Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Aramex and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Blink or local shops in Ibn Khaldun Street (Hawally)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Available at major sports clubs like Al Qadsia
- Language Classes
- TIES Center (Arabic for expats)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Kuwait (near Seif Palace)
- Community Centers
- Promenade Cultural Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- Giants Gaming Lounge
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal)
Essentials
- City
- Kuwait City, Al Asimah, Kuwait
- Population
- 3,000,000 (Greater Kuwait City area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150 Mbps (Fiber and 5G are standard)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 KWD ≈ 3.25 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.31 KWD (Highest valued currency in the world)
- Tap Water
- Safe for washing, but bottled or filtered water is preferred for drinking
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK standard)
- SIM Card
- Zain, Ooredoo, and stc. 100GB data plans cost approx. 5 KWD ($16 USD) per month
- Banking for Expats
- NBK (National Bank of Kuwait) and Gulf Bank. K-Net is the universal local payment system
- Accommodation
- Monthly furnished apartments in Salmiya or Bneid Al-Gar range from 350 KWD to 600 KWD
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, K-Net and credit cards are used for almost everything including small groceries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (limited) and serviced apartments like Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre
- Budget Accommodation
- Appartme or clean local hotels in Farwaniya (approx. 20 KWD per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sharq (Downtown) or Salmiya (for shopping and beach access)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bneid Al-Gar (proximity to downtown) or Salmiya (walkable areas and cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Niu Business District in Al Hamra Tower (approx. 75 KWD/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Magnet in Salmiya or JUMO Coffee in Sadu House (excellent WiFi and quiet corners)
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Kuwait and events hosted by Coded (coding bootcamp)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Kuwait Chapter and 'Expatriates in Kuwait' Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Careem and Uber (Careem is more dominant)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Messilah Beach or Marina Beach in Salmiya
- Top Regional Airline
- Jazeera Airways
- Top International Airline
- Kuwait Airways
- Highway Access
- Routes 30, 40, and 50 connect the entire coastline and city
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; KPTC Bus Station in Mirqab is the main hub
- Public Transport Passes
- KPTC or CityBus monthly passes (approx. 15 KWD)
- Regional Travel
- SAPTCO bus to Saudi Arabia or short flights to Dubai/Doha (1 hour)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Al Salam International Hospital or Hadi Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Center Kuwait (Sharq) and Alive Yoga (Bneid Al-Gar)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxygen Gym (Elite) or Platinum Health Club (approx. 40-60 KWD/month)
- Laundry Services
- JustClean app (on-demand pickup and delivery)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Talabat and Deliveroo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Machboos (Spiced rice with chicken or lamb) at Freej Swaileh
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Be Cafe (Sharq) and Gia (Salmiya)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Melenzane or pick up luxury sweets from Gingerbread
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lulu Hypermarket and Souq Al-Mubarakiya
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Taw9eel and Amazon.ae (shipping to Kuwait)
- Grocery Delivery
- InstaShop or Trolley.com.kw
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait. Nightlife consists of high-end lounges and Shisha cafes in Salmiya
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol-free country); Mocktail bars like Nomad are popular
- Wine Bars
- None (Alcohol prohibited)
- Street Food Stalls
- Souq Al-Mubarakiya for kababs and falafel (approx. 2 KWD per meal)
- Popular International Cuisine
- P.F. Chang's or Texas Roadhouse at The Avenues Mall
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kuwait Towers and The Avenues Mall
- Museums & Art Venues
- Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre
- Historical Sites
- Failaka Island (accessible by ferry)
- Religious Sites
- Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Kabir)
- Annual Events
- Hala February (National Day celebrations)
- Cultural Districts
- Mubarak Al-Kabir street (Downtown art district)
- Theater Venues
- Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre (Opera House)
- Local Markets
- Souq Al-Mubarakiya (Old market)
- Music Scene
- Concerts at JACC (Opera House)
- Street Art
- Jedareyat murals around the city center
- Cooking Classes
- Williams Sonoma classes at The Avenues
- Art Galleries
- Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) and Sultan Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Seif Palace
- Local Heritage
- Al-Sadu House (traditional weaving)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Al Shaheed Park (largest urban park in Kuwait)
- National Parks Nearby
- Jahra Pool Nature Reserve
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Gulf Road Corniche (approx. 10km path)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sky Lobby at Al Hamra Tower
- Birdwatching Locations
- Sulaibikhat Bay
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Subiya desert areas (seasonal during winter/spring)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,800 KWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 72,000 KWD) - Note: Foreign ownership is restricted
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,200 KWD per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 48,000 KWD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,600 KWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 96,000 KWD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,000 KWD per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 60,000 KWD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,500 KWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 120,000 KWD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 900 KWD per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 72,000 KWD)
- Corporate Tax
- 0% for Kuwaiti-owned companies; 15% flat rate for foreign-owned companies
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0%
- Tax System
- Territorial (No personal income tax for individuals)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 0%
- VAT
- 0% (Implementation pending GCC-wide agreement)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No
- Property Tax
- No personal property tax
- Property Transaction Tax
- Relatively low registration fees, no standard transfer tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, 0% tax on all personal and worldwide income