KUWAIT
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is an Arab country in Western Asia. Situated in the northeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south.
The influence of Islamic and Arab Culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent as well. The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture is diwaniya, which involve large reception rooms used for male social gatherings attended mostly by family members and close friends. Seafood has been the mainstay of the Kuwaiti diet for centuries .The Arabs in the Persian Gulf region played a crucial role in the spice trade between India and Europe and spices have remained an important ingredient of Kuwaiti cuisine.
Kuwait’s main landmark is the Kuwait Towers situated near the coast of the Persian Gulf at the lower tip of Bay of Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti culture, just like many other cultures, takes great pride in hospitality. Guests in peoples’ homes are treated with great warmth and respect. Hosts exhibit their polished manners and expect the same back.
Capital: Kuwait City
Best Time of Visit:
November to April is the best time to visit Kuwait when day temperatures come down to 18º C and nights are colder.
Min Days Required: 4 days
Places of Interest:
The Liberation Tower
The Kuwait Tower
National Museum
Entertainment City
Climate:
Kuwait has a typical desert climate and summer (April, May, June, August and September) is very hot.
Between July and October it can be very humid and unpleasant with the onset of the southeasterly winds.
Occasional rain falls between November and April.
It is quite pleasant in winter when day temperatures go down to 18º C and nights are cold. Kuwait has dust storms (called tauz) usually in spring and late summer.
During the tauz season it is a good idea to keep your room and car doors closed.
Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar
Things to carry:
Carry loose light coloured clothes, dark glasses, hat, and sun tan lotion for summer.
A medium weight jacket and sweater for winter.
How to get there:
Air:
Kuwait International Airport is Kuwait’s only airport and is served by several airlines, mostly flying within the Middle East.
International airlines serving Kuwait include British Airways from London, United Airlines from Washington, D.C., Lufthansa from Frankfurt, KLM from Amsterdam, Singapore Airlines from Singapore, Thai Air from Bangkok and Turkish Airlines from Istanbul, plus connections through other large Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, etc) are accessible through Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airlines, Gulf Air and many other airlines, There are also some airlines that operate seasonal flights to Kuwait including Malaysia Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, Bulgaria Air and Czech Airlines.