A typical first trip here runs about $950 to $1,275 per person for 7 days at a mid-range style, before flights. Get your own number from the Budget Calculator.
- Machboos, Kuwait's national dish; fragrant spiced rice cooked with lamb, chicken, or fish; seasoned with rose water, dried lemon (loomi), and baharat spice blend
- Murabyan, large Gulf prawns cooked with rice, onion, and warming spices; a coastal classic reflecting Kuwait's Persian Gulf fishing heritage
- Jireesh, crushed wheat cooked with milk, meat, and butter; a simple, ancient Bedouin dish still served at traditional Kuwaiti gatherings
- Halwa Kuwaiti, a dark, dense sweet made from starch, saffron, cardamom, and rosewater; traditionally gifted during celebrations and served with coffee
- National Day (June 19) and Liberation Day (February 26), celebrated together each year with fireworks, parades, and massive public festivities; deeply significant following the 1990 Iraqi invasion
- Hala February Festival, annual month-long shopping and entertainment festival in February with concerts, discounts, and family events
- Diwaniya culture, traditional evening gatherings where men socialize, discuss current affairs, and drink tea or coffee; central to Kuwaiti social life
Arabic is the official language; Kuwaiti Arabic has its own dialect. English is very widely spoken in business, hospitality, and daily life, Kuwait has a large expat community and English signage is everywhere.
" Kuwait is a constitutional emirate, the ruling Al-Sabah family has governed since the 18th century.
- Kuwait is a Muslim country, dress modestly in public; swimwear is confined to hotel pools and private beaches; alcohol is completely banned
- During Ramadan, eating, drinking, and smoking in public is prohibited during daylight hours, this applies to non-Muslims as well
- Greet elders and hosts first; use the right hand or both hands for handshakes; men wait for women to initiate a handshake
- Photographing the Emir's photograph or government buildings without permission is a sensitive matter, ask before taking photos
Latest for Kuwait
Updates for Kuwait will appear here as they are published. Every update cites official sources, so you can plan on it.