Kuwait Country

Introduction
A heady mix of market bazaars and gleaming skyscrapers along a glistening coast. Kuwait is your prototypical oil-rich state, and travellers looking for a relaxed entry into the Muslim world can look forward to wandering around mosques, souks and other sandy traces of bygone Bedouin days. Behind the glitzy opulence lies a deep sense of traditional values and warm Arabian hospitality.

Destination Facts
Emir: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jabir
Government: nominal constitutional monarchy
Time zone: GMT +3
Area: 17800
Population: 2200000
Languages: Muslim (85%), Christian, Hindu
Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KD)
Country Dialing Code: 965

Getting There
The best time to visit Kuwait is in May or October - right before or right after summer, when the temperatures are civilised. Between February and April, the desert is laced in a gossamer of lime green and the city is decorated with petunias, making it the most pleasant time to visit.

Getting there and away
Kuwait International Airport is 16km (10mi) south of Kuwait City. Kuwait is not a particularly cheap place to fly to or from. The airlines and travel agents tightly control prices, and few discounted fares are available. There's a small airport departure tax that may not be included in your ticket. From the airport, taxis charge a reasonably steep flat fee to the city; buses make the trip a lot cheaper. Buses operate between Kuwait and Cairo via Aqaba in Jordan and Nuweiba in Egypt. There are also international bus services to Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

Getting around
Kuwait has a very cheap and extensive system of both local and intercity buses. You can also use local taxis to get around, though these have no meters, so get a firm price before starting out. If you are renting a car and you hold a driving licence and residence permit from another Gulf country, you can drive in Kuwait without any further paperwork. Otherwise you can drive on an International Driving Permit or a local licence from any western country, but you'll also be required to purchase insurance for your licence.

Visa:
Everyone except nationals of other Gulf States needs a visa to enter Kuwait. Kuwait has recently changed its visa entry requirements so that many countries can now obtain visas on arrival. There are currently 34 countries on this list so please check your consular information to see if this is possible. Other countries will need to arrange a visa prior to arrival. If your passport contains an Israeli stamp, you will be refused entry to Kuwait.

Weather
While temperatures can cook during Kuwait summers with days often topping 50 ° C (122 ° F) in August, the humidity inland is not so bad. On the coast you trade cooler temperatures for higher humidity. The winter months are often pleasant, featuring some of the region's coolest weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around 18 ° C (64 ° F) and nights being quite chilly but never literally freezing. The occasional annoying sandstorm occurs throughout the year but is particularly common in spring.

Places of Intersest
Kuwait is your prototypical oil-rich state, and travellers looking for a relaxed entry into the Muslim world can look forward to wandering around mosques, souks and other sandy traces of bygone Bedouin days. Behind the glitzy opulence lies a deep sense of traditional values and warm Arabian hospitality.