Middle East > Kuwait
Kuwait
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Middle East > Kuwait -->
Kuwait is a country in the Middle East. It is located at the head of the Persian Gulf, with Iraq to the north and west, and Saudi Arabia to the southwest.
[edit] RegionsKuwait is divided into six governorates (provinces):
[edit] Cities
[edit] Other destinations[edit] Understand[edit] HistoryThe Kuwaitis trace their roots to the Al-Anisa and the Al-Utub tribe from the Najd province, in modern Saudi Arabia. They moved to Qatar and then to Al-Qurain (The word 'Kuwait' is derived from Koot, the Arabic word for fortress), which is in modern day Kuwait bay around 1710. By 1752, the long term residents of Al-Qurain decided that the instability of the region, caused by warring tribes, called for the establishment of a stable government. The Al-Sabah tribe was chosen to rule, and the first Sheikh was Sabah ibn Jaber, who ruled as Sabah I, from 1752 to 1756. The Sabah's were skillful diplomats, and weathered out religious and tribal strifes successfully. They dealt with the Ottomans, the Egyptians and the Europeans. Mubarak I signed an agreement with the British making Kuwait a British Protectorate in 1899. The British were in Kuwait for quite a while by then, and as early as the 1770's Abdullah I had a contract with the British to deliver mail for them up to Allepo in Syria. The agreement gave the British control of the Kuwaiti foreign policy in exchange for military protection. In the 20's and the 30's, the chief source of revenue was pearls. But around that time the Japanese started flooding the international market with cultured pearls and this source of income was in decline. In 1938, oil was first struck at the Burgan oil field in Kuwait, and by 1946, they started exporting it. In 1961, Kuwait nullified the treaty of 1899, and became an independent nation. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days; February 26 is celebrated as Liberation Day. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. It is currently ruled by Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad AL Jaber Al Sabah after the demise of Sheikh Jaber al Ahmed al Jaber al Sabah in January 2006.  Map of Kuwait [edit] ClimateDry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters. Natural hazards : sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April; they bring heavy rain which can, in some rare cases, damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August. [edit] TerrainFlat to slightly undulating desert plain. Highest point: 306 meters. [edit] Get inThe nationals of 34 countries, including the US and most of Western Europe, are eligible of visas on arrival at Kuwait's airport and land borders. The on-arrival visa is valid for a single entry of up to 3 months and costs KD 3, plus KD 3 for a "stamping" fee (not required for US, UK citizens). All other nationals need advance visas, which require an invitation from a sponsor in Kuwait. Kuwait Airways offices and major hotels can provide invitations, but the process can take up to a week and may require a fee. The Embassy of Kuwait in Japan [1] has some information. Israeli citizens are banned by the Kuwait government from entering the country, and you may also be refused entry if your passport has Israeli entry stamps. Alcohol and pork are illegal and may not be imported into the country. Your bags will be X-rayed and/or hand-searched on arrival. [edit] By planeKuwait International Airport (Template:IATA) [2] is Kuwait's only airport and is served by several airlines, mostly flying within the Middle East. The national airline, Kuwait Airways [3], serves New York City via London, as well as several European and Asian destinations, but is best avoided: a government monopoly of the worst kind, its planes are beaten up, delays are frequent and the staff couldn't care less. For regional flights, semi-low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways [4] provides a welcome alternative. Alternatives for long-haul flights include United Airlines from Washington, D.C. and Thai from Bangkok, plus connections through other large Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, etc). If you need a visa on arrival at the airport, do not head down to Arrivals, instead look for the "Visa Issuing" desks. Fill out a form, queue up once to submit and pay (dollars, euros, pounds and GCC currencies accepted), then pick up your stampted passport at the other end. You'll also get an A4-sized sheet entirely in Arabic, which you must keep -- this is your visa! You can now proceed straight through immigration without queueing, just show your visa form and they'll let you through. All this can take over an hour at a busy time, so it may be worth it to reserve the meet-and-greet service from Hala [5]; for KD 8 extra, they'll whisk you through the queues in under 10 minutes. Taxis can be found outside arrivals, with the fare to most points in the city being KD 5. Most hotels can arrange a transfer for the same price, which is probably a more comfortable option. [edit] By carKuwait shares its borders with only 2 nations - Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The political situation in Iraq is volatile currently, so it's advisable not to use that route. There are long-distance bus services to Dammam and other points in Saudi, but you will of course need to have a valid Saudi visa. [edit] By busKuwait National Public Transport Company operates a nationwide service which is both reliable and inexpensive and there are City Bus and KGL which which are private companies and offer better buses. [edit] By boatScheduled ferries to and from Iran are handled by Kuwait-Iran Shipping Company, phone +965 2410498, fax +965 2429508. The ferries go three times a week from Ash Shuwayk in Kuwait to Bushehr in Iran. One-way tickets from KD37. Speedboats also go between Ash Shuwayk and Manama in Bahrain. A ticket is KD45. Ports and harbors:
[edit] Get aroundKuwait has a good road system. All signs are in English and Arabic. Public Transport: Kuwait's public transport is adequate with three companies (KPTC, City Bus and KGL) running dozens of routes in every major city. Waiting times for buses range from one minute for most frequent routes to fifteen minutes for less used routes. All buses are equipped with air-conditioners and usually one can find a seat without much trouble. Although, during peak hours (7-9AM, 2-4PM, 8-9PM)most routes are packed and public transport should be avoided for those seeking comfortable traveling. It must also be noted that although areas with expatriates majority are covered with many routes, Kuwaiti residence areas are scarcely connected with public transport buses and are reachable mostly by taxis only. Taxi: These are recognizable by red license plates and may be hired by the day, in which case fares should be agreed beforehand. Most taxis are metered although one has to inform the driver in advance if one wishes to pay by the meter as drivers. For those who are familiar with local rates and distances, it is more advisable to negotiate the fare in advance. Share-taxis are also available. Hailing taxis from the road is the most practical approach. However some sources have reported it was not advisable, particularly for females, and they recommend that taxis are booked in advance by telephone from a reputable taxi company. A standard rate is applicable in most taxis, but those at hotel ranks are more expensive. Tipping is not expected, however you should negotiate fares before boarding the taxi. Car hire: Self-drive is available. If you produce an International Driving Permit, the rental company will, at the customer's expense, be able to arrange the statutory temporary insurance, which is drawn on the driver's visa. If you arrive at Kuwait International Airport, you will find the car hiring companies located at your left after you exit from the baggage claiming area. You can find international companies such as AVIS and BUDGET among others. However, it should be noted that driving in Kuwait, especially when new to driving in the country, can be extremely chaotic and frightening. [edit] TalkArabic (official). Although in schools the classical version of Arabic is taught; and just like everywhere in the Arab world, Kuwaiti’s use the Kuwaiti dialect in everyday conversation. English is widely used and spoken. Most of the traffic signs in Kuwait are bilingual. English is taught as a second language in schools in Kuwait beginning at the first grade. Many Kuwaiti's speak English fluently as there are lots of private English and American schools and universities where all subject are taught in English and Arabic is taken as a subject. Alot of Kuwaitis are enrolling their children in these schools. [edit] SeeSee Kuwait City for listings of attractions in the city. A port with many old dhows, Failaka Island can be reached by regular ferry services. There are also some Bronze Age and Greek archaeological sites well worth viewing, including the island's Greek temple. Failaka Island was named Ikarus by the Greeks who, under Alexander the Great, established an outpost in the island. Traditional-style boums and sambuks (boats) are still built in Al Jahrah, although, nowadays, vessels are destined to work as pleasure boats rather than pearl fishing or trading vessels. Mina Al Ahmadi, lying 19km (12 miles) south of Kuwait City, is an oil port with immense jetties for supertanker traffic. The Oil Display Centre pays homage to the work of the Kuwait Oil Company. [edit] DoMany of Kuwait's sea clubs offer a wide variety of facilities and activities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beaches, tennis courts, gymnasiums, bowling and even karate. Sailing and scuba diving are available. Powerboating is a Kuwaiti passion. Contact any of the hotels located on the beach and they can arrange a trip for you. The best beach front hotels are the Hilton Resort, Movenpick Resort, Marina Hotel and the Radisson SAS. The Radisson SAS also houses the largest wooden ship in the world the AL-Hashemi II which is a real beauty. Next to the ship is a museum for the history of ship-building in Kuwait. Horse riding clubs flourish in the winter. The Hunting and Equestrian Club is located on the 6th ring road near Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah Armed Forces Hospital. The Equestrian Club is located near Kuwait's new golf club,the Sahara Club, which also houses a five star restaurant and spa. The largest mall in Kuwait is The Avenues part of which is still under construction as of March 2008. It is one of the largest malls in whole middle-east and offers the best cinematic experience in Kuwait with VIP theatres with massaging reclining seats and a personal butler. Other popular malls include Marina Mall (Salmiya), Souq Sharq (Sharq) and Al-Kout Mall (Fahaheel) which is famous for its orchestra musical fountains. Kuwait Towers are also an icon in Kuwait. One of the towers has a 360 degree rotating restaurant and a viewing deck from which you can view the spectacular cityscape of Kuwait City and the Gulf. [edit] BuyThe national currency is the Kuwaiti dinar (KD, KWD). At around US$3.75 to one dinar (June 2008), the dinar is the strongest currency in the world, and prices can thus take some getting used to: a 50-dinar hotel room comes out to almost US$200/night. The dinar is divided into 1000 fils. Notes are available in denominations of KD 20, 10, 5, 1, ½ and ¼, while 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 fils coins are also available. While notes have Latin numerals on one side, the coins are entirely in Arabic. Notes issued before 1994, many of which were stolen during the Iraqi occupation, are not considered legal tender. You're unlikely to see these in Kuwait (the designs are clearly different), but unscrupulous dealers elsewhere have been known to try to pass them off. See the Central Bank of Kuwait [6] for pictures. Exchanging money can be difficult and exchanging travellers cheques even more so. Stick to ATMs, which are ubiquitous and work fine. Higher-end establishments accept credit cards. [edit] CostsAlthough Kuwait is a tax haven 0% VAT and 0% income tax It would be hard to manage on under US$80 per day, and you can very easily spend US$200 just on an ordinary hotel room. Tipping is generally not necessary. A 12% service charge is tacked onto your bill in expensive hotels and restaurants, but if you want some of the money to actually go to the staff, leave a little extra. Petrol prices are one of the cheapest in the world and most of the time are cheaper than water, literarly! [edit] ShoppingKuwait is a tax free country. Custom-made items, imported items, and shipping out of the country can be expensive, so shop wisely. [edit] EatThere is a huge array of restaurants in Kuwait. Because the nightlife is non-existant, people go out to restaurants and malls. Almost every cuisine is available in high-end restaurants. Kuwait is known for its culinary specialties and catering services. Restaurants can be found in food courts in malls, and alternatively many international restaurants are grouped together in certain areas in Kuwait, namely: Behind the Roman Catholic Church in Kuwait City Outside the Movenpick Resort in Salmiya In the Marina Crescent Just ask any local where the "Restaurants Road" is and they will guide you to a road in Salmiya packed end-to-end with local restaurants serving a wide array of specialty sandwiches, juices and snacks. There are few restaurants that serve traditional Kuwaiti food. Al-Marsa restaurant in Le Meridien Hotel (Bneid Al Gar location) has some traditional Kuwaiti seafood but with a relatively high price tag. A better option is the quaint Shati Alwatia restaurant at the Behbehani Villa compound in the Qibla area of Kuwait City (behind the churches)and another Kuwaiti restaurant is Ferij Suwailih in salmiya area. [edit] DrinkAlcohol is illegal in Kuwait: it may not be imported, manufactured or served. However, some expat-geared restaurants have been known to offer "special" tea, and newspapers regularly report busts of illegal distilleries. Tap water is drinkable, although most of it is desalinated and not particularly tasty, and in summertime, you may have a hard time telling apart the hot and cold taps. Bottled water is available everywhere for a few hundred fils. [edit] SleepHotels in Kuwait are expensive, but major Western chains are well represented. See Kuwait City for hotel listings. Chalets and other weekend accommodation can be rented in many places along the southern part of the coast.
[edit] WorkIO Centers [7] is the only premium serviced office provider in the country. They offer flexible terms and all business related services and are located in two locations: on the 28th and 29th floors of the Arraya Center in the same tower as the Marriott Courtyard hotel and in the new Dar Alawadi Center. [edit] Stay safeKuwait is a safe place and crime is low by western standards. However, pickpocketing and petty theft in crowded areas are common. Kuwaiti drivers can also be quite reckless. [edit] RespectKuwait adopts a live-and-let-live policy for clothing, and you'll see a wide range of styles: women wear anything ranging from daring designer fashions to head-to-toe black abayas with headscarves and veils, while men can be seen both in T-shirts and shorts or the traditional dazzling white thobe. To avoid unnecessary attention, though, women will want to steer clear of short skirts or low necklines. Bikinis are fine at the hotel pool, but not on public beaches. Do not eat in public during the holy month of Ramadan, you may be fined or even go to jail Do not get into coversations concerning the Royal Family. Although Kuwait is a relatively democratic country the Royal Family is a red line. Do not take pictures of people or govermental buildings. Alcohol is prohibted in Kuwait and possesing alcohol will get you into alot of trouble and never ever drink and drive. Religion and God are red lines that should never be crossed. [edit] Stay healthyPublic health is entirely supported by the government at local clinics and hospitals, with a 5KD fee paid by foreigners visiting Kuwait and 2KD for expats with a resident visa. Private non-governmental clinics are available as well, but charge much more at 30KD and upwards. You will be entitled for free treatment in case of an Accident or Emergency. In case of an emergency call 777. [edit] Contact[edit] PhoneThe country code for Kuwait is 965. Local phone numbers can be anywhere from 6 to 7 digits long. To dial outside the country from Kuwait, prefix the country code with 00. E.g a US number would be dialed as 00-1-555-555-5555. [edit] MobileKuwait uses GSM and mobile phones are widely available. Major operators include Zain, Wataniya Telecom. As roaming charges can be very steep, it makes sense to get a local SIM card: prepaid starter kits are available for around KD 5, including some call time. [edit] InternetInternet kiosks are everywhere. The biggest ISPs in Kuwait are QualityNet and KEMS. High speed internet is available via DSL subscription (upto 4Mbps) although prices are higher than usual. A 512k DSL connection costs about 34KD for monthly subscription. [edit] TelephoneKuwait has high international call rates. Although calling overseas is also very cheap if you use the many booths that advertise 'Net2Phone' service, which is illegal. Basically it is calling over the Internet. For home usage, Phoneserve cards are available (mostly in Hawally) that can be used for cheap calls worldwide. Users with credit cards use Skype and Yahoo Voice for communication as well.
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