Kuwait City, Kuwait Report of what it's like to live there - 03/18/22
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?
We have lived in the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
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?
Our home country is the United States. There are no direct flights from the U.S. to Kuwait, so expect a 24 hour flight from Washington DC connecting through Doha, Frankfurt, or Dubai.
3. How long have you lived here?
We've lived in Kuwait for less than a year.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
We're here with the U.S. Embassy.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
In my opinion, housing seems small, noisy, and substandard compared to other Gulf countries (Bahrain, UAE, Oman). We get noise in our apartment from neighbors leaving their front doors open, and children who run about seemingly unsupervised. The noise from neighbors above us is constant, and we hardly get any natural sunlight. In my opinion, this is the worst housing we have endured during our time in the diplomatic corps.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Food is surprisingly expensive, particularly berries, fresh cuts of meat (the quality is poor) and household cleaning supplies are available but prohibitively expensive.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Bring your own toilet paper, soap, and groceries for dinner for the first night in your luggage. Be prepared to unpack your welcome kit and prepare your first meal upon arrival. There was no soap, toilet paper, paper towels, or any other basic items in our house when we arrived. We were told to walk a local co-op in our neighborhood to purchase toilet paper and other necessary items after a 20+ flight. I would have shipped everything from napkins to trash bags, to toilet paper to post had I known that we would not have had any assistance upon arrival.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Talabat is available once you have your local number established. You can get a prepaid simcard upon arrival.
Daily Life:
1. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I've used my credit and debit cards to order food and house necessities from the first day we arrived.
Transportation:
1. 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?
I recommend an SUV given, in my opinion, the aggressive nature of driving here.
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?
Many landlords do not allow pets in their homes. Please check with your company or embassy regarding pets prior to your arrival.
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?
The U.S. Embassy has more jobs available that partners who choose to work outside the home.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
It is essential for your company or embassy to have director level contacts with each of the schools here in Kuwait. If your family arrives after the second term, in my opinion, it is unlikely that your student will be allowed access on campus or admitted to campus for the remainder of the school year. I have yet to see a local, private school that matches U.S. standards.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
Families need good educations for their children, and a healthy home.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
In a nutshell, no. While I think that Kuwait has great potential on a professional level, the lack of support we have felt cannot be ignored. New arrivals in Kuwait should prepare to bring an extra piece of luggage that includes essential household items (toilet paper, hand soap, whatever you'd like to feed your family for your first meal, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, and anything else you need for your first couple of days).
In my opinion, the high school has been inadequate for years, yet there is still no full boarding school allowance. You will have to enroll your kids in school completely on your own. You may be referred to school websites, but in my experience, you will not receive any help to enroll your children in local schools. In my opinion, housing is inadequate. I feel that small, dark, prison-like, smoke-filled, noisy, apartments are not appropriate for families or for entertaining for work-related purposes. It seems family members often do not get sufficient sunlight from apartment windows, as they are in my experience blocked by other apartments.
