- Local time
- 15:39
- Currency
- Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
- Capital
- Kuwait City
- Calling code
- +965
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
A small, wealthy Gulf state centred on Kuwait City, with Bronze Age and Greek ruins on Failaka Island, desert drives, huge malls and a big restaurant scene. Alcohol is banned.
Kuwait sits at the head of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and was for a long time a trading port between Mesopotamia, India and Persia; pearls were its main product until oil was found in 1938. It is not an obvious holiday destination, but it has enough to fill a few days, and the country is small enough to see in two or three. Kuwait City and the coastal districts such as Salmiya are where you eat, shop and walk along the corniche; beyond them lies open desert.
The sights are few but distinctive: Bronze Age and Greek remains on Failaka Island, a museum of the oil industry in Ahmadi, the cliffs of Kazmah and the long causeway across Kuwait Bay. Social life revolves around restaurants and malls, because there is almost no nightlife and alcohol is illegal. Summer is extremely hot, so plan a trip between November and March.
- Failaka Island: Bronze Age and Greek archaeological sites, including a Greek temple, reached by ferry.
- Salmiya: Malls, restaurants and the beach, 10 minutes from Kuwait City.
- Ahmed Al Jaber Oil & Gas Exhibition: An interactive museum of the oil industry in Ahmadi.
- The Avenues: One of the largest shopping malls in the Middle East.
- Kazmah cliffs: One of the few heights in the desert, with views over the bay.
- Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway: A 48.5 km road across the bay, with a view of the city skyline at sunset.
Places to visit
Cities
- Kuwait City: The capital, where most hotels, markets and attractions are.
- Salmiya: A commercial and residential district 10 minutes from the centre, with malls, restaurants and the beach.
- Jahra: Home to the historic Red Fort; traditional wooden boats are still built here.
- Ahmadi: The oil town, 30 minutes by car from Kuwait City, with the museum of the oil and gas industry.
Beyond the cities
- Failaka Island (island): An island with Bronze Age and Greek remains, reached by ferry from Ras Al Salmiya.
- Kazmah cliffs (area): Desert cliffs above the bay, a weekend favourite for four-wheel drives and quad bikes.
- Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway (site): A 48.5 km causeway opened in 2019, with a small island that looks back on the skyline.
- Rai (district): The district of The Avenues, one of the largest malls in the region.
- Mina Al Ahmadi (town): An oil port 19 km south of Kuwait City, with huge jetties for supertankers.
Things to do
See
- Failaka Island Failaka Island: Take the KPTC ferry from Ras Al Salmiya to see the Bronze Age and Greek sites; the island was an outpost under Alexander the Great. Private boat rides also run, but their departures are not guaranteed.
- Ahmed Al Jaber Oil & Gas Exhibition Ahmadi: Interactive exhibits on the oil industry, with guided tours every 30 minutes; free in 2025. Good for children too.
- Boatbuilding in Jahra Jahra: Traditional wooden boats are still built here, now as pleasure boats rather than for pearling or trade.
Do
- The Kazmah cliffs and the desert North of Kuwait Bay: Drive out to the cliffs for the view over the bay, or simply into the empty desert, as Kuwaitis do on winter weekends.
- The causeway at sunset: Drive the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway and stop on Southern Island for the view of the city skyline.
- The corniche by bike or on foot Salmiya to Kuwait City: The waterfront between Salmiya and Kuwait City is the one pleasant route for cycling, best after dark.
- Sailing, diving and sea clubs: Beach hotels can arrange boat trips; check any rented boat carefully before you leave the shore.
Eat
- Restaurants Road Salmiya: A street packed with local restaurants serving sandwiches, juices and snacks: ask any local for directions.
Shop
- Malls: The Avenues is the biggest; Marina Mall, Souq Sharq and 360 Mall are also popular, with cinemas and food courts.
Itineraries
Kuwait in 3 days (3 days)
- Kuwait City (3 nights): Base for the whole trip: markets, malls and the corniche towards Salmiya.
- Failaka Island (0 nights): A day trip by ferry to the archaeological sites.
- Ahmadi (0 nights): Half a day for the oil and gas museum; book a guided tour.
A day north of the bay by car (1 days)
- Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway (0 nights): Cross the bay and stop on Southern Island for the skyline.
- Kazmah cliffs (0 nights): Views over the bay; stay on marked tracks.
- Jahra (0 nights): The Red Fort, on the way back to the city.
Climate and best time to visit
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max °C | 20 | 22 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 46 | 47 | 47 | 44 | 37 | 28 | 22 |
| Min °C | 9 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 15 | 10 |
| Rain mm | 30 | 11 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 26 |
Kuwait has a dry desert climate with very hot summers and short, cool winters. In Kuwait City the average maximum is about 20 °C in January and 47 °C in July and August, and on the hottest days it passes 50 °C; average rainfall is zero from June to September. Winter nights can drop to around 5 °C.
The most comfortable months are November to March. Between October and April sudden cloudbursts can bring heavy rain, and sandstorms and dust storms occur all year, most often between March and August. Pack sunglasses for both the glare and the dust.
Getting around
| Main airports | KWI |
|---|---|
| International driving permit | Recommended |
Buses run by KPTC and City Bus cover the main areas, are air-conditioned and charge a flat fare paid to the driver, but they are packed at peak hours, often late, and most stop at night; check times on the Citybuskw app rather than Google Maps. Taxis have orange plates, and meters are rarely used: agree the fare before you get in, keep small notes, and never share a taxi with strangers. Careem works well; Uber did not at the end of 2025.
Driving is fast and aggressive, with frequent lane changes and speeding; the highway limit is 120 km/h, using a phone at the wheel is illegal, and there is zero tolerance for alcohol. With a visit visa you can drive on a UK photocard licence; rental companies usually arrange the compulsory third-party insurance, and may need an International Driving Permit to do so. Keep the insurance document in the car. After a serious accident, do not move the car and call 112; after a minor one, photograph the damage, move the car out of the traffic and call 112. Foreign credit cards are often refused at petrol stations, so carry cash. Landmines remain in parts of the desert: avoid off-road driving or keep to clearly marked tracks. Addresses use area, block and street; the official Kuwait Finder app locates them better than Google Maps.
Flying to Kuwait? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flightsWhere to stay
- Hotels: Expensive, but the major Western chains are all present.
- Chalets: Weekend houses for rent along the southern coast.
- Beach resort hotels: Resorts on the coast have their own beaches and pools, which non-guests can use for a fee.
Unmarried couples may not share a hotel room: hotels ask couples for a marriage certificate. Light sleepers should bring earplugs, as the call to prayer is broadcast before dawn and several times a day.
Eat and drink
Dishes to try
- Shawarma and fatayer: The cheapest meal in town, sold in small restaurants everywhere.
- Falafel sandwiches: Served with chips, salad and tahini, at a price fixed by law.
- Khubz Irani: Flat bread, sold fresh from the baker.
- Traditional Kuwaiti seafood: Hard to find, but a few restaurants still serve Kuwaiti dishes.
Drinks
- Alcohol: Banned: it cannot be imported, made, sold or carried, even for personal use.
| Tipping | Not expected, and restaurants are not allowed to add a service charge. |
|---|
With almost no nightlife, eating out is the main entertainment. Every kind of international cuisine is available, except heavily pork-based ones, and every big US chain is here. Restaurants cluster in mall food courts, at the Marina Crescent and on Salmiya's "Restaurants Road"; nearly all of them deliver for a small fee.
During Ramadan restaurants close in daylight, even at the airport, and open after dusk with set meals; supermarkets stay open, and big hotels serve food during the day.
Entry requirements and visas
| Passport validity | At least 6 months after the date you arrive |
|---|
| Passport | Entry | Max stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Visa on arrival | Visa on arrival or online. British citizens born in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria or Yemen must get a visa from the embassy first. | |
| Canada | Visa on arrival | Tourist visa on arrival, but Canada advises applying online before you travel to avoid delays. | |
| United States | Visa on arrival | Visa on arrival or eVisa, single entry for up to 3 months (Wikivoyage). | |
| Australia | Visa on arrival | Visa on arrival or eVisa, single entry for up to 3 months (Wikivoyage). | |
| EU / EEA | Visa on arrival | All EU and EEA countries are on the visa-on-arrival list; eVisa also possible (Wikivoyage). |
Other nationalities: check the official source below.
Visitors need a visa, which many nationalities can get on arrival or online; citizens of the other Gulf states do not need one. At the border you must show a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation. Some British travellers, especially those born outside the UK, may face extra checks, questioning or refusal. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check the official link before you book.
You may be refused entry if your passport has an Israeli stamp or visa, or an Egyptian or Jordanian stamp from a crossing on the border with Israel. Kuwait refuses passports with an "X" in the sex field. It is illegal to bring in alcohol, pork, drugs, gambling machines or pornography, and bags are X-rayed on arrival. Declare cash of KD 3,000 or more. Certain prescription medicines need permission before you arrive (see Health). Unpaid fines, bills or commercial disputes can lead to an exit ban.
Money and payments
| Currency | Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) |
|---|---|
| Cards | Widespread |
The currency is the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD, KD), divided into 1,000 fils, and the strongest currency in the world. ATMs are everywhere and, according to Wikivoyage, do not charge foreign cards a withdrawal fee; most shops, even small ones, take cards. Exchange offices are common, but rates vary, so compare, and bring your passport and visa. Notes issued before 1994 are no longer legal tender: do not accept them.
There is no VAT. Petrol stations usually want cash or a local KNET card, and foreign cards do not always work for parking, so keep some cash. Declare cash or travellers' cheques worth KD 3,000 or more when you arrive.
Costs and budget
- Cheap meal (shawarma or fatayer): about KD 1
- Falafel sandwich: 100 fils
- Fast-food combo meal: KD 2
- Latte in a coffee chain: KD 2
- Three-course meal for two, mid-range: KD 10 to 12
Prices collected by Wikivoyage in May 2022. Kuwait is not cheap for visitors: it is hard to get by on less than about US$100 a day, mostly because of hotels. Street food, on the other hand, is very cheap, and petrol is among the cheapest in the world.
Health
| Recommended vaccines | Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR) and the seasonal flu, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, for some travellers, Rabies, for some travellers: ask a travel clinic |
|---|---|
| Tap water | Safe |
Ask a travel health professional about vaccines at least 6 to 8 weeks before you go. Check your medicines before you travel: Kuwait requires visitors to get permission in advance for many common prescription drugs, and controlled medicines need authorisation from a Kuwaiti embassy. If approved, bring only the authorised quantity (a 15 or 30-day supply), in the original packaging, with copies of your prescriptions, in your hand luggage.
Health care is good, but tourists can use only private hospitals and clinics, which are expensive and usually want payment straight away: take travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. The heat is the biggest everyday danger, so drink often and dress for it. Outdoor air quality can be poor. Cases of MERS have been reported; avoid contact with camels and camel products. Tap water is drinkable, though mostly desalinated and not very tasty. For an ambulance, dial 112.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
- United States: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (2026-10-20)
- Canada: Avoid non-essential travel (2026-10-20)
- United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)
The UK, Canadian and US governments give different advice: see their current levels above. Canada also advises against all travel within 5 km of the border with Iraq. Their warnings centre on the conflict in the region: missile and drone fire has hit US bases in Kuwait, and attacks have struck targets in the country, including civilian infrastructure. Flights can be cancelled and airspace closed at short notice. Keep your travel documents up to date, follow the instructions of the local authorities, and if told to take shelter, stay indoors away from windows. Never touch drone or missile fragments, and do not film military sites, activity or damage.
The threat of terrorism in the Gulf also applies to Kuwait. Foreigners may not take part in demonstrations, which are allowed only at Al Irada Square in Kuwait City: stay away from crowds. Crime against foreigners is rare, but take care in Jahra and Jleeb Al Shuyoukh, where robberies and street crime have occurred, and watch for pickpockets in malls, markets and transport hubs. Women travelling alone may face harassment; avoid walking alone after dark. Phone scams by callers posing as officials or banks are common, and public Wi-Fi can be unsafe.
Landmines and unexploded weapons remain in the desert, especially near the Iraqi border: keep to paved roads and marked tracks, and never pick up objects. Going near the borders without permission is illegal. At sea, the northern Gulf between Iran, Iraq and Kuwait is not demarcated, and boats there have been detained.
Customs and etiquette
Kuwait is a Muslim country, and its laws are strict on behaviour in public. Dress modestly, especially downtown and in conservative areas: shorts, short skirts and tight clothes may be considered inappropriate for both men and women, though Western women do not need to cover their heads. Bikinis are fine at hotel pools, not on public beaches, and nudity is forbidden everywhere. Cover tattoos that might offend, such as verses of the Qur'an. Public displays of affection between men and women are illegal, and same-sex relations are a crime.
Insulting anyone in public, by word or gesture, is a crime that can lead to arrest and deportation, and criticising the emir or the ruling family is punished with prison. During Ramadan do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in daylight, and avoid loud music. Alcohol is illegal to buy, carry or drink, and drug laws are very strict, with prison for even tiny amounts and the death penalty for trafficking; even clothing with drug logos is an offence. Do not photograph government, military or oil sites, or people without their consent. Always carry your passport, and pay all fines and bills before you leave.
Language
| Official languages | Arabic |
|---|---|
| English | Widespread |
| Hello | مرحبا marḥaban |
|---|---|
| Peace be with you (formal greeting) | السلام عليكم as-salaamu alaikum |
| Please | من فضلك min faḍlak (to a man), min faḍlik (to a woman) |
| Thank you | شكرا shukran |
| Excuse me | لو سمحت law samaḥta (to a man), law samaḥti (to a woman) |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة ma'a as-salaamah |
| Do you speak English? | هل تتكلم الانجليزية؟ hal tatakallam al-ingliziyyah? |
| How much is this? | بكم هذا؟ bikam hatha? |
What to pack
- Passport valid at least 6 months, with no Israeli stamps: Needed for entry, and you must carry it at all times.
- Return ticket and hotel booking: Border staff ask to see them.
- Approval and prescriptions for your medicines: Many common prescription drugs need permission before arrival.
- Plug adapter: Sockets are British (type G) or two-pin European (type C).
- Sunglasses and light, modest clothes: For the glare, the dust and the local dress code.
- Earplugs: The call to prayer starts before dawn.
- Some cash: Petrol stations and taxis often do not take foreign cards.
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Kuwait City |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,865,298 (2025) |
| Area | 17,820 km² |
| Time zone | Asia/Kuwait (UTC+3) |
| Calling code | +965 |
| Driving side | right |
Electricity and plugs
| Plug types | C, G |
|---|
Staying connected
| SIM and eSIM | Three operators: Zain, Ooredoo (formerly Wataniya) and Viva. SIM cards are cheap and sold in phone shops; you need your passport to register. LTE covers nearly the whole country. |
|---|---|
| Roaming | Roaming charges can be very high: a local SIM is usually cheaper. |
| Wi-Fi | Public Wi-Fi exists, but criminals have compromised public networks: avoid banking or shopping on it. Adult websites are blocked. |
Useful apps
- Careem: Ride-hailing taxis, usually within a few minutes.
- Citybuskw: Live bus times.
- Kuwait Finder: The official map for finding addresses by area and block.
- Mawqif: Paying for street parking.
- WhatsApp and other VoIP apps: Much cheaper than international calls.
Emergency numbers
| Emergency | 112 |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Kuwait?
Yes, but most citizens of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and the EU can get one on arrival or online. Bring a return ticket and proof of accommodation, and check the official link before you book.
Can I drink alcohol in Kuwait?
No. Alcohol is banned: you cannot import, buy, carry or drink it, and penalties include fines, prison and deportation.
Can I bring my prescription medicines?
Only with permission for many common prescription drugs, requested before you arrive. Bring the authorised quantity in the original packaging with copies of your prescriptions.
Can unmarried couples share a hotel room?
No. It is illegal, and hotels ask couples for a marriage certificate.
When is the best time to visit Kuwait?
From November to March. In summer the average maximum in Kuwait City is around 47 °C.
Is the tap water safe in Kuwait?
Yes, it is drinkable, though mostly desalinated and not very tasty. Bottled water is sold everywhere.
Sources This guide was last checked on · 17 sources
- Wikivoyage: Kuwait · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Itineraries, Climate and best time to visit, Getting around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Costs and budget, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, Language, What to pack, Electricity and plugs, Staying connected, Frequently asked questions
- WMO World Weather Information Service: Kuwait City · Climate and best time to visit, Frequently asked questions
- UK FCDO: Kuwait warnings and insurance · Getting around, Safety
- UK FCDO: Kuwait safety and security · Getting around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Safety, Customs and etiquette, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- Government of Canada: Kuwait travel advice (updated 21 August 2026) · Getting around, Entry requirements and visas, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, Staying connected, Frequently asked questions
- UK FCDO: Kuwait entry requirements · Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata · Money and payments, What to pack, Country facts, Electricity and plugs
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- UK FCDO: Kuwait health · Health, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- US CDC: Travelers' health, Kuwait · Health
- US Department of State: Kuwait travel advisory · Safety
- UK FCDO: Kuwait travel advice · Safety
- Wikivoyage: Arabic phrasebook · Language
- World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL · Country facts
- World Bank, AG.LND.TOTL.K2 · Country facts
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
- UK FCDO: Kuwait getting help · Emergency numbers
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