Kuwait City - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
The embassy community is around 160. The foreign diplomat community tends to socialize together. - May 2023
Expats are the majority in Kuwait. Many of them here to support daily life. - May 2023
HUGE! Before covid the population was 2/3 expat and 1/3 Kuwaiti. The expat is still sizeable but a bit less. The morale is different for each group of expats that you ask. The diplomatic missions have it fairly easy. Many of the laborers have it harder. Many are treated harshly in my opinion. Most of the service industry is run by expats. From what I have learned, most Kuwaitis do not work. - Apr 2022
Kuwait is about 2/3rds expats and 1/3rd Kuwaiti. Most of the expats are from the Philippines, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and then you have the Western expats. The two groups have vastly different experiences in Kuwait. Overall morale is alright. Everyone is here for economic opportunity, and will leave as soon as their contract is up. - Feb 2020
Two-thirds of the country is expats, so you have many many cultures colliding here. The expat morale is very good here. Each country seems to have a group, but you can join in and be invited to many events from all walks of life. There are many organizations to get involved in. I feel like you could overload your plate with groups/clubs/organizations to participate in. People are very friendly here. .. - Nov 2018
Most people in Kuwait are workers from other countries. They live to work and send all of their money to support their families in their countries. - May 2017
There is a large expat community here that includes oil workers, teachers, security specialists, military contractors, etc. And...most of the daily work done in Kuwait is done by expats. You will find people from Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Britain, Germany, the Philippines and elsewhere. About 1/3 of the population are expats from all socio-economic levels. - Mar 2017
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. - Aug 2016
Morale here is low as there's NOTHING to do. You can't even swim in the Gulf as it's still so polluted. - Mar 2015
Huge (more than 2/3 of 3 million population). Very variable. Among Americans they usually either love it or hate it. Haters are usually folks on first assignment or those who have only been posted to Europe. It's one of those 'enjoy the good parts and ignore the bad parts.' Getting to know a few locals really helps. If you don't reach out, they can seem a little stand-offish or arrogant but some are very open, interesting people once you get to know them. - Dec 2013
Large. - May 2013
Very large, but there is a good-size Western expat community. Some of the best people I have met in my life are American expats living here long-term. - Feb 2013
Large. - Jan 2013
Large!2/3 of Kuwait is expat, but that includes all the non-Western service workers. Many, many contractors here from the US who are former military. - May 2012
There are many, many expats here from U.S., Australia, Canada, as UK as teachers, plus many Americans here as military contractors or for oil. And, as I mentioned, Kuwait's society working industry is run primarily by workers from other countries, such as Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, etc. - May 2012
The expat community is big, but people tend to stick with the people they work with or live near. - Jan 2012
More expats here than Kuwaities themselves. - Jul 2010
Very large. - Jul 2010
Very large, more expats than Kuwaitis. - Jul 2008
Huge. More expats than Kuwaitis. - Jun 2008
