Welcome to KuwaitYour quick guide to this enchanting country

Locationslide 2History slide 3Climate slide 4Politics and Economyslide 5Transportation slide 6Business Cultureslide 7Cultureslide 8Visaslide 9Accommodationslide 10Educationslide 11Health, welfare and safetyslide 12Things to do and seeslide 13Useful linksslide 14

LocationKuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a sovereign state and one of the most ancient countries in the Arabian Peninsula. It is located at the head of the Arabian or Persian Gulf, with Iraq to the north and west, and Saudi Arabia to the southwest. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic akwat, the plural of kut meaning fortress built near water.Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area, covering covers only 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles) and has a population of about 3.5 million (including 2 million non-nationals).Main cities:Kuwait City - the capital Jahra - 30 minutes west of Kuwait City by car Ahmadi- 30 minutes south The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. The country is generally low lying, with the highest point being 306m (1,004ft) above sea-level. It has nine islands, all of which, with the exception of Failaka Island, are uninhabited.

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HistoryHistorically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India.The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region, laying the foundation for the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. The British had been in Kuwait for quite a while by then, and as early as the 1770's Abdullah I had a contract with the British to deliver mail for them up to Aleppo in Syria. The agreement gave the British control of the Kuwaiti foreign policy in exchange for military protection. In the 1920's and the 1930's, the chief source of revenue was pearls. In 1938, oil was first struck in Kuwait, and by 1946, they started exporting it. In 1961, Kuwait nullified the treaty of 1899 with British, and became an independent nation. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 Aug 1990. The seven month-long Iraqi occupation came to an end after a direct military intervention by United States-led forces. Kuwait's infrastructure was badly damaged during the war and had to be rebuilt. Twelve years later, Kuwait saw another massive foreign military presence as it served as a springboard for the U.S.-led campaign in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein.

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Climate*Kuwait has been attracting Bedouin people from the Arabian interior, in search of a sea breeze and an escape from recurring drought, for centuries.The spring season in March is warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. The frequent winds from the northwest are cold in winter and spring and hot in summer. Southeasterly winds, usually hot and damp, spring up between July and October; hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer.

Politics and EconomyKuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament among the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.Kuwait City serves as the country's political and economic capital. The country has been ruled by the Al Sabah family since the 18th century. The head of state is the Emir or Sheikh, a hereditary office. A council of ministers, also known as cabinet ministers, aids the Prime Minister, and appoints and dismisses diplomats. Legislative power is vested in the Emir and the National Assembly (consisting of 50 elected members, who are elected every four years) in accordance with the Constitution. The Emir is the commander in chief of Kuwait's armed forces.On 16 May 2005, the Parliament decided by a 3523 vote to give women the right to vote and stand as candidates in elections. Kuwait enjoys a strong relationship with the United States, playing host to major U.S. military bases. Following U.S. leadership in the effort to liberate Kuwait, both nations have forged close political and economic relations. Kuwait has a GDP (PPP) of US$167.9 billion and a per capita income of US$81,800,making it the 5th richest country in the world, per capita.The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and petroleum products now account for nearly 95% of export revenues and 80% of government incomeNon-petroleum industries include shipping, construction, cement, water desalination, construction materials and financial services.The government is keen on decreasing Kuwait's dependence on oil to fuel its economy by transforming it into a regional trading and tourism hub.

*Sheikh Sir Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is the current Emir of Kuwait.

TransportationKuwait has an extensive, modern and well-maintained network of highways. All signs are in English and Arabic.Since there is no railway system in the country, most of the people travel by car. On major highways the maximum speed is 120km/h. Kuwait has speed cameras in all highways and main roads and traffic lights, which captures the cars that speed or cross a red light. However, the accident rate is high and defensive driving is essential.Petrol is lead free and costs 0.060KD per litre.Women are allowed to drive.Public Transport: Kuwait's public transport is adequate with three companies (KPTC, City Bus and KGL) running dozens of routes in every major city. Waiting times for buses range from one minute for most frequent routes to fifteen minutes for less used routes. Taxi: These are recognisable by orange licence plates and may be hired by the day, in which case fares should be agreed beforehand. Although most taxis have meters these are rarely used and one needs to negotiate a fare beforehand. The cream coloured taxis are the cheapest, but also likely to be poorly maintained and possibly dangerously so, considering the general speed and size of the rest of the vehicles on Kuwaiti roads. Tipping is not expected, however you should negotiate fares before boarding the taxiCar hire: If you produce an International Driving Permit, the rental company will be able to arrange the statutory temporary insurance, which is drawn on the driver's visa. If you arrive at Kuwait International Airport, you will find the car hiring companies located at your left after you exit from the baggage claiming area. You can find international companies such as Avis and Budget among others.Kuwait International Airport serves as the principal hub for international air travel. Kuwait has direct flights to international hub airports London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Amsterdam Schiphol and Dubai as well as direct flights to the USA and many gulf destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain etc. AMEC personnel mobilising to Kuwait will always be met at the airport and transported to their accommodation by an AMEC representative.Many personnel will be provided with company vehicles as per their terms and conditions the vehicle will normally be provided with a few days of arrival

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Business CultureThese are the typical opening hours in Kuwait:Banks 8am to 1pm Sunday to ThursdayGovernment offices 7am to 2pm Saturday to WednesdayInternet cafs 8am to 10pmPost offices 7am to 2pm Saturday to Wednesday, 7am to noon ThursdayRestaurants 11am to 3pm and 7pm to 11pmShopping centres 10am to 10pmShops 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm or 8pm Saturday to Thursday.

These opening times vary during RamadanLanguagesKuwait's official language is Modern Standard Arabic. Kuwaiti Arabic, a Gulf Arabic sub-dialect, is Kuwait's colloquial dialect. English is widely understood and often used as a business language

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CultureThe influence of Islamic and Arab Culture on Kuwaits architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is very prominent. Kuwait is a Muslim state and Islamic customs in public are strictly observed. The call to prayer is five times per day. While, unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the Islamic dress code is not compulsory, many of the older Kuwaiti men prefer wearing dish dasha - an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton. While the minority of women wear abaya, black over-garment covering most parts of the body. This attire is particularly well-suited for Kuwait's hot and dry climate. Western style clothing is very popular among the youth of Kuwait. It is advisable for women to wear long sleeves when entering Kuwait. Short sleeved tops are acceptable but not sleeveless.Kissing and holding hands and other signs of affection in public are frowned upon.In accordance with Islamic teaching, alcohol and pork products are banned and may not be imported into the country. Your bags will be X-rayed on arrival. Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the holy month of Ramadan (from sunrise to sunset) or you may be fined or even go to jail. The fine is 100 KD or about US$350. Do not get into conversations concerning the Emir of Kuwait. Although Kuwait is a relatively democratic country with one of the best freedom of speech laws in the Middle East, the topic of the Emir is beyond the red line. Do not take pictures near the Iraq border fence.

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VisaPassport and VisaYou must hold a valid passport when travelling to Kuwait. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and it is recommended that passports with less than 12 months validity or with less than 6 pages remaining be renewed before travelling.Most nationalities require a visa to enter Kuwait. You will be advised whether you require a visit visa (which is collected upon arrival in Kuwait) or a sponsored visa issued in advance of travel during the mobilisation process.The nationals of 35 countries are eligible for visas on arrival at Kuwait's airport and land borders. The on-arrival visa is valid for a single entry of up to 3 months and costs KD 3, plus KD 3 for a "stamping" fee (visa and stamping fee not required for Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UK and US). Those 35 nations include: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and Vatican City. All other nationals need advance visas, which require an invitation from a sponsor in Kuwait. Kuwait Airways offices and major hotels can provide invitations, but the process can take up to a week and may require a fee.Israel nationals are banned by the Kuwaiti government from entering the country, and you may also be refused entry if your passport has Israeli entry stamps.

Work/Residence VisaNote; the procedure is fluid and has varied considerably during the past years. The process to obtain a residence visa can take up to two - three (2-3) months and includes a medicals and having fingerprints taken. Work visas are valid for two (2) years and are issued for a period of residency of two years. Once you have a residence stamp in your passport, you can travel in and out of the country without obtaining a further visa for the duration of your residency.

Dependents VisaFamily visas are known as Dependents visas and are stamped in each dependents passport. The procedure requires the original marriage certificate and full birth certificate of accompanying children to be authenticated. Further details of this will be advised to you during the mobilisation process.

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AccommodationTemporary Accommodation in Kuwait:Employees who are new to Kuwait are offered the use of an AMEC transit apartment for a two week period. The transit apartments are located in the Mangaf and Abu Halifa areas. All the apartments have two bedrooms with local telephone connection, internet, TV, DVD player, washing machine and maid service. The Living allowance is paid for the two weeks duration that you are staying in a transit apartment, however a deduction will be made prorated on a days used basis.

Accommodation short and long termAll forms of rented accommodation is available from single studio-style apartments to 4/5 bed detached villas. The cost varies accordingly and persistent negotiation is required to obtain the best rental rate. Many expatriates opt for an apartment block with communal facilities such as pool and gym. This type of accommodation provides a meeting point for the wives and children.The monthly rent includes the cost of utilities (electricity, water or sewerage). In some furnished apartments, the rent also includes cleaning and laundry service. The majority of the oil installations and AMEC offices are within 1 hours drive of Kuwait City. The favoured living areas stretch south from Kuwait City on the coastal strip to the southern limit around Fahaheel, a distance of about 30 km. This equates to about a 20-minute drive since there are two motorway standard roads running North - South. Currently, the majority of staff have chosen to live in the Mangaf and Mahboula areas, which are close to Fahaheel.

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EducationThe adult literacy rate in Kuwait is over 93%. Kuwait is directing its attention towards Inclusive Education, which provides opportunity to all children, irrespective of their social class, including children with special needs. Schooling with the UK curriculum is available up to A levels. Children are taken to school by the school bus.

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Al Bayan International SchoolThe English School for GirlsAmerican Academy for GirlsThe English School FahaheelAmerican Bilingual SchoolGulf English SchoolAmerican Creativity AcademyKuwait English SchoolAmerican School of KuwaitKuwait International English SchoolBritish School of KuwaitKuwait National EnglishCascade British Nursery SchoolNew English SchoolDasman Model SchoolThe Oxford AcademyFawzia Sultan InternationalTahreer English SchoolGulf English SchoolCarmel SchoolIdeal Education SchoolCentral Indian SchoolKhalifa SchoolFahaheel National Indian SchoolKuwait National English SchoolGulf Indian SchoolNew English SchoolIndian Private SchoolThe English AcademyIndian Public SchoolThe English School of FahaheelAl Jabriya Indian SchoolThe English School, KuwaitKuwait Indian SchoolUniversal American School Modern Indian SchoolDasman Model SchoolAl Rashed Indian SchoolAl-Takamul English SchoolUnited Indian SchoolThe British School Of KuwaitFahaheel Pakistan School MangafThe English AcademyGulf Pakistan English School & collegeNew Pakistan International School

Health, welfare and safetyMedicalAll assignees and their accompanying dependents shall have a medical prior to departure. These are normally carried out by an AMEC approved medical centre and should be booked through the person carrying out your mobilisation.

ImmunisationsAll staff and accompanying dependents either visiting or on an assignment to Kuwait should check their immunisation status with a medical practitioner. Immunisations are normally carried out at the time of the medical. Where necessary, immunisations can be obtained from your GP. You will be eligible to use the hospital within a few weeks of your initial arrival in Kuwait.

Medical InsuranceAMEC aims to protect the health of employees and their dependents when assigned overseas by providing access to high quality healthcare. AMECs International medical Insurance cover will be managed by CIGNA Global Health Benefits or Gulf Med local health insurance depending on your employment contract.Kuwait based HR will enrol you in to the scheme on your first day in the office. Over the following few weeks, you will receive your new insurance documents (please keep them in a safe place, as you may need to refer to them should you need to seek medical assistance) and please do check that the information printed on both your policy documents and personal membership is correct. When completing insurance claim forms you should state your name exactly as printed on the membership card.

Medical facilitiesKuwait has a highly developed, modern and sophisticated Healthcare system and facilities. The doctors, nurses and surgeons in Kuwait are mostly experienced specialists from USA, UK, India, Egypt and other Middle East countries.

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Things to do and seeKuwait city is an oasis in a land of desert plains, but rather more of the cultural 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 the Kuwait City experience. LandmarksThe most prominent landmark in country are the Kuwait Towers. They were designed by Swedish architect Sune Lindstrm and are a unique blend of traditional minaret and modern architectural designs. The National Assembly of Kuwait, another famous landmark building, was designed by the famous Danish architect Jrn Utzon and completed in 1982.

ShoppingMost UK high street shops together with French, Italian and American chains have outlets in the shopping malls. Examples of good shopping malls are: Sharq Souk, Marina Mall, The Avenues, 360 Mall and Al Fanar. There are many more shopping malls and eating is the Kuwaitis main pastime.

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Local currency is Kuwaiti Dinar subdivided by 1000 fils. Dinar notes comes in 20s, 10s, 5s, 1s, ,

OtherThanks to a large immigrant population, many cuisines are available. Most types of food produce from UK, USA, the Indian sub-continent and the Far East are available in the modern supermarkets. Facilities are available for Squash, Tennis, Scuba diving, Sailing, Fishing, Rugby, Ice skating, Horse riding, Bowling, Shooting, Paintball, Painting & Ceramic classes, etc. Clubs exist for Bridge & Darts, the Hash House Harriers are active and the Scouts & Guides are affiliated to the schools.The Caledonian Society is very active, as well as the British Ladies Society.AMEC sponsors and runs sports team for football, cricket, badminton and tennis

Useful linksfurther informationAccommodation:www.aaahousingq8.comwww.frost-realestate.comwww.northernstarkuwait.com/searchproperty.aspwww.easternhomesrealestate.comSkerrycrownkuwait@yahoo.com Crown Re-locationswww.moveonerelo.com Move One Relocationswww.q8realtor.com Banking: AMEC will open a bank account for the employee in Kuwait as part of your induction. The electricity supply is 220-240 volts, AC, 50 cycles single phase. The UK 3 pin plug is virtually standard. However most locally purchased electrical equipment are sold with a 2 pin plug so adapters are required.Key numbers The country code for Kuwait is 965Ambulance/Fire / Police 112http://wikitravel.org/en/Kuwaithttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/kuwait#ixzz2PHToroF9www.kuwaitpocketguide.comKuwait Cultural Office - http://www.kuwaitculture.com/index.htm The Grapevine blogs for and by expats find out whats going on, when http://www.grapevinekuwait.com/AMEC has about 400 staff in Kuwait the best way to find out about anything is to ask your colleagues you will find them glad to help

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