Kuwait City, Kuwait Report of what it's like to live there - 08/16/16
Personal Experiences from Kuwait City, Kuwait
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Bangkok, Kabul, Geneva, Dakar, Abu Dhabi.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Portland, Oregon. ~24 hours, Kuwait-Frankfurt-Chicago-Portland or Kuwait-London-Portland or Kuwait-Dammam-Amsterdam-Portland...
3. How long have you lived here?
1 year.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic mission.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Large, 3BR apartment, 20-minute commute (traffic during the school year can be very bad at the start and end of the school day).
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Vegetables, bread, meat are moderately priced. Imported things can be much more expensive. Nearly everything is available including a surprising amount of locally grown produce (compared to Abu Dhabi). Most things are still imported and many familiar brands are available from the U.S. and UK. It's hard to find anything unscented e.g. unscented laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cat litter... No alcohol or pork is legally available to those outside diplomatic missions. Many brands of pet food are available, including premium brands.
There is an Ikea and more expensive options, also.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Unscented cat litter, unscented laundry detergent, unscented dryer sheets, anything from Trader Joe's, Asian specialty items, whole pinto beans (although many types of dried beans _are_ available including many, many Bob's Red Mill options), corn tortillas are hard to find, but flour tortillas are made locally. OTC medications--there are pharmacies, but many local people take traditional, herbal medications. Tampons.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Everyone uses Talabat.com that delivers from a majority of the restaurants in the city with a huge variation of cuisines--Indian, Iranian, Lebanese, Italian, pizza, burgers, even fast food restaurants, limited Mexican, limited Thai. Nearly every American fast food chain is available. There are nice restaurants inside and out of hotels. No alcohol is available.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
We had a minor issue with ants.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
Through mission mail. I don't have experience with the local postal service. They do have FedEx and Aramex and other international delivery services.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Many expatriates hire housekeepers or nannies, especially from India, occasionally the Philippines. Cost includes sponsoring visa, inexpensive insurance, money set aside for a return ticket home should they be separated, an annual 30 days of paid leave, and end-of-service benefit of one month a year at the end of the contract, and salary. Kuwait recently passed a minimum wage for domestics, beyond that salary is negotiable based on language skill, experience, whether they cook in addition to other duties. Employers should have a written contract to protect both employee and employer.
Kuwait has recently passed the first laws in the Gulf countries to protect domestic workers. Of course, we should treat people with dignity and respect because it's the right thing to do, but it is now also the law.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There are many gyms, clubs, and hotels with workout facilities. Many apartment buildings have small gyms and pools. Some clubs are quite expensive.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely accepted and safe to use. ATMs are common and seem safe. Taxis do not take credit cards, so small change is good to have for transport.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
There are Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and a few Protestant churches. The number of churches are under the authority of the Kuwaiti government.
6. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
You can easily get by in English. People appreciate an effort to try a little Arabic. It actually takes an effort to use Arabic and there are many dialects spoken by Arabic speakers from around the region. Classes are available from various institutions.
7. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, the sidewalks and buildings are not consistently accessible. People do tend to respect parking spaces for people with disabilities. Malls tend to be accessible.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
There are no trams or trains. Taxis are not standardized. It's best to find a company you trust that will send taxis with seat belts and an English-speaking driver and a set price. They are cheap compared to Washington, DC, but meters don't work and you have to agree before you get in the car or know what it should cost, hand them the money, and be willing to just get out. It's a balance, you don't want to cheat anyone, but you don't want to be taken advantage of either.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
An SUV with really good a/c. Many people drive Mitsubishi Pajeros, Toyotas, Ford Explorers, Mercedes G-class, etc. Some makes have a single distributor in-country, but parts and service are available. Don't bring a small car or something brand new. Gas is cheap, driving is fast and in close-quarters, and often reckless. Bring something you don't mind getting dinged up. I think they have to be five years old or newer.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes. Some apartments offer basic wifi for free. Kuwait has possibly the world's cheapest 4G network, but there aren't a lot of alternatives (e.g. fiber-optic, DSL). To get a phone or internet line, you need a civil ID which takes at least a couple of weeks.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
I put my home country plan on pause and got a local line. There are several major mobile companies with various plans. Everyone uses WhatsApp to text each other.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
There are qualified vets and kennel services, although I would be very selective about groomers. Animals do not need to be quarantined if their paperwork is complete beforehand. The airport authorities may insist on taking pets through cargo with various fees and delays involved. Traditional culture considers dogs unclean and authorities may be unsympathetic towards pets' circumstances.
Local people often have dogs foreign to a desert environment such as huskies or German shepherds. You may see exotic (often illegal) animals.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
There is a wide variety of dress here. Women and men tend to have their knees and shoulders covered. Not all local women cover their hair, some wear niqab (covering all but the eyes), others wear western dress. Westerners wear a wide variety, too. I've seen men at the mall wearing a range from baggy shorts and t-shirts all the way to dishdashas. Formal dress is rarely required, but there is a regular concert series and events for which you might want to dress up occasionally.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
On the whole, Kuwait feels very safe to me, but I have heard of harassment of people of Asian or African descent, especially women driving alone. There's little petty theft here. You should be aware as you would be anywhere else. Terrorism is mainly a concern due to the country's location in the region.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Air quality is often dusty and bad for allergies. Car safety is a major concern (many people don't wear seatbelts and drive fast). There are hospitals and clinics, but we would be sent home or to London for anything major. The weather in the summer is unbearably hot. It's almost impossible to be outside at any time of day.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Bad. It is often dusty throughout the year. Yes, many people have respiratory problems, colds linger.
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
I would not trust servers in restaurants to understand food allergies. Bring your favorite antihistamine, decongestants, etc.
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
In the summer, due to extreme heat, people often have Vitamin D deficiency. You have to plan trips away regularly to go somewhere and get outside, especially if you have children. People get a little stir crazy.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
The weather in the winter can be lovely and we even wore sweaters and jackets. There were several thunderstorms between fall, winter with high winds and heavy rains. The summer is brutally hot--with temps sometimes over 120F. In late summer, it also gets humid, too. People tend to go from a/c to a/c.
Schools & Children:
1. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Yes, especially important to keep kids active in the summer when they can't play outside.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large. People often complain about being bored. It's good to join social groups, exercise classes, and have books, games, activities that you enjoy indoors. Many western women have married Kuwaiti men. Many expats live in Kuwait for long periods of time. It's great if you can meet them and get connected and learn about the local culture.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Order in and watch movies (you can get Netflix here) or play games with friends. There are book clubs, sports clubs, language gatherings, dining clubs, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyya offers a concert series, lectures, and other cultural events. There is a very good community choir. There is no social dancing in public and there are very, very few dance performances, there are some classes at sports clubs.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It's good for people who can entertain themselves and make their own fun.
4. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Women (local and white women, at least) tend to be treated with respect, those of Asian or African ethnicity, less so. I have not experienced prejudices personally.
5. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Having an apartment with a nice view--it is very important to like where you live since you will spend a lot of times indoors in the summer. The nice response when you do try to speak Arabic to someone. Getting invited to a Kuwaiti home for a bookclub. People speaking openly about their country and culture.
6. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
There are some local designers, moderately interesting markets, and gigantic malls but it's not a shopping post for traditional items. I mostly go to the very nice, large Avenues Mall to walk on the weekends early in the day before the parking gets crowded. There are sometimes special fairs for Palestinian or other cultures.
7. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
The people are more open to expats than some of the other Gulf countries. The press is more free. There are laws to protect human rights. They like Americans, in general. It's a calm country in an increasingly dangerous region. You might have the opportunity to advance at work that you wouldn't have in another country.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Yes, because my husband and I both found jobs here.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Pork. Brand new car.
3. But don't forget your:
Sunscreen, sunglasses.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Alsanousi.
