Is Kuwait Safe? – Full Safety Guide from a Local

When people find out I live in Kuwait, they often ask “is Kuwait safe?” The answer is YES.

Kuwait is often known for the Gulf War, in which it was invaded by Iraq in 1990. Today, more than 30 years later, the country is completely safe for both residents and visitors.

Before the Iraqi invasion, Kuwait was on track to be like it’s neighbor Dubai. However, the invasion changed everything, as the country was faced with a massive task of restoring security, infrastructure, and society.

Here are some important things to know before travelling to Kuwait:

How to Dress

Overall, Kuwait is largely quite conservative. It is considerably more conservative than the UAE. However, it is not restrictive.

Most women in Kuwait dress quite modestly. I reccomend covering your shoulders and knees. Loose, modest clothing is not only cultural, but it also helps immensely in Kuwait’s extreme heat. Bikinis are okay in hotel pools, but not at public beaches.

Tattoos are also quite uncommon. If you are tattooed, it is okay to walk around with your tattoos visible, but you may experience some stares. In general, Kuwaitis are very hospitable and friendly people. There is almost no risk of public harassment, but you may experience unwanted attention if you dress immodestly or have visible tattoos.

Alcohol

Additionally, alcohol is prohibited in Kuwait. Do not try to bring alcohol into the country, as this will result in you being stopped, and possibly detained at the airport.

Staying with your Unmarried Partner in a Hotel Room

Technically, it is no longer illegal to stay with someone of the opposite gender who you are not married to in the same hotel room. However, some smaller hotels have not yet gotten up to date with the current policies.

If you plan to travel with a person of the opposite gender and want to stay in the same hotel room, I reccomend booking a larger chain hotel and reaching out to them in advance. If you are married, it is recommended that you bring a copy of your marriage certificate.

However, in my experience, hotels rarely ask for these documents from non-Muslim and non-Arab travellers.

Public Displays of Affection

Public displays of affection are not allowed in Kuwait, and it is best to refrain from overt acts of affection. However, holding hands is perfectly acceptable in public.

You may see people kissing others on the top of the head or doing cheek kisses. This is a common gesture of respect. Younger people typically kiss older people on the top of the head, while peers (especially female to female) will great each other with a kiss on the side of the cheek. Cheek kisses between two genders are not practiced. When meeting a person of another gender, the woman will typically put her hand out first if she wants to shake hands. If she is not comfortable, the two people will simply say hello.

LGBTQ Travel

Homosexuality is technically illegal in Kuwait, though it is almost never persecuted.If you are an LGBTQ traveller, you can travel safely to Kuwait by taking proper precautions. There are LGBTQ people living everywhere in the world, and Kuwait is no exception.

Because it is a largely gender segregated society, male to male and female to female friendships are very common. You may even see friends of the same gender holding hands in public. If you travel with your same-sex partner, there is no issue with sightseeing together, as long as you do not have any public displays of affection.

You can also stay in the same hotel room together. Because same-gender friendships are so common, it is not considered weird at all for two friends of the same gender to share a hotel room. However, you may automatically be placed in a room with two beds.

Civil Unrest and Freedom of Speech

Overall, rates of civil unrest are much lower in Kuwait than in other parts of the Middle East, and the chances of getting caught in civil unrest are almost none.

However, unlike the other countries in the Gulf (UAE, Saudi, Qatar, etc), Kuwaitis have considerably more freedom of speech. Kuwaitis can openly criticize their government and leadership. However, publicly criticizing Islam is prohibited.

In general, you can ask Kuwaitis their opinion on their country and its politics. However, lean into the conversation and don’t be overly argumentative or critical, as each Kuwaiti may feel differently about the country and its politics. Additionally, 75% of Kuwait’s population is made of expat workers. These workers may feel much less comfortable exercising criticism, as they are less protected and open to deportation or firing.

In general, be respectful and open. Don’t be critical, but you may be surprised to hear considerably more civil discourse in Kuwait than in other Gulf countries.

Driving in Kuwait

Driving in Kuwait can be fairly hectic. It is not uncommon to experience fairly aggressive and unsafe driving, including tailgating, lack of regard for signalling, and lack of use of seatbelts. If you do choose to rent a car, be sure to have proper insurance. If you are in an accident, be sure to call the police before moving the car.

Otherwise, you can navigate most of Kuwait city using public busses or taxis. The public bus routes are available on Google Maps, and each bus ride costs 300 fils (1/3 of a Kuwaiti dinar). You can also buy a daily pass for 1 Kuwaiti dinar, however there are multiple bus companies, and each pass is only valid on the selected company’s route.

If you do chose to use taxis, I reccomend calling them through the app Careem. This is like the Middle East’s version of Uber, and it can be used to hail normal taxis. However, it comes with the benefit of having an established rate and price, which can prevent scams.

Places to Avoid

Overall, 99% of Kuwait is completely safe for travellers to explore. However, there are two suburbs that have higher rates of crime: Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Sulaibiya. Neither of these areas are terribly unsafe, but they do have higher rates of petty theft. Overall, neither area has any tourist attractions, so it is unlikely that you will end up there.