Kuwait: Transport/Getting There
How do you get to Kuwait?
The easiest way to get to Kuwait is by plane. The flight from Frankfurt aM takes about 5.5 hours. The national airline is called Kuwait Airways (www.kuwaitairways.airline-direct.de
Travel in the country
Bus Bus
rides are very cheap in Kuwait. However, the buses are usually very full and not on time.
Ferry connections
There are ship connections to the small offshore islands and to Iran. The port of Kuwait City is a transshipment point for freight traffic and oil tankers.
Car rental
The well-known car rental companies are represented in Kuwait. You can easily get a rental car through the hotels.
Taxis
Taxis are a very inexpensive and convenient form of transportation in Kuwait.
Roads
The roads between the larger cities of Kuwait are well developed.
Traffic rules
To avoid trouble with the police or even the courts, drivers should strictly adhere to the traffic regulations in force in the country. Regardless of the information given here, it is advisable to obtain more detailed information from ADAC, AvD or Kuwait’s traffic clubs.
Maximum speeds in
urban areas: In built-up areas there is a speed limit of 60 km/h.
Motorways: There is a speed limit of 120 km/h on motorways.
Blood alcohol limits
The official blood alcohol limit in Kuwait for drivers of motor vehicles is 0.0.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, Kuwait’s international license plate is:
| KWT |
Kuwait: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
German citizens need a valid passport and a valid visa to enter the country.
When entering the country by air, entry visas are issued for three months at the airport. The fee for a visa is 6, – KwD (just under 18, – Euro). When entering Kuwait by land, a visa must be obtained in advance from the responsible Kuwaiti diplomatic mission.
The German child ID (with photo) is recognized. It is advisable to bring a passport for children as well.
Travelers whose passports contain Israeli visas or entry stamps will be denied a Kuwait visa or entry into Kuwait.
Issuing of visas in Germany
Embassy
Griegstrasse 5-7
14193 Berlin
Tel: +49 – (0) 30 – 8 97 30 00
Fax: +49 – (0) 30 – 89 73 00 10
Email: info@kuwait-botschaft.de
Import and export of foreign currency
There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency.
Import and export of goods
Alcohol, drugs, weapons, pornographic material, pork and pork products are prohibited from entering Kuwait.
Kuwait: Travel Medicine, Vaccinations, and Warnings
Infectious Diseases
The following infectious diseases can be expected in Kuwait:
- Malaria, there is no risk of malaria in the country
- Amoebic dysentery
- Bacterial agitation
- Cholera, an infection risk only exists for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Hepatitis A and B, an infection with hepatitis B, is only possible in people who can come into contact with blood or those who are looking for sexual contact.
- Leishmaniasis Disease
- Polio, polio
- tetanus
Vaccination recommendations When traveling to Kuwait, the same vaccinations are recommended as in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
- Cholera, but only among travelers who can come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
- Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country
- Hepatitis A and B, vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for people who may come into contact with blood or who are looking for sexual contact.
- Polio, polio, a vaccination against polio should always exist, also in the home country
- Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus, should always exist, also in the home country
Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination regulations when entering or staying in Kuwait.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.
There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory co-payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.
As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Current warnings
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Phone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Kuwait: currency, shopping
The national currency of Kuwait is the Kuwait Dinar = 1,000 Fils.
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
- 0.25
- 0.5
- 1
- 5
- 10 dinars
Coins are in circulation in the following amounts:
- 1
- 5
- 10
- 20th
- 50
- 100 fils
Conversion rate
You can find the current exchange rate for the euro at the following Dresdner Bank address:
dresdner-bank.de/pkportal/pk/kmdeviseneurospot.mis?p=pk
Note
It should be noted, however, that the rate mentioned is not the one that you actually get when you exchange money. It differs, for example, depending on whether you are exchanging in your home country or in the travel destination, whether you are exchanging cash or withdrawing money from the machine. In addition, the rate differs when exchanging for the foreign currency and when exchanging back.
Bank opening hours
Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Friday: closed
Saturday: closed Sunday: 8:00 a.m.
30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
Smaller shops and markets do not have fixed opening times. They are mostly open from early in the morning to noon and from afternoon to late evening. The big shopping malls don’t take a break for lunch. There are also shops that are open around the clock.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
You can buy almost anything in the souqs and shopping malls. Beautiful souvenirs are traditional objects such as curved daggers, incense burners, coffee pots, silverware and wood carvings as well as knotted carpets. Scented oils, perfumes, oriental spices and sweets are also nice gifts or memories.
Kuwait: Embassies and Consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Kuwait embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Representations of Kuwait in Germany
The embassy of the state of Kuwait is located on a cobblestone street in the district of Zehlendorf near the Grunewaldsee. As can be seen in the illustration, the single building is a two-story building in the style of a country house. It is about 50 m back from the road.
Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Berlin
Griegstrasse 5-7
14193 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 8 97 30 00
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 89 73 00 10
Email: info@kuwait-botschaft.de
Consulate General of the State of Kuwait
An der Welle 4, 6th floor
60322 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 75 93 67 10
Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 75 93 67 111
German representations in Kuwait
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait
Abdullah Al-Salem, Area 1, Ave. 14, Branch of Nusf Al-Yousef Street, Villa 13
Kuwait
Tel: 00965 – 252 08 27
Fax: 00965 – 252 07 63
Email: info@kuwait.diplo.de
Web: www.kuwait.diplo.de
Austrian representations in Kuwait
Austrian Embassy in Kuwait
Daiyah, Area No. 3, Shawki Street, house No. 10
Kuwait
:
PO Box 15013
Daiyah, 35451 Kuwait
Tel: 00 965 – 225 52 532
00 965 – 225 32 761
00 965 – 225 48 248
Fax: 00 965 – 225 63 052
Email: uwait-ob@bmeia.gv.at
The embassy in Kuwait is still responsible for Bahrain and Qatar.
Representations of Kuwait in Austria
Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Vienna
Strassergasse 32
1190 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 405 56 46
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 405 56 46 – 13
E-Mail: kuwait.embassy.vienna@speed.at
Swiss representation in Kuwait
Swiss Embassy in Kuwait
Block 2, Street 1, House No 122
Qortuba-Kuwait, Kuwait
:
Embassy of Switzerland
PO Box 23954 Safat
13100 Kuwait
Tel: 00965 – 25 34 01 72/-73/-74/-75
Fax: 00965 – 25 34 01 76
E-Mail: kow.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/kuwait
The Swiss embassy is still responsible for:
- Bahrain
- Qatar
Representations of Kuwait in Switzerland
Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Bern
Case postale 458
Bärenplatz, Brunnadernrain 19
3000 Bern 7
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 356 70 00
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 356 70 01
Email: info@kuwaitembassy.ch
Web: www.kuwaitembassy.ch
Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Geneva
Avenue de l’Ariana 2
1202 Geneva
Tel: 0041 – (0) 22 – 918 01 30
0041 – (0) 22 -918 01 00
Fax: 0041 – (0) 22 – 918 01 48
Email: info@kuwaitmission.ch
Web: www.Kuwaitmission.ch
