Kuwait is a small country of 17,818 km² at the apex of the Arabian Gulf with just under 3 million residents. Kuwait gained independence in 1961. It was the first Gulf country to have an elected parliament. Kuwait, in the cradle of one of the most ancient and most-contested corners of the world, is best described as a city state. Today the metropolis is still an oasis in a land of desert plains, but rather more of the cultural and epicurean kind. Excellent museums; a corniche ornamented with combed beaches and extravagant restaurants; modern shopping complexes and marinas, and long and lazy retreats at new beach resorts mark Kuwait City experience.

Fast Facts about Kuwait

Full Name:  State of Kuwait

Capital City: Kuwait City

Time Zone:  GMT/UTC +3

Population: Around 3 millions

Currency:   Kuwait Dinar (KD)

Electricity

Voltage is 220 Volts AC, and 50 Hz, Single Phase.

Transport

Taxes and lomousines are easily available around the clock. Taxis charge a flat rate between the city and airport.

Weather

Being situated in the Arabian Gulf, the climate of Kuwait features hot summers and mild winters.  Temperatures are coolest between December and March when northerly winds prevail. From July to September weather is hot and temperature may peak to 50 Centigrade

Hotels

The Kuwait Hotels and Accommodation Directory provides a variety of accommodation choices to suit most people’s budgets and needs. For your convenience the following hotels are located close to the conference venue: Safir Marina, Radisson SAS, Ghani Palace, Holiday Inn

Business Hours: Government offices: Sunday to Thursday 7.30am to 2.30pm

Banking hours: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 1pm (with 24hrs ATMs)

Shops: Saturday to Thursday 9am-1pm; 4.30pm-9pm. Some malls are open from10 am to 10 pm.

Dining

Many restaurants serving a wide choice of international and Arab cuisines are found in Kuwait including American, Asian, Chinese, French, Italian, Iranian, Lebanese etc. The following are few of the fine restaurants: Almarsa, Almuhalab, Alboum, Burj Alhamam, Mugul Mahal and Altissimo.

Places to Visit in Kuwait

Kuwait, despite its rapid pace of development, has never lost its valuable heritage and offers many places of interest to all age groups.

• The Liberation Tower

It represents Kuwaiti liberation, the sure sign of the country’s resurgence. It is one of tallest telecommunication towers in the world. The tower is 372 meters in height, and is 40 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower.

• The Kuwait Towers

These are the most famous landmarks of Kuwait. Kuwait Towers are located on the Arabian Gulf Street in Dasman, promontory to east of City Center. The topmost sphere of the largest tower (187 meters in height), has a revolving observation area and a restaurant with access to high speed lifts. The middle tower comprises one million gallons of water.

• National Museum

The Museum, location in close proximity to the National Assembly, comprises four buildings and a planetarium. Iit houses the Al Sabah collection of Islamic art, the most comprehensive collections in the world. The other buildings displays pearl-diving relics, archaeological material from excavations on Failaka Islands, ethnographic artifacts etc. The Museum also consists of the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah.

• Failaka Island

Failaka is the most famous island in Kuwait where tourists can view the ruins from settlements of the Bronze Age Dilmuns and Hellenistic Greeks, who left many treasures from which, their past could be reconstructed. The Greeks have lived in this island for two centuries from 4th century BC.

• Sadu House

The roots of Kuwait are associated with both the desert and the sea. Sadu weaving, characterized by geometric designs woven by hand with dyed, spun and colored wool, is a traditional craft of major importance. The Al-Sadu Society was formed with an intention of retaining these Bedouin crafts from total extinction, which led to establishment of Sadu House.

• The Scientific Center

This is the largest Aquarium to be built by the Kuwait Foundation in the Middle East for Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). The visitors can focus on natural sea habitats, the coastal edges and desert of Arabian Peninsula, the motion picture of IMAX Theatre, and explore childhood skills in the Discovery Place, visit the Dhow Harbor, and relax at the Scientific Centre restaurant.

• The Tareq Rajab Museum

The Museum is a private collection of the Rajab family. The Museum is divided into two sections. One deals with pottery, calligraphy, metalwork, wood, ivory, glass, and jade carvings of the Islamic world. The second section of the museum comprises embroideries, textiles, costumes, and jewelry of the Islamic world, and also objects from Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet.

• Mosques

The Grand Mosque, opposite the Seif Palace, represents traditional Islamic styles built using modern technology, while also retaining the local Kuwaiti characteristics and the Islamic tradition of calligraphy.

• Bayt Al-Badir

It is an old house located near Al-Sadu house. The house was built during 1838 to 1848, and depicts the famous front doors of ancient Kuwait. Even local handicrafts are displayed here.

Where to shop:

Kuwait has numerous shopping complexes such as the Avenues which is the largest mall in Kuwait, Souk Sharq, Marina (near the waterfront), Al-Fanar Shopping Center and Leila Gallery. Boutiques and small general stores are scattered around the city selling all the basic and most luxury goods.