Kuwait City City Guide

Kuwait

Kuwait City City Guide

Kuwait City is the modern capital of Kuwait on the Arabian Gulf. It blends traditional Arabian culture with modern life and business. The city is hot and conservative, with tall buildings and busy markets.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Food options run from local Arabian dishes to wide international choices. Vegetarian and vegan options are growing. Many places open late, especially weekends.

Local Dishes:
Machboos, Harees, Gabout
International Cuisine:
Middle Eastern, Indian, Western
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Poor
3

No alcohol. Nightlife includes shisha cafés, dessert spots, malls, and events. Mostly quiet after hours.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
8

Coffee culture is growing with many independent shops and chains. Cafes are social hubs.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not required. 5-10% is common in restaurants. Rounding up taxi fares is usual.

Top Attractions
Kuwait Towers
Landmark
Iconic city landmark with views and dining.
Grand Mosque
Religious
Largest mosque in Kuwait, open to visitors.
The Scientific Center
Museum
Aquarium and discovery center.
Souq Mubarakiya
Market
Traditional market with food and goods.
Al Shaheed Park
Park
Large urban park with walking paths.
SIM Cards

SIM cards are easy to buy at the airport or stores. Top providers are Zain, Ooredoo, and STC. ID required for activation.

Available at:
Airport kiosks
Zain stores
Ooredoo stores
STC stores
Recommended Apps
Talabat(Food Delivery)
Carriage(Food Delivery)
Careem(Transportation)
Uber(Transportation)
MyFatoorah(Payments)
Kuwait Finder(Utilities)
Tawseel(Food Delivery)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
7

Main areas are mostly clean. Waste pickup is regular but recycling is limited.

24/7 Services
Good
7

Essential services like pharmacies and mini marts operate 24/7. Late-night food options through delivery apps.

Groceries
Sultan Center
Lulu Hypermarket
Carrefour
Co-op societies

Major supermarkets carry international and local goods. Fresh markets offer produce and meat. Stores open early and close late, some open on holidays.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Card payments are common in most shops and restaurants, but cash is useful for small purchases or markets.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find in malls, banks, and hotels. National Bank of Kuwait and Commercial Bank of Kuwait have wide networks. Watch for fees on international cards.

Schools
International

Several international schools teach primarily in English. Popular ones have waiting lists.

Available Schools:
American School of Kuwait
British School of Kuwait
Kuwait English School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
7
Available Spaces:
Sirdab Lab
Startup-focused space with events.
The Hub
Professional environment with membership plans.
Regus
International chain with offices.
Cube Co-working
Flexible spaces with meeting rooms.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Starbucks
Multiple locations with Wi-Fi.
Costa Coffee
Known chain with Wi-Fi.
% Arabica
Specialty coffee shops.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Multiple outlets with Wi-Fi.
Jumo Coffee Roasters
Local specialty roaster.
Vol. 1 Coffee
Popular specialty coffee spot.
Alternatives:
National Library of Kuwait
Quiet space with Wi-Fi for work.
Hotel lobbies
Comfortable spots with Wi-Fi.
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

Small but growing. Some coworking spaces and meetups available. Cafes with Wi-Fi support remote work.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
6

Urban parks and the Corniche provide green and shaded spaces.

Running
Good
7

Popular routes include the Corniche and city parks. Running groups and events exist.

Gyms
Available

Many gyms and fitness centers available.

Available Gyms:
Oxygen Gym
Flex Fitness
Fitness First
Spark Athletic Center
True Fitness
Tennis
Good
7

Many tennis and padel courts at clubs and public facilities, with equipment rental and coaching.

Padel
Good
7

Padel courts are common in sports clubs with membership options.

Yoga
Good
7

Several studios offer varied yoga styles and wellness treatments.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Martial arts like BJJ, Muay Thai, and Karate are practiced. English-speaking instructors common.

Skiing
Poor
1

No skiing in this desert country.

Water Sports
Good
6

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and jet skiing available at marinas and clubs.

Surfing
Poor
1

Calm Arabian Gulf waters mean little to no surfing.

Diving
Limited
5

Diving is possible around offshore islands. Water varies by season. Suitable for beginners and advanced divers.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
7

Private hospitals have English-speaking staff. Public clinics can be busy. Pharmacies are common and have fixed prices.

Hospitals:
Dar Al Shifa Hospital
Royale Hayat Hospital
Pharmacies:
Al-Dawaa Pharmacy
United Pharmacy
Al Nour Pharmacy
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water is not safe to drink due to high salinity. Use bottled water for drinking.

Common Scams
Online scams like phishing and fake jobs, Credit card fraud, Tourist price inflation in markets without bargaining

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Public parks and kid-friendly spots are common. Baby supplies easy to find. Attractions include KidZania and The Scientific Center.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
1

LGBTQ+ rights are limited and same-sex relations illegal. Discretion is needed.

Pet Friendly
Poor
3

Limited pet-friendly places with strict import rules. Vet services are good.

Communities
Expatriates in Kuwait (Social)
Kuwait Mums (Social)
Startup meetups (Professional)

Quick Facts

Population
2,989,000
Power Reliability
Excellent
9/10

Electricity is reliable, but brief outages may happen during hot summer peaks.

Beach Access
Available

Several beaches like Messilah and Marina Beach offer swimming and sunbathing.

Languages
Arabic(100%)
English(75%)
Emergency
112
All emergencies

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
3

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Dust storms
March, April, May, June
Dust and sandstorms can reduce air quality in spring and early summer.
Extreme heat
June, July, August, September
Temperatures often exceed 45°C (113°F) in summer.

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