Published: August 26, 2024
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Kuwait Travel Advisory and Kuwait Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Kuwait City:
Masjid al-Aqsa Street, Bayan.
Tel: +965 2259-1001.
Hours of Operation: 0800-1630, Sunday-Thursday.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The Kuwait Country Chapter usually meets tri-annually. Contact OSAC’s Middle East & North Africa team with any questions.
Kuwait Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise normal precautions in Kuwait.
- Exercise increased caution in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area in Kuwait City because of crime.
- Do not travel to the desert area near the border with Iraq because of bombs, shells, and landmines left over from the 1990 Gulf War.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
Crime does occur in Kuwait but can often be mitigated through sound personal security practices. Crime victims have reported various types of immigration and residency fraud, ATM/credit card theft, white-collar fraud, embezzlement, and property theft.
It is probable—particularly among non-Kuwaiti crime victims of lower income/economic status—that a high percentage of crimes go unreported. Violent crime occurs between Kuwaitis and/or by Kuwaitis against foreign workers (e.g., domestic staff) but often goes unreported or lacks full police investigation.
Due to the perception of foreigners’ involvement with narcotics, Kuwait drug enforcement entities have incarcerated several U.S. citizens and other westerners in recent years. Individuals found in possession of illegal substances face the possibility of multi-year prison sentences. Violent crime against U.S. citizens and other Westerners is rare but does occur. Third Country Nationals (i.e. non-westerners) who are apprehended for criminal activity are either imprisoned then deported or just immediately deported.
Petty theft occurs occasionally in popular outdoor markets and shopping malls. Although several districts in Kuwait City may have high incidences of crime, only the J’leeb Al Shuyoukh area (near the airport) is of enough concern that the Regional Security Office recommends that U.S. government personnel exercise increased caution.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait.
International parental child abduction can be a concern. Kuwait is not party to The Hague Abduction Convention or a U.S. Treaty Partner on International Abduction, and this can prove problematic if a Kuwaiti national travels to the country with a U.S. citizen child without permission of the other parent. Once in Kuwait, U.S. citizens are subject to the jurisdiction of the Kuwaiti legal system.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait.
The U.S. Embassy receives threat information indicating possible targeting of official and private U.S. citizens for terrorist attacks. Soft targets are vulnerable to terrorist attack, although many are making improvements to their perimeters and internal security. There have been no terror incidents in Kuwait since 2016.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Political gridlock between parliament and the government continues, which typically leads to a dissolution of parliament and/or cabinet reshuffle. Political infighting has historically led to difficulty in securing investment and reform, rather than unrest.
In May 2024, following political turmoil surrounding the parliamentary election, Amir Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah issued a decree dissolving the parliament and suspending some articles of the constitution for a period not to exceed four years.
Protests & Demonstrations
Kuwaiti law permits freedom of assembly for its citizens if organizers of demonstrations and public gatherings of more than 20 people obtain advance approval from the Interior Ministry (MOI). Foreign residents in Kuwait may not participate in demonstrations.
There are many protests in Kuwait, the vast majority are peaceful. At times, Bidoons (stateless Arab residents) hold unlicensed demonstrations demanding Kuwaiti citizenship.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Kuwait is a close partner and major non-NATO ally of the United States. Kuwait and the United States have enjoyed a strong relationship, particularly since the U.S.-led liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991. The close partnership between the U.S and Kuwait yields excellent cooperation on matters of mutual interest. However, Kuwaitis occasionally disagree with U.S. policy, manifested through the local media, social media, and private social gatherings (diwaniyas).
Law Enforcement
The emergency line in Kuwait is 112.
Police have sole responsibility for the enforcement of laws not related to national security, while the Kuwait State Security oversees national security matters. Both police and Kuwait State Security personnel report to the Interior Ministry, as does the Coast Guard. The Kuwait National Guard is independent of the Interior and Defense Ministries. The Kuwait National Guard reports to the prime minister and the amir. The Kuwait National Guard is responsible for critical infrastructure protection, support for the Interior and Defense Ministries, and the maintenance of national readiness. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. There have been credible reports that members of the security forces have committed some abuses.
Police Response
Police response to requests for assistance to U.S. citizens is generally good. Those who do not speak Arabic should request assistance from a bilingual switchboard operator. Emergency switchboard operators do receive prank calls and may hang up if they do not understand the caller. The Embassy advises callers to call again in such cases.
The police accept crime reports at the police station with jurisdiction over the area where the crime occurred. When filing a crime report, the victim must render all testimony in Arabic; bring a person who speaks Arabic and/or a local attorney to accompany you, though many police investigators are fluent in English. Filing a crime report can take several hours, as a police investigator will take the victim’s statement orally while composing his investigative report. In all cases of abuse, the victim must obtain a medical report from a Kuwaiti public hospital to file a police report; the police do not accept medical reports from private hospitals.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Kuwait, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by government officials, but the government does not implement the law effectively. Civil society organizations and other observers believe officials engage in corrupt practices with impunity. There are numerous reports of government corruption.
There are many reports that individuals must pay intermediaries to receive routine government services. Police corruption is a problem, especially when one party to a dispute has a personal relationship with a police official involved in a case. Widespread reports indicates that police favor citizens over noncitizens. There were several reports of corruption in the procurement and bidding processes for lucrative government contracts.
Cybersecurity
Spear phishing and spoofing business leaders’ email addresses with the intent of stealing money does happen, but not on a regular basis. Social media continues to be an information target-rich environment for criminals and other actors for gaining personally identifying information.
Import/Export Restrictions
The sale of counterfeit and pirated goods, including auto parts, consumer electronics, and apparel, is rampant. While Kuwait has copyright and trademark laws, authorities seldom enforce them, and rarely institute criminal investigations. Any products containing alcohol are illegal in Kuwait and cannot be imported.
Satellite phones are effectively illegal in Kuwait due to restrictions on communication equipment and the need for specific permits for their use. While satellite dishes and VPNs are widely available, satellite phones are treated differently. Any communication equipment, including satellite phones, requires individual import permits from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. Travelers should maintain redundant communications through other means and avoid bringing satellite phones into the country without proper authorization. At port of entry, Kuwait law enforcement will most likely confiscate any unpermitted satellite phone, and the individual found in possession could be fined.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
