Kuwait City, Kuwait Report of what it's like to live there - 05/26/13

Personal Experiences from Kuwait City, Kuwait

Kuwait City, Kuwait 05/26/13

Background:

1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?

Fifth USG experience

View All Answers


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?

14 hour direct flight to DC, daily.

View All Answers


3. How long have you lived here?

2 years

View All Answers


4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?

Government.

View All Answers


Housing, Groceries & Food:

1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?

For U.S. Embassy employees, compound living (townhomes), apartments, or some single family homes off compound. In general, it's spacious, modern, and nice but, apart from the compound there is very little green space.

View All Answers


2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?

Everything but pork and alcohol is available the local economy. There's a PX about 45 minutes from the embassy, offerring a limited range of U.S products, but most everything is available on the local economy. If you shop at Dean and DeLuca, you'll be in for sticker shock. Otherwise, it is still more expensive than the US, but this is offset tremendously by the super-cheap gasoline!

View All Answers


3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?

Everything is here.

View All Answers


4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?

Any food you want, it's here -- at a price.

View All Answers


5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?

View All Answers


Daily Life:

1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?

APO/DPO.

View All Answers


2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?

Easily available but not inexpensive. While local law permits hiring of domestic employees for $180 per month, most U.S. Embassy staff pay well beyond that ($500 per month).

View All Answers


3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?

The embassy has a gym and access to at least one local hotel club.

View All Answers


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?

Easy access anywhere.

View All Answers


5. What English-language religious services are available locally?

Yes. Catholic, Protestant, etc. are all widely available.

View All Answers


6. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?

Yes. Inexpensive.

View All Answers


7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?

None. Most public workers speak English.

View All Answers


8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?

Many Kuwaitis are disabled, so among other non-European posts where we've served, this is probably the best. But it is still not on par with the U.S.

View All Answers


Transportation:

1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?

Some staff take taxis, but they aren't inexpensive.

View All Answers


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?

Four-wheel-drive, simply for the protection. Kuwait has one of the highest rates of motor fatalities in the world - fast cars, young drivers, too many cell phones, and excellent U.S.-designed roads.

View All Answers


Phone & Internet:

1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?

Yes. $100 per month.

View All Answers


2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?

Widely available.

View All Answers


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?

No.

View All Answers


2. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?

High quality care is available at several vet hospitals and kennels.

View All Answers


Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:

1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?

Yes.

View All Answers


2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?

Conservative while keeping in mind that it's hot.

View All Answers


Health & Safety:

1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.

It's the Middle East, so there's always the possibility of a regional issue impacting Kuwait, but it's very safe here, with little to no street crime.

View All Answers


2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?

Reasonable health care.

View All Answers


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?

Very unhealthy during dust storms, but okay the rest of the time.

View All Answers


4. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?

Summers get up to 120 - but it's dry! Winters are quite comfortable.

View All Answers


Schools & Children:

1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?

There are several options. The English School, British School of Kuwait, or American School of Kuwait (the only high school). None has state-of-the-art facilities, but most families are happy.

View All Answers


2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?

View All Answers


3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?

Available but expensive.

View All Answers


4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?

Yes - after-school programs include basketball, ballet, soccer, karate, etc.

View All Answers


Expat Life:

1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?

Large.

View All Answers


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?

Mostly at home entertaining given restrictions on alcohol.

View All Answers


3. Morale among expats:

It really, really depends.

View All Answers


4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?

It's a make-your-own-fun kind of place for all of the above, with good regional travel opportunities.

View All Answers


5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?

It is illegal to practice homosexuality in Kuwait, however couples have successfully lived here.

View All Answers


6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?

Kuwaitis are generally very welcoming to U.S. citizens. However, those who are of Arab or "other" descent may experience some prejudice. Kuwaitis are not very accepting of South Asians, Asians, or other non-Gulf Arabs.

View All Answers


7. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?

Weather in the winter is fantastic - clear, cool, sunny days.

View All Answers


8. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?

Movies, malls, American restaurants. Some water sports, camel racing, desert camping. That's about it.

View All Answers


9. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?

There is a dearth of local shopping opportunities.

View All Answers


10. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?

Easy living, but be prepared to pay. The malls here are unlike any others - on par or better than those in Dubai, but everything comes at a price.

View All Answers


11. Can you save money?

It really depends on your grocery intake and requirements, as well as your travel pattern. If you don't travel regionally and don't require tons of imported 'gourmet' foods, absolutely.

View All Answers


Words of Wisdom:

1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?

It's been a great post for my family, but there are a lot of unhappy people here.

View All Answers


2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:

short shorts, halter tops, and bicycles.

View All Answers


3. But don't forget your:

sunscreen, BBQ grill, and books.

View All Answers


Subscribe to our newsletter


New book from Talesmag! Honest and courageous stories of life abroad with special needs.

Read More