Kuwait

As a visiting foreign national, you must always carry your passport. If you are resident in Kuwait, you must always carry your Kuwaiti civil identification card.  

Keep copies of your passport photo page and your visa or entry stamp in a separate place. 

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country. During this time, do not:  

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in your car  
• play loud music or dance  
• swear in public  

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.  

You should also:  

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants  
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from Islamic guests, for example with screens  
• follow local dress codes – clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time  
• be aware that driving may be erratic, particularly when people are trying to get home at dusk  
• be patient and show tolerance 

Dress and behave modestly in public, particularly in downtown or conservative areas. Women should avoid wearing shorts or tight-fitting or revealing clothing.

Do not expose body piercings or tattoos that may be perceived as extreme or offensive – for example, you could be accused of violating religious sanctity for a tattoo of verse from the holy Quran in Arabic.

It is illegal for an unmarried couple to live together in the same house or stay in the same hotel room. You will  be asked to provide a marriage certificate if sharing a hotel room.  

It’s illegal to insult or humiliate any person verbally or through obscene gestures in a public place, including a police officer, public official or private individual. Police may arrest you and conviction may lead to prosecution, imprisonment, or immediate deportation. 

It is frowned on for men and women to show affection in public. 

Alcohol is illegal. Buying, selling or carrying it, as well as public intoxication, can lead to fines, imprisonment and deportation. Consuming illegally produced alcohol poses severe health risks, including methanol poisoning, which can cause blindness, organ failure or death.

Kuwait has zero tolerance for drug-related offences. Penalties for drug smuggling or trafficking include the death sentence. Offences involving minors or committed in schools, hospitals, prisons or other protected locations can result in life imprisonment or the death penalty. 

Possession or use of illegal drugs, including for small or residual amounts, can lead to a prison sentence of between 5 and 10 years, and heavy fines. Bail is not usually given and even if found not guilty, defendants can expect to spend several months in detention while the case progresses through the judicial system.

Wearing, using, or displaying items that promote or encourage narcotics, including logos on clothing, constitutes an offence and may result in significant fines.

It is illegal to photograph or take videos of: 

• government buildings  
• military buildings 
• industrial buildings or oil-related infrastructure  
• other restricted areas such as borders and oil fields 
• record people without their knowledge or consent 

All foreign nationals must pay traffic fines, phone bills and utility bills before they leave Kuwait. The Kuwaiti authorities may:  

• stop you from leaving the country 
• arrest you, or send you to prison 
• fine you 
• deport you, and not allow you to return to Kuwait 
• refuse renewal of your residency card or re-entry visa  

Bouncing cheques is illegal and the law does not provide for offenders to be released from custody on bail.  

If you’re involved in a commercial dispute with a Kuwaiti company or individual, the Kuwaiti authorities may prevent you from leaving the country until it is resolved.  

Same-sex activity is illegal. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.