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Kuwait
General Information
Area: 17,818 sq km (6880 sq miles).
Population: 1,984,365 (official estimate 2000).
Population Density: 111.4 per sq km.
Capital: Kuwait City. Population: 28,859 (1995).
GEOGRAPHY: Kuwait shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. To the southeast lies the Persian Gulf, where Kuwait has sovereignty over nine small islands (the largest is Bubiyan and the most populous is Failaka). The landscape is predominantly desert plateau with a lower, more fertile coastal belt.
Government: Traditional Arab monarchy. Head of State: Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah since 1978. Head of Government: Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah since 1977. Gained full independence from the UK in 1961.
Language: Arabic, but English is widely understood, especially in commerce and industry.
Religion: Ninety-five per cent Muslim (mostly of the Sunni sect), with Christian and Hindu minorities.
Time: GMT + 3.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; single phase. UK-type flat three-pin plugs are used.
Communications:
Telephone
Full IDD is available. Country code: 965. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Network operators include Mobile Telecoms Co (website: www.mtc.com.kw) and National Mobile Telecommunications Co (website: www.wataniya.com).
Fax
Most hotels have facilities.
Internet
Internet cafes throughout Kuwait provide public access to e-mail and Internet services. ISPs include Gulfnet International (website: www.kems.net/) and Global Net Kuwait (website: www.globalnet-center.com) and QualityNet (website: www.qualitynet.net).
Telegram
Telegram services are available 24-hours at the Ministry of Post and Telegraph Offices, Abdullah Al Salem Square, Kuwait City, but must be handed to the post office (opening hours: Sat-Wed 0700-1400, Thurs 0700-1200).
Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes about five days.
Press
The English-language newspapers are the Arab Times and the Kuwait Times. Although remaining loyal to the ruling family, the press enjoys a fair degree of freedom.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes | No | | Australian | Yes | Yes | No | | Canadian | Yes | Yes | No | | USA | Yes | Yes | No | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes | No | | Japanese | Yes | Yes | No |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months required by all.
Note: Married women and children (except nationals of Iran and Iraq) may travel on the passport of their husband or father.
VISAS: Required by all except nationals of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for an unlimited period.
Types of visa and cost: Business, Visitor, Work and Transit. Transit visas are not required provided passengers hold onward tickets and do not leave the airport. The fee for a visa depends on the applicant’s nationality. For UK nationals the fees are as follows. Single-entry: £30 (for three months); £48 (for six months). Multiple-entry: £66 (for six months); £75 (for one year); £96 (for two years); £135 (for five years). Work: £45.
Validity: Depends on nationality and purpose of visit. Validity of the visa (as stated on the stamp) is counted from the date of entry; in most cases it is usually 30 days. Enquire at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for further details.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section for details.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Two completed application forms (originals, not photocopies). (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Fax or other confirmation of invitation from sponsor/contact in Kuwait. This should be faxed directly to the Embassy; see address section for fax numbers. (e) Covering letter from employer in home country detailing evidence of position and status within company, purpose of visit, length of stay. (f) Registered, self-addressed envelope if applying by post. (g) Fee. Work visa: (a)-(g) and, (h) Medical certificate attesting that applicant is free from certain medical conditions and illnesses and not pregnant – contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy) for further details. (i) Employer’s reference.
Note: For a visit sponsored by a Kuwaiti resident, a form validated by the Ministry of the Interior is required. This form is called the ‘No Objection Certificate’, and should be obtained by the sponsor in Kuwait. Visitors without a sponsor will require an ‘entry permit’ obtainable from Kuwaiti Consulates. However, it is advisable to check with the Embassy well in advance of travel.
Working days required: 24 hours, once the visa is approved. Postal applicants should allow ten working days.
Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy. Note that UK nationals who wish to take up employment will eventually require a Residence Permit. This must be obtained before arrival in Kuwait as it is not possible to transfer status from ‘visitor’ to ‘temporary resident’ without first leaving Kuwait.
Money
Currency: Kuwait Dinar (KD) = 1000 fils. Notes are in denominations of KD20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 and 250 fils. Coins are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 fils.
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club, Visa and American Express are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local and foreign currency is not restricted.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Kuwait Dinar against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00 = | 0.44 | 0.56 | 0.48 | 0.48 | | $1.00= | 0.31 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.30 |
Banking hours: Sun-Thurs 0800-1200.
Duty Free
The following goods may be imported into Kuwait without incurring customs duty:
500 cigarettes or 2lb of tobacco.
Prohibited items: Alcohol, narcotics, unsealed milk products, salty fish, unsealed olives and pickles, food prepared abroad, fresh vegetables, shellfish and its products, fresh figs and mineral water. Penalties for attempting to smuggle restricted items are severe.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 13-15 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 25 National Day. Feb 26 Liberation Day. Mar 5 Islamic New Year. May 14 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Sep 24 Al-Esra Wa Al-Meraj (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 26-28 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 13-15 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 22 Islamic New Year. Feb 25 National Day. Feb 26 Liberation Day. May 2 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Sep 12 Al-Esra Wa Al-Meraj (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
Note: (a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. For more information see the appendix World of Islam.
(b) If a holiday falls on a Friday, a day is given in lieu.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | No | No | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 1 | N/A | | Malaria | No | N/A |
1: Vaccination against typhoid and poliomyelitis is sometimes advised.
Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other risks: Diarrhoeal diesases such as giardiasis, dysentery and typhoid fever are common. Hepatitis A occurs and hepatitis B is endemic in the region. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is reported. Tick-borne relapsing fever may occur.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Medical insurance is essential. Both private and government health services are available.
Travel - International
Travel Warning: Non-essential travel to Kuwait is not recommended. For further advice visitors should contact their local government travel advice department.
AIR: Kuwait’s national airline, Kuwait Airways (KU), operates daily non-stop flights to Kuwait from London. Other airlines serving Kuwait include British Airways, Alitalia, Air France, Emirates, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansa Airlines and United Airlines.
Approximate flight times: From Kuwait to London is 7 hours, to New York is 13 hours, to Los Angeles is 19 hours, to Singapore is 11 hours 30 minutes and to Sydney is 17 hours.
International airports: Kuwait (KWI) (website: www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) lies 16km (10 miles) south of Kuwait City (travel time – 20 minutes). Reliable transport to and from the city is available, including bus (travel time – 30 minutes) departing every 45 minutes (0600-2300) and taxi service. Airport facilities include restaurants, shops, cafeteria, bank/bureau de change, car hire (Al Mulla, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sanbouk and Europcar), conference room and post office.
Departure tax: KD2; children under 12 are exempt.
SEA: More than 30 shipping lines call regularly at Kuwait City, Kuwait’s major port. Most traffic is commercial.
ROAD: All road links with Iraq, and hence through to Syria and Jordan, are currently suspended due to political instability within Iraq. It is also wise to check with the embassy before considering travelling to Lebanon.
There are bus services between Kuwait City and Cairo (Egypt), via Aqaba in Jordan and Nuweiba in Egypt. Buses also operate to Damman in Saudi Arabia. The main land route into Saudi Arabia is Beirut–Damascus–Amman–Kuwait, which follows the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (TAP line) through Saudi Arabia.
Travel - Internal
SEA: Dhows and other small craft may be chartered for trips to the offshore islands.
ROAD: There is a good road network between cities. Driving is on the right. Bus: Kuwait Transport Company operates a nationwide service which is both reliable and inexpensive. Taxi: These are recognisable by red licence plates and may be hired by the day, in which case fares should be agreed beforehand. Share-taxis are also available. Taxis can be phoned and this service is popular and reliable. A standard rate is applicable in most taxis, but those at hotel ranks are more expensive. Tipping is not expected. Car hire: Self-drive is available. If you produce an International Driving Permit, the rental company will, within five days, grant a temporary local licence valid for one month. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. A temporary driving licence is available from local authorities on presentation of a valid British or Northern Ireland driving licence. Insurance must be arranged with the Gulf Insurance Company or the Kuwait Insurance Company.
Accommodation
Hotels range from deluxe to first and second class. Many top hotels in Kuwait City feature sport complexes, restaurants and shopping malls. Serviced apartments, some with hotel-style room service, are also available. Prices are generally high. All rates are subject to a 15 per cent service charge.
Introduction
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait City is a bustling metropolis of high-rise office buildings, luxury hotels, wide boulevards and well-tended parks and gardens. Its seaport is used by oil tankers, cargo ships and many pleasure craft. Its most dominant landmark is Kuwait Towers, and its oldest is Seif Palace, built in 1896, the interior of which features original Islamic mosaic tilework, though these suffered badly during the Iraqi occupation. The Kuwait National Museum was also stripped of many artefacts – part of it has been renovated and is now open to the public. The Sadu House, near the museum, is made of coral and gypsum and is used as a cultural museum to protect the arts and crafts of Bedouin society. It is an ideal place to purchase Bedouin goods. The huge Grand Mosque in the centre is also worth visiting.
ELSEWHERE: A port with many old dhows, Failakai 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. 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 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.
Sport & Activities
Swimming, sailing and scuba diving are available. Powerboating is a Kuwaiti passion. Horseriding clubs flourish in the winter. There are numerous tennis courts in the capital, usually owned by hotels. Football is popular.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: There is a good choice of restaurants serving a wide choice of international and Arab cuisine and prices are reasonable. Typical middle-eastern food includes hummus, falafel and foul. Alcohol is totally prohibited in Kuwait.
Nightlife: Several cinemas in Kuwait City show recent films. Two theatres often put on very good amateur productions.
Shopping: Numerous large shopping complexes have recently been built. The Souk Sharp Complex is an extensive centre near the waterfront in Kuwait City, and contains Western chain stores as well as Kuwaiti shops. Other centres include the Leila Gallery and the Al-Fanar Shopping Centre. Boutiques and small general stores in Kuwait City sell all the basic and most luxury goods. Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0830-1230 and 1630-2100, Fri 1530-2030.
Social Conventions: Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. It is quite likely that a visitor will be invited to a Kuwaiti’s home, but entertaining is also conducted in hotels and restaurants. A small gift promoting the company, or representing one’s native country, is always welcome. The visitor will notice that most Kuwaitis wear the national dress of long white dishdashes and white headcloths, and that many women wear yashmaks. It is important for women to dress modestly according to Islamic law. Men do not usually wear shorts in public and should not go shirtless. All other Islamic rules and customs must be respected. Convicted users of narcotics can expect to receive a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment, plus a heavy fine. ‘No Smoking’ signs are posted in many shops. It is greatly appreciated if visitors learn at least a few words of Arabic. Tipping: A service charge of 15 per cent is usually added to bills in hotels, restaurants and clubs. Otherwise ten per cent is acceptable.
Business Profile
Economy: Kuwait’s considerable wealth is the result of the country’s vast oil deposits, estimated at ten per cent of the world’s total known reserves. With production of over two million barrels daily, oil now accounts for about half of total output, 90 per cent of export income and three-quarters of government revenue. The economy has recovered from the extensive and systematic looting conducted by Iraqi troops during the occupation of 1990-1. This was estimated to have cost Kuwait US$170 billion, and the extent of the reconstruction was reflected in the fact that Kuwait was obliged to liquidate a large proportion of its overseas investment portfolio. These holdings, which are administered by the Kuwait Investment Office, are used partly to meet the country’s running costs (free education and social services) and partly lodged in the Fund for Future Generations. During the 1990s Kuwait, not surprisingly, invested large sums in building up a military apparatus.
The other major feature of Kuwaiti economic policy has been diversification of the domestic economy to reduce its reliance on oil. Heavy industrial projects have been eschewed in favour of light manufacturing industries such as paper and cement production. There is a small fishing industry and some agriculture. The Government has introduced a privatisation programme both as a means to raise revenue and as an instrument of economic policy. A free trade zone has also been established. Kuwait is a member of OPEC and of the Gulf Co-operation Council. The re-emergence of OPEC as a major influence appears to have triggered some disputes inside the Kuwaiti government over oil production and pricing policy. Japan, The Netherlands and Italy are the main markets for Kuwaiti oil. The principal exporters to Kuwait are Japan, the USA, Germany and the UK.
Business: Men are expected to wear suits and ties for business and formal social occasions. English is widely spoken in business circles although a few words or phrases of Arabic are always well received. Visiting cards are widely used. Some of the bigger hotels have translation and bilingual secretarial services. Government office hours: Sat-Wed 0700-1300 (winter); 0730-1330 (summer). Office hours: Sat-Wed 0730-1230 and 1600-1900.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 775, Safat 13008, Kuwait City (tel: 805 580; fax: 240 4110; website: www.kcci.org.kw).
Climate
Kuwait shares European weather patterns but is hotter and drier. Summers (April to October) are hot and humid with very little rain. Winters (November to March) are cool with limited rain. Springs are cool and pleasant.
History and Government
History: The area that became Kuwait was controlled by the main regional powers in the Gulf, principally various dynasties based in Mesopotamia and Persia. The most influential of these were the Safavids, a Persian dynasty which moved into the region around 1500 and established a commercial empire along the eastern seaboard of the Arabian peninsula. Later on in the 16th century, the northeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula became part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. It remained so until the latter part of the 19th century when the Al-Sabah family, which now rules Kuwait, took control of local administration and steered the country into a semi-autonomous position. However, fearing that the Turks would try to reassert their control, the Kuwaitis made an agreement with the British allowing for British control of Kuwaiti foreign affairs in exchange for military protection. This danger passed with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, although Kuwait remained a British protectorate until 1961, when the country was granted full independence.
Sheikh Abdullah assumed the position of head of state, adopting the title of Emir. The large revenues from oil production allowed independent Kuwait to build up its economic infrastructure and institute educational and social welfare programmes. Surrounded by three major Middle Eastern powers, the main threat to the country came from the renewal of Iraqi territorial claims over Kuwait which date back to Kuwaiti independence. Kuwait had been seriously threatened by Iraq in 1961, but Iraq was deterred by British military intervention. In 1990, no such assistance was available. Kuwait had given firm backing to the Iraqis during the Iran-Iraq war, lending some US$40-60 billion to Baghdad. Disputes over repayment and the exploitation of oilfields which straddle the (still disputed) border region between the two countries eventually led to the Iraqi invasion on 1 August, 1990.
The country which Sheikh Jaber and his entourage – who fled into exile in Saudi Arabia – left behind was rapidly incorporated into Iraq as its ‘19th province’ and then systematically looted. Nine months later the Kuwaitis recovered their country by virtue of a US-led, UN-backed multinational military force which drove the Iraqis out. After a period of euphoria, the Kuwaitis were confronted with the aftermath of the war and the need to address a number of difficult questions. Adequate funds were available to finance the enormous task of reconstruction. The future security of the country was dealt with by the signing of defence and security pacts with the USA, the UK and Kuwait’s Gulf allies. Since then, Iraq’s persistently belligerent attitude towards Kuwait, reflected both diplomatically and through occasional border incursions, has served only to reinforce Kuwaiti caution towards its northern neighbour.
Kuwait’s already nervous disposition regarding Iraq has been further increased by the knowledge that it is sure to play a major role in any US invasion of Iraq during 2002/03. By late 2002, over 10,000 American troops were based in the country along with copious quantities of military equipment.
On the domestic front, the Al-Sabah family faced an awkward problem after the 1991 liberation: the future of the government and their role in it. While in exile, the Emir had made a commitment to restore the 1962 constitution, which provides for the elections of a National Assembly (Majlis) and greatly limits the power of the ruling family. The Assembly had been suspended in 1976 by the Emir on the grounds that it was ‘not acting in the best interests of the state’; it was recalled in 1981 and suspended again in 1986. When the Emir returned to Kuwait in March 1991, he immediately declared a three-month period of martial law. However, in the face of concerted domestic and international pressure, he announced that elections to the Assembly would be held in October 1992.
The three elections held since then have seen majorities secured by opponents of the Emir, then supporters and at the most recent poll in July 1999, by the opposition. The outcome has little effect on policy-making, as the Majlis is still confined to a strictly consultative role, but it has proved to be a lively forum and a vital channel for popular sentiment. In 1999, it was closed down by the Emir for a third time but reopened shortly afterwards. Since then, it has clashed several times with the Emir and the Cabinet (which is still dominated by the al-Sabah family) over misuse of state funds and poor management of the all-important oil industry. Underlying these disputes is the growing impression that the ageing and increasingly infirm al-Sabah clan is no longer capable of running the country. New elections for the Majlis are due in June 2003: women will be allowed to stand for the first time.
Government: The Emir, who is selected by and from members of the ruling Al-Sabah family, holds exclusive executive power. The Emir appoints a prime minister and a Cabinet of Ministers. A unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) with 50 elected members has a consultative role and prepares legislation (although the Emir has the power of veto). The Majlis serves a four-year term. At present only adult males are permitted to vote, although the next scheduled election in 2003 will extend the franchise to women. Political parties are banned.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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