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| Kuwait - The Basics |
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This page has been designed to be just a simple, straightforward introduction to life in Kuwait. It contains some of the basic facts that are useful for life out here, but to find out more about certain topics or people, follow the links and you'll be able to get more detailed information.
You will find tons of information on the Ministry of Interior Web Site and they do have ENGLISH! Click HERE to go there and see the wealth of information!
| Government |
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Kuwait's Coat of Arms
Dawlat al-Kuwayt
State of Kuwait
Kuwait is a constitutional hereditary monarchy. It's ruled by His Highness the Emir who is a member of Kuwait's royal family, the Al Sabah's.
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His Highness the Emir of Kuwait
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The Emir of Kuwait is His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah. He has held the position since January 2006 [more].
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His Highness the Crown Prince
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His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah is the Crown Prince of Kuwait [more]
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His Highness the Prime Minister
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The Prime Minister is His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah.[more]
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Arabic is the official language of Kuwait, but English is very widely-spoken. Hindi and Tagalog are also spoken extensively in their respective communities. Knowing a few words of 'Kuwaiti' Arabic can be very useful, so take a look at our Speak Kuwaiti section and try them out!
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According to the latest figures for 2007, Kuwait's population stands at 3,182,000. There are 1,023,000 Kuwaiti nationals, whilst the rest of the population is made up of non-nationals most of whom are from Asia (over one million),other Arabic-speaking countries, India, the Philippines, Europe and the USA. This means the expat population of Kuwait stands at 67.8% and comprises 88.6% of the workforce.
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General Info
Bits and pieces of advice and information we think you should know!
Safety Tips
Kuwait is a safe country. It even feels safe walking alone in an underground car park at 2 am (not something I'd want to try out back home in England). Obviously you still need your common sense - lock your apartment/villa door and windows, keep valuables locked in a safe place, make sure your mobile is always with you, that it's fully charged and you have numbers of people you can call in an emergency and don't take lifts from strangers (especially if you're a woman but that also goes for men as well!). Every now and again, the press report that women (and sometimes boys, too) have been kidnapped, dragged off the street and into a car where they are taken, usually to the desert, and raped. Sometimes the perpetrator pretends to be a policeman in order to lure the person into his car. If you are stopped by someone saying they're a policeman, espeially if they're in plain clothes, ask for his ID, and if in doubt, don't get in the car and call a friend to come and help you. It must be stressed that events like the ones mentioned above are not everyday occurances, but they do happen from time to time as they do in any country, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Things that are illegal
Always remember that Kuwait is a Muslim country and therefore it's illegal to bring in alcohol, narcotics, pork products and any item that could be described as 'obscene'. The penalties for drug-dealing are very strict and can result in the death sentence. If you're caught drunk in public or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol then you could be looking at a spell in jail and/or a hefty fine, having your driving license taken off you or even being deported.
Terrorism
The Kuwaiti Government clamp down very heavily on all forms of terrorist activity in Kuwait and take a tough stance on anyone suspected of terrorist activities. In 2005 they raided a number of houses and siezed firearms and explosives. Contrary to what many people in the West think, Kuwait is NOT a hot-bed of terrorist activity. In reality it feels very safe, although the official line from the embassies in Kuwait is to 'maintain vigilance'. Obviously, if the situation should change in any way, we'll update this section immediately.
Driving
Driving in Kuwait is not for the faint hearted. It takes a special kind of driver to cope with the roads and the drivers in Kuwait. Many drivers pay little or no attention to other people on the road, speeding is very common, despite numerous speed cameras dotted around the place, switching lanes, or 'drifting' is also the norm and most people use their mobiles whilst driving. It's also not unusual to see several small children sitting on the driver's lap, sometimes even banging the driver's head with balloons, toys and the left-overs from a trip to a fast-food restaraunt. If you do have an accident, you must stay with your car until the police come. If you don't, and even if the accident wasn't your fault, then you could be charged. Remember, if you're driving in Kuwait - stay alert, you'll need eyes in the back of your head! For more information about traffic laws in Kuwait, click here.
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Relationships, Sexuality and Dating
Okay, this is kind of a sensitive matter, and maybe I'm opening up a can of worms, but at Kuwait Living we always try to bring you un-biased information, and I honestly think this topic needs some explaining. First of all, the official line: Kuwait is a Muslim country therefore pre-marital sex is not allowed, neither is homosexuality nor public displays of affection. So no snogging (or anything else) in public please! Don't say we didn't warn you! However (and this is a BIG however), obviously it still goes on, albeit discreetly (well, most of the time discreetly, sometimes blatantly). So whatever your sexual proclivities are, so long as you are discreet about it, you should be okay. What happens in the privacy of your own home is up to you. Over the past few years, it has been increasingly common to see openly gay males and females around the place, particularly in the more 'westernised' areas of the country like Salmiya. Likewise the numbers of transexuals and transvestites is also on the rise or at least they seem more 'out'. Whatever your opinion is of them, I think you have to admire their guts in following what they feel most comfortable with, especially when it goes against societal and familial pressure, traditions and beliefs.
Now, whilst the Holy Quran prohibits anal sex, being gay in Arab countries is viewed differently from being gay in Western countries. Out here, if you have 'active' sex with a man, you are not seen as being gay, however if you have 'passive' sex with a man, then you are seen as being gay. I must admit, I found this rather confusing when I first came to Kuwait, and it still puzzles me several years later, but each to his own, I guess!
Obviously there are no clubs, pubs or discos in Kuwait (yet!) so the places one would go to meet potential dates are not an option. Instead, malls, shopping centres and roads (especially those with lots of traffic lights - Gulf Street springs to mind) are all used! The explosion of mobile phone technology as well as the internet has dramatically changed how relationships are conducted in Kuwait. Phone numbers are flashed from car to car, bluetooth is used and internet dating sites are very popular. Wednesday and Thursday nights at many of the malls are jam-packed with groups of young people 'on the pull'. Many have boyfriends or girlfriends (or both!), but in secret.
Finally, a word about prostitution. Although it's against the law, it is actually quite common. A number of pool halls and internet cafes were raided quite recently and shut down due to the type of services they offered, and every now and again police break up prostitution rings and brothels.
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| Kuwait Info |
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Kuwait is located in the Middle East. It borders the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the south and the Republic of Iraq to the north and west. To the east lies the Gulf of Arabia. It's geographically a small country, covering an area of 17, 820 km2.
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The Flag of Kuwait
The Kuwaiti flag was adopted in 1961 after the country was granted its independence from the British. The red represents the blood of the country's martyrs, the white - the pure hearts of the Kuwaiti people, the green - the richness of Kuwait's land, and the black represents the oil that has provided the country with such wealth.
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USEFUL STUFF
Time GMT +3 hrs, EST +8 hrs
Currency Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) 1 KD = 1000 fils
Dialling Code 00965
Electricity 220/242 volts AC, 50 cycles 3 phase
Emergency 777 (for more useful phone numbers, take a look at our Important Phone Numbers section)
Religion
The official religion of the State of Kuwait is Islam, however those who practice other religions can do so completely freely and in an atmosphere of tolerance. There are a number of churches in Kuwait where regular services are held.
Climate
Kuwait has a 'desert climate' which simply means its summers (from April to October) are very, very hot and very very dry, with temperatures bouncing around 45 - 55oC. Try turning on a hairdrier at full blast right in front of your face and you'll get an inkling of what I mean. Kuwait's winters can be cold, sometimes getting as low as 3oC in the desert. Generally winter lasts from the end of November to the beginning of February, with a few days of heavy rain. Sand storms are an unpleasant feature of Kuwait's climate and can happen any time of the year, but especially in May/June. Just make sure you keep all your windows closed because otherwise everything'll be covered in a thick layer of orange sand. Not nice! Kuwait doesn't get that humid, though, and generally it only occurs round about September.
For updated weather reports: WEATHER
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Kuwait is a mix of tradition and modernity and this extends not only to social customs but also to the way people dress. Having a good appearance is of fundamental importance in Kuwait, as is good personal hygiene (particlularly essential given the extreme summer heat), so deodorant and perfume is a must to block out B.O. As a general rule of thumb, dress in respect of Kuwait's culture and religion and be sensitive to this. Make sure your clothes cover your knees and your shoulders - that goes for both men and women, by the way. Kuwaiti society is changing and although many Kuwaiti men still wear the traditional dishdasha and women the abaya, western fashions are very much in evidence particularly in the big malls and in the more liberal areas of the country. Basically, wear what you feel most comfortable in and remember that in some places, like the old souks, Friday Market and the more Bedouin areas it's best to cover up so as not to attract unwanted attention, stares and the impression that you're disrespecting Islamic culture. Many businesses and educational facilities have a strict dress code for their employees so check with them first, and some ecompanies even provide uniforms. You are judged by how you dress, and for women in particular, if you don't want to encourage the impression that you're 'easy', then wear more conservative clothes ie. baggy, form-covering tops, skirts and trousers. Many hotels, gyms, beach resorts and public swimming pools have segregated opening times which mean you can wear what you want. However, on the public beaches, it's not a good idea for women to wear itsy-bitsy bathing costumes, nor to go unaccompanied, as not only will you attract a group of male on-lookers, you'll also be severely pestered and most likely feel extremely uncomfortable.
Another thing to bear in mind is that although for much of the year Kuwait is hair-dryer hot, winter can be chilly, so bring warm clothes like sweaters, boots and jackets with you. For three months of the year (from November to February), you'll need them, but for the rest of the time, light, cotton fabrics and sandals are all that's required.
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