Kuwait City - Post Report Question and Answers
Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Internet here hasn't been as robust as I expected it to be. We got a wireless router from Zain which usually works well. Prices are reasonable. My wife teleworked while we were here and was always able to get her work done, even if she had to reschedule a call or two now and then. - May 2023
Yes, we use Zain. I takes some time, as you need to get all your local IDs and accreditations first in order to get an account. It is 5G and extremely fast for around $50/month. - May 2023
We have great internet. We have Zain and it cost 16 kd a month. There are issues every once in awhile, but it works remarkably well. It took us a few weeks as you can not get the internet without your MFA (diplomat) card. - Apr 2022
Yes. Doesn't take too long, maybe ten days to two weeks. - Feb 2020
Yes and about the same price as the US in D.C. It can be slow from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. at night. Everyone is on and the cell towers don't seem to spread their distribution well, but we can stream Netflix 9 out of 10 nights a week without a problem. We will have maybe one or two buffering sessions that last 45 seconds. I work from home, online, and I have no problems during the day. - Nov 2018
Yes, its available and as good if not better than in the U.S. To install it, however, you need your civil ID, which takes a few weeks. - May 2017
I have been very happy with my internet service here. I stream television shows without difficulty. It's very reasonably priced. Less than 300 USD per year. Local cable television is available also with many viewing options. - Mar 2017
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. - Aug 2016
Yes. About the same as the U.S. - Mar 2015
Yes. Kind of high per monthly contract, decent per yearly contract. Not very high though. They have theoretical high rate plans but local infrastructure in your neighborhood won't let you take advantage. - Dec 2013
Yes. $100 per month. - May 2013
Yes, its speed and reliability depend on where in the city you live. On-compound is adequate and costs around $700 - $800/year or more for better speed. - Feb 2013
Yes, 10 MB per second download speed is about 800 USD per year. - Jan 2013
Yes, comparable to US. - May 2012
Kuwait's internet can't be described as fast, but it isn't dial-up slow either (except high peak times like Thursday and Friday nights). There are many companies--the easiest is to get a Zain stick and pay per bandwidth until you can get faster DSL set up if it's available in your building. Most of the embassy community uses Quality Net or Fast Telco. - May 2012
Dongles are used, so the speed isn't the best, and service can be dodgy at times. Overall, though, it works. The cost is around 25KD a month. - Jan 2012
Yes. Zain is great. Cost is the same as in the States. - Jul 2010
I have wireless in my house and pay about $100 a month. There is cheaper service, but you may sacrafice quality. - Jul 2010
It's available, semi-reliable, not overly expensive. It came free with my housing but I hear others were paying $600 a year. - Jul 2008
Yes, though it's inconsistent. Connections are lost often and it's not easy to get connection reestablished through the company. It can take over a week. Cost can range from US$500-1000 per year. - Jun 2008
