicino, Tehran–Imam Khomeini, Thiruvananthapuram
  • Lufthansa – flies to/ from Dammam, Frankfurt
  • Mahan Air – flies to/ from Mashhad
  • Middle East Airlines – flies to/ from Beirut
  • Nile Air – flies to/ from Alexandria, Cairo
  • Oman Air – flies to/ from Muscat
  • Onur Air – flies to/ from Istanbul
  • Pegasus Airlines – flies to/ from Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen
  • Qatar Airways – flies to/ from Doha
  • Royal Jordanian – flies to/ from Amman–Queen Alia
  • Salam Air – flies to/ from Muscat
  • Saudia – flies to/ from Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh
  • Syrian Air – flies to/ from Damascus, Latakia
  • SriLankan Airlines – flies to/ from Colombo
  • Turkish Airlines – flies to/ from Istanbul, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen

Alcohol Ban

It is illegal to import alcohol into Kuwait.

Upon entering the country, your bags will be x-rayed by customs to ensure you are not carrying any alcohol.

Airport Transport

Special Airport taxis provide transfers into Kuwait City, charging a fixed fare of 8 KD (US$26). The journey time is 20 to 30 minutes.

When returning to the airport, it’s much cheaper to take a regular city taxi which will charge just 5 KD. Regular city taxis are not allow to collect passengers from the terminal with police officers on duty to ensure this rule is respected.

Public buses operate from outside the arrivals hall at Terminal 1 and charge .2 KD to the city. You can view details on the routes available on the airport website.

Land

Kuwait shares land borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Currently, the border with Iraq is closed while there are two crossings into Saudi Arabia, one on the coast (Highway 40) and one in the far west (Highway 70).

Getting Around

 

A section of a street map from Google Maps clearly shows the very confusing street naming convention used in Kuwait City.

A section of a street map from Google Maps clearly shows the very confusing street naming convention used in Kuwait City.

Kuwait has an extensive and modern network of highways, many of which are forever congested with traffic. The street naming (or numbering) system is truly baffling!

Public Buses

A Citybus bus route in Kuwait City.

A Citybus bus route in Kuwait City.
Source: http://www.citybuskw.com/

The Kuwait Public Transport Company (KPTC) operates a fleet of 400 buses which provide comprehensive coverage of Kuwait City. Tickets cost 250 fils for trips in the city. You can view their many different routes using the interactive route map on their website.

Citybus operate a fleet of modern buses throughout the city and to the airport with tickets starting at 200 fils. You can view their routes and fares on their slick website.

Taxi

Taxis are plentiful and cheap, costing a few Dinars between any two points downtown. Most taxis are equipped with meters but the drivers (all ‘Guest workers’ from South Asia) rarely use them so its always best to negotiate the fare prior to departure. Fares are always reasonable and the drivers very courteous. The fare from downtown to the airport is 5 KD.

Rental Car

If you’re only visiting Kuwait City, you don’t need a rental car as taxis and buses are plentiful and cheap. If you wish to explore beyond the city, its best to hire a rental car, although the local driving style could be best described as aggressive and chaotic, and all at high speed.

A compact car starts at around US$30 per day and fuel costs US$0.33 per litre. The following agencies are located outside the arrivals hall of Terminal 1

 

Safe Travels!

Darren

 

Further Reading

Other travel reports from the Gulf Region region:

Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide
Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide
Kuwait Travel Guide Kuwait Travel Guide