Capital Governorate is the heart of Kuwait: the Gulf Road with Kuwait Towers, Souq Al-Mubarakiya, the Grand Mosque, Sadu House, the National Museum and Al Shaheed Park all sit within a short ride of each other in and around Kuwait City.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Kuwait is a Muslim-majority Gulf state; dress modestly in public with shoulders and knees covered, especially in souqs, mosques, museums and government buildings.
Greet with 'As-salamu alaykum'; men may shake hands with men, and should wait for a woman to offer her hand first.
Friday is the weekly day of prayer and, with Saturday, the weekend; many shops open late on Friday and mosque visits for non-Muslims are limited.
Alcohol is banned entirely in Kuwait, including in hotels and restaurants; cafes, shisha lounges and restaurants are the centre of social life.
Eating, drinking and smoking in public in daylight during Ramadan is not permitted.
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Dress modestly in malls, souqs and religious sites
- Accept Arabic coffee (gahwa) and dates when offered
- Use the right hand to eat, give and receive
- Remove shoes at mosques and when entering homes
- Ask permission before photographing people, especially women and families
Don't
- Do not bring alcohol, drugs or pork products into Kuwait; alcohol is illegal to import, sell or drink and penalties include arrest and deportation
- Do not photograph military, government or police buildings, security staff or people without consent
- Do not insult the Amir, the government, Islam or other faiths, in person or online; these are criminal offences
- Do not show public displays of affection
- Do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight during Ramadan
Local customs
Traditions and practices you'll encounter.
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- 'As-salamu alaykum' (reply 'Wa alaykum as-salam'); men shake hands with men; wait for a woman to offer her hand. 'Hala' is a common informal welcome in Kuwaiti Arabic.
- Dining
- Eat with the right hand and let the host serve guests first. Meals are often shared from large platters; refusing the first offer of coffee or tea once is polite, but accept a refill.
- Dress
- Men: shirt with sleeves and long trousers or knee-length shorts in casual settings. Women: shoulders and knees covered; swimwear is for beaches and hotel pools only.
- Gifts
- Bring sweets, dates, chocolate or flowers when invited to a home; do not give alcohol.
- Business
- Relationship-based; meetings often begin with coffee and small talk. The working week is Sunday to Thursday and the weekend is Friday and Saturday.
- Tipping
- About 10 percent in restaurants if no service charge is added; round up taxi fares.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
As-salamu alaykum
Hello (peace be upon you)
as-sa-LAA-mu a-LAY-kum
Hala
Welcome / hello (Kuwaiti)
HA-la
Shlonak?
How are you? (to a man)
SHLO-nak
Shukran
Thank you
SHOOK-ran
Min fadlak
Please
min FAD-lak
Kam hatha?
How much is it?
kam HA-tha
Aywa / La
Yes / no
AY-wa / la
Inshallah
God willing
in-sha-LAH
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Capital.
Main: Islam is the state religion and the main source of legislation. Most Kuwaiti citizens are Sunni with a sizeable Shia minority, and the large expatriate population includes Christians, Hindus and others.
Sites: Grand Mosque (Sharq), Holy Family Co-Cathedral and other Christian churches in Kuwait City; non-Muslim worship is allowed in licensed churches and community centres.
Holy Days: Ramadan (expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to moon sighting), Eid al-Fitr (about 9-10 March 2027), Eid al-Adha (about 16-17 May 2027). Dates depend on moon sighting.
Conversations: Avoid criticising the Amir, the government or Islam; religion, sectarian relations and regional politics are sensitive topics.