🏙️ Kuwait

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 57% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

The official site below shows the visa rules for your passport, so look there. A visit visa may be obtainable online through the Ministry of Interior's visa portal, the official one. That portal, or a Kuwaiti embassy, can confirm the rules now in force, fees, plus any insurance requirement. Do not rely on any other site. Bring hotel details and a return ticket, along with a passport that remains valid for 6 months.

Culture and laws - take note

Strict laws apply in this conservative Muslim country. ALCOHOL IS BANNED, so bring none, and never carry drugs. Modest dress is expected: cover shoulders and knees, and wear loose clothes. Eating, drinking or smoking in public must not be done in daylight during Ramadan. The ruling family and religion must not be criticised. Photos of government sites, military sites or people require permission, and drones need a permit. Friday-Saturday is the weekend. Extremely hot summers, above 45 C, make winter the time to go. Halal food can be found everywhere.

Emergency

112 for police, ambulance and fire.

Good to know

Dinar, cards and cash

Kuwait uses the dinar. Canadian advice says credit cards and US dollars are widely accepted and cash machines are available nationwide, but card and machine theft does occur, so extra care is advised when withdrawing cash. Taxi drivers often take only cash and may not use a meter, so having small notes ready helps. Large amounts of currency must be declared on arrival and departure.

Local laws and customs

Alcohol, drugs and dress

Both UK and Canadian advice say alcohol is illegal in Kuwait, and UK advice adds that buying, carrying it or being drunk in public can bring fines, prison or deportation. Drug penalties can include a death sentence. Visitors are told to dress modestly, carry their passport and avoid photographing government, military or oil-related sites. Unmarried couples cannot share a hotel room, and both advisories say same-sex relations are illegal under Kuwaiti law.

Taxis and scams

Marked taxis and shared rides

Officially marked taxis and trusted ride-share services are the ones Canadian advice recommends, along with confirming the fare beforehand and never sharing a taxi with strangers. It also suggests carrying small notes to pay with, since drivers often accept only cash.

Phone calls from fake officials

Scammers claiming to be local authorities or financial institutions have phoned some travellers, Canadian advice says. In such cases, do not send money or personal information. The same advice recommends not buying from unencrypted websites and being extra careful with people you know only online.

Who can help

local government

Ministry of Interior emergency number 112

Helps with: Kuwait's emergency number for police, ambulance and fire, listed on the Ministry of Interior website. The site also lists hotlines for civil defence, the coast guard and anti-human-trafficking.

Who qualifies: Anyone in Kuwait who needs urgent help from the police, ambulance or fire service.

Phone: 112

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Kuwait Red Crescent Society

Helps with: Kuwait's national Red Crescent society. Its contact page lists a hotline, an address in Shuwaikh and a family links email for reconnecting separated relatives.

Who qualifies: People in Kuwait who need Red Crescent help, or who are trying to trace relatives.

Phone: +965 1814814

Email: [email protected]

Address: Shuwaikh, Road 80, PO Box Safat, Code 13014

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kuwait

Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kuwait since 1991. It promotes orderly migration and migrant protection and supports labour mobility, ethical recruitment and safe migration pathways.

Who qualifies: Migrants and authorities working on migration in Kuwait. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +965 2 530 8000

Email: [email protected]

Address: P.O. Box 6389, 22073 Salmiya, Kuwait

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Kuwait City Kuwait CityThe Grand Mosque, the old Souq Al-Mubarakiya and the landmark Kuwait Towers stand in the capital, along with a long seafront corniche.Photo: Zairon, CC BY 4.0 Salmiya SalmiyaThe Scientific Center aquarium sits in this busy seaside district, which also has hotels, malls and cafes along Arabian Gulf Street.Photo: Paldorje Tamang, CC BY-SA 4.0 Failaka Island Failaka IslandReached by ferry, this island holds Greek ruins and Bronze Age ones, as well as traces left by the invasion of 1990.Photo: ரோஜா, CC BY-SA 3.0 Al Khiran Al KhiranA large outlet mall, waterfront chalets and beach resorts fill this southern coastal area, popular for weekend breaks.Photo: Salwa Farwaneh Dameh, CC0

City selection based on: Travel guides and attraction lists; no official district-level visitor statistics found

Festivals and events

festival

Hala February festival

around Feb 2027 · Kuwait City

Alongside shopping and concerts, the festival includes National and Liberation Days on 25-26 February.

festival

Hala February festival

around Feb 2028 · Kuwait City

Alongside shopping and concerts, the festival includes National and Liberation Days on 25-26 February.