Planning to visit one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East? Located at the tip of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait is where grand mosques meet soaring skyscrapers. Read on for more about travelling to this Western Asian nation:
  • The State of Kuwait (the country’s official name) is just 17,820 square km in size. It is about 200 km (120 mi) north to south, and 170 km (110 mi) east to west. This makes it slightly larger than the U.S. state of Hawaii.
  • As an international visitor, you will feel right at home. Around 70% of the population are expats and foreign workers make up 90% of the labour force.
  • The currency is the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) and there are 1,000 fils to every dinar. The Kuwaiti dinar is one of the world’s highest-valued currency units.
  • Arabic is the official language of Kuwait and the country’s name comes from the Arabic ‘al-Kuwayt’ meaning fortress. English is widely spoken, however, and is used in business and taught in schools as an obligatory second language.
  • Kuwait offers tourists all the benefits of a modern metropolis including state-of-the-art shopping malls. One of the most famous landmarks are the slender and stylish Kuwait Towers. There are also beautiful beaches and mosques a stone’s throw away.
  • Spring (from February to April) is a cool and pleasant time to visit. However, November onwards is great weather-wise as there is limited rainfall and the weather is cool.
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