GENERAL
Official name of the state
State of Kuwait.
Capital
Kuwait City.
Geography
As a country located in Asia according to travelationary, Kuwait is located on the Arabian Peninsula and borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. In the east lies the Persian Gulf with nine small islands that also belong to Kuwait. The landscape consists mainly of desert highlands and a flat, fertile coastal strip.
Government
Emirate (hereditary monarchy) since 1962. Constitution from 1962, last amendment 1997. National Assembly with 50 elected representatives, term of office 4 years. Independent since 1961 (former British protectorate). Only men aged 21 and over whose fathers have been resident in Kuwait for at least 30 years are eligible to vote.
Head of state
Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah, since January 2006.
Head of government
Sheikh Jabir Mubarak al-Hamad as-Sabah, since 2011.
Electricity
240 V, 50 Hz; Adapter recommended. Flat 3-pin plugs are used.
Time zone
Arabia Standard Time: CET +4
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Arabic. English is the lingua franca.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Kuwait duty-free:
500 cigarettes or 900 g tobacco.
Prohibited imports
Alcohol, drugs, pork and its products, fresh food and food that is not packaged as fully canned; pornographic material, Israeli products. Penalties for violations are high. Trafficking in drugs can result in the death penalty.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
English is spoken a lot in business circles. Business cards are common. Some of the larger hotels offer translation services.
Opening hours
Business hours: Sat-Wed 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Economy
Trade Department of the Kuwaiti Embassy
Griegstrasse 5-7, D-14193 Berlin
Tel: (030) 897 30 00.
Internet: www.kuwait-botschaft.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Kuwait chamber of Commerce and Industry (chamber of Commerce)
PO box 775, chamber’s Building, Ali al-Salem Street, 13008 Safat, Kuwait City
Tel: 243 38 54.
Business contacts
Trade Department of the Kuwaiti Embassy
Griegstrasse 5-7, D-14193 Berlin
Tel: (030) 897 30 00.
Internet: www.kuwait-botschaft.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Kuwait chamber of Commerce and Industry (chamber of Commerce)
PO box 775, chamber’s Building, Ali al-Salem Street, 13008 Safat, Kuwait City
Tel: 243 38 54.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
The country code is 00965. Landline numbers always begin with a 2. Emergency call: 112. Public card phones are available. The phone cards are available in post offices. Internet telephony is mostly used in Kuwait.
Cellphone
GSM 900 and 1800. Roaming contracts exist with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others.
Internet
Internet cafes can be found all over Kuwait. The main providers include QualityNet (Internet: www.qualitynet.net). Numerous hotels also offer access to the Internet, some in in-house business centers.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes around 5 days.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There is a good selection of top hotels, many with fitness and shopping centers. Apartments with hotel service are also available. The accommodations are relatively expensive. It is advisable to book in advance. A service charge of 15% is added to all invoices.
CULTURE
Religion
Islam is the state religion (70% Sunnis, 30% Shiites); besides Christians, Hindus, Parsi and others.
Social rules of conduct
You shake hands in greeting. It is possible for visitors to be invited to a private home, but entertainment often takes place in a restaurant or hotel. A gift from the home country is gladly accepted. Women should definitely dress cautiously and in accordance with Islamic laws. Men should not wear shorts or bare their upper bodies in public.
Smoking: Smoking is officially prohibited in closed, public spaces such as restaurants, cafés (except for shisha cafés) and hotels. However, the smoking ban is not reliably implemented by the population, nor is it forcefully enforced by the government.
Tip: In restaurants, hotels and clubs, a 15% service charge is added to bills. If the tip is not already included in the bill, a 10% tip is usual.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
In summer hot (up to 50 ° C) and dry (April to August) with little rainfall. Strong sandstorms are possible. In winter (November to March) cool with some rain. Spring is cool and pleasant. The most pleasant weather is enjoyed in the months of May and October.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +965 Area (square km) 17818 Population 2788534 Population density (per square km) 157 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 112
