Planning Your Visit
Accommodations
We have secured preferential rates with Holiday Inn Kuwait Salmiya, Swiss Belboutique Bneid Al Gar, and Swiss-Belinn Sharq Kuwait.
The Holiday Inn is located in Salmiya's heart, an approximately 20-minute drive from Kuwait International Airport, and close to prominent shopping hubs such as Avenues Mall and 360 Mall, and pivotal landmarks like the Marina shopping Mall, Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center, and the business and government district in Kuwait City. To book at the Holiday Inn, click on the link below, scroll down, and choose any dates between 13-21 January 2025 to enjoy a considerable discount off the regular room rate. Select GUST preferential rates. The hotel will arrange for your visa if you are not from one of the 53 countries listed below who are eligible to apply online. After making your reservation, please contact the hotel for further details and requirements.
The Swiss-Belboutique Bneid Algar (4 Stars) offers a single rate per night of KWD 40, a double superior room of KWD 43, and a deluxe twin room of KWD 45. The Swiss-Belinn Sharq (3 Stars) offers a single room rate per night of KWD 33. All rates include breakfast and high-speed internet. For room reservations, you may contact the following:
Tel: +965 22064990
Email: reservationsqba@swiss-belhotel.com
The hotel will arrange for your visa if you are not from one of the 53 countries listed below who are eligible to apply online. After making your reservation, please contact the hotel for further details and requirements.
This guidance supersedes previous information given.
The e-visa program has been suspended. Nationals from 53 countries will receive an e-visa on arrival. The countries are:
The United States of America - The United Kingdom - France - Italy - Germany - Canada - Australia - New Zealand - Japan - Netherlands - Belgium - Luxembourg - Switzerland - Austria - Sweden - Norway - Denmark - Portugal - Greece - Ireland - Finland - Spain - Monaco - Vatican -Iceland - Andorra - San Marino – Liechtenstein - Brunei - Singapore - Malaysia - Hong Kong - South Korea - Bhutan - Poland - Georgia - Ukraine - Slovenia - Estonia - Czech - Turkey - Bulgaria - Romania - Cyprus - Serbia - Slovakia - Cambodia - Latvia- Laos - Lithuania - Malta – Croatia - Hungary.
To receive your e-visa, you need to be in possession of a return ticket; a passport with at least six months validity from the date of departure; and the address of your hotel. You will go to the "Visa on Arrival" counter, which is located prior to Customs. If you are not a passport holder from one of these countries, you can get a visa through your hotel once you have booked a room. Simply contact the hotel with your reservation number and they will advise you on next steps.
If you are resident in a GCC country only, you will be granted a tourist visa on arrival provided that the following conditions are met:
The profession of the arriving passenger is one of the following: Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Teacher, Judge, Consultant, Members of Public Prosecution, University Teacher, Journalist, Press & Media Staff, Pilot, System Analyst, Pharmacist, Computer Programmer, Manager, Businessman, Diplomatic Corps, Owners, Managers & Representative of Commercial Companies & Establishments, University Graduates.
Passenger should be holding a proper passport and not lasses passe or temporary travel document.
Passenger should be holding a passport and GCC residence permit valid for more than six month from the date of travel to Kuwait.
Passenger should not be black listed in the state of Kuwait.
Passenger should hold a return ticket.
Passenger should register his residence address in Kuwait when applying for the visa at visas counter at the airport.
VISAS
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
While it is perfectly safe to take a taxi off the street (negotiate the price before hand or make sure that the meter is on), perhaps the best way to make sure that you will get to your destination, overcome the language barrier, and to be charged a fair price is to use CAREEM (Kuwait’s version of Uber). Just download the App onto your phone. You can prepay by credit card or pay the driver in cash. Taxis from the airport have set rates according to the drop-off location.
MUSEUMS
Tarek Rajab Museum & the Tarek Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy
These two private museums of similar but slightly different foci are located close together
Kuwait Maritime Museum
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/kuwait/kuwait-city/attractions/maritime-museum/a/poi-sig/1306530/361091
Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre
6 museums on different themes located on the same campus. Interesting in their own right but may be of particular interest to people interested in Museum Studies and in how contemporary ideas of museum design are being implemented in Kuwait.
https://www.culturalinnovations.com/sheikh-abdullah-al-salem-cultural-centre
Beit Al Othman Museum
https://www.nccal.gov.kw/pages/monumentsandmuseums/
Sadu House
An excellent collection of traditional weaving. Also has a lovely café and a gift shop. Outside there is a sidewalk in a traditional Sadu pattern.
https://alsadu.org.kw/ATTRACTIONS
Kuwait Towers
One of Kuwait’s landmark buildings. For a fee (no reservation) you can go up to the rotating viewing platform observation deck and on a good day can have a panoramic view of most of the country. Towers also have restaurants (need a reservation, but no separate viewing platform fee). Located on the waterfront where you can also access the walking path along the Arabian Coast.
https://www.restaurants.kuwaittowers.com/
Al-Shaheed Park
Kuwait’s “Central Park”. A great place to walk and people watch. There are several restaurants and cafes and also a small museum on the Gulf War.
Souq Al Mubarakiya
The historic centre of Old Kuwait. More lively in the evening than daytime.
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/kuwait/kuwait-city/articles/the-complete-guide-to-souk-al-mubarakiya
SHOPPING
The Avenues
For the modern Gulf shopping mall experience. Worth visiting to explore the architecture and design of modern GCC malls and shopping experience. Be prepared to walk a lot.
https://www.the-avenues.com/kuwait/en
Zeri Crafts
Sells traditional and handmade Kuwait and regional handicrafts.