Kuwait: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive Kuwait feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 28 written places.
Family-centred and unhurried, with social life flowing through diwaniya gatherings and late mall evenings.
✓ Considered polite
- Dress modestly - long trousers for men, covered shoulders and knees for women
- Accept Arabic coffee or tea with your right hand - it is the standard welcome
- Greet the eldest person first and stand when someone senior enters
- Eat and pass food with your right hand
✗ Better avoided
- Look for alcohol - Kuwait is completely dry and none can be brought in
- Show public displays of affection
- Photograph locals, especially women, without asking
- Eat, drink or smoke in public during Ramadan daylight hours
Worth knowing
- The weekend is Friday and Saturday - Friday morning is very quiet until after midday prayers
- Tipping around 10% is appreciated in restaurants; round up taxi fares
- Cards are accepted almost everywhere, though small shops may prefer cash
- Summer heat is extreme - life moves indoors by day, and November to March is the pleasant season
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.