Is Kuwait City Safe in January 2026?

Unlicensed taxis and private car services outside Kuwait International Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 quote foreigners KD 10-20 for journeys to central Kuwait City that should cost KD 3-6 on the official meter. Kuwait's airport lacks a transparent official taxi rank structure, making it easy for informal drivers to intercept arrivals.

How to avoid: Use the Careem or Uber apps (both operate in Kuwait) before exiting the terminal for transparent fare estimates. Official airport taxis have a rate card — ask to see it before entering. Confirm the fare in KWD before departure.

Third-party websites charge 50–150 USD to process Kuwaiti visit visas or business e-visas that travelers can obtain for free or at minimal cost directly through the official Kuwait Ministry of Interior portal. Some fraudulent services collect personal document scans and payment and then either deliver nothing or simply forward the application without any added value. Identity theft from uploaded passport scans is an additional risk.

How to avoid: Apply for Kuwait visas only through the official Ministry of Interior e-Services portal (evisa.moi.gov.kw) or through your country's Kuwaiti embassy. Never upload passport scans to unofficial third-party sites. Prices above the official government fee are a red flag.

Souq Al-Mubarakiya is Kuwait City's oldest and most densely visited market, and its narrow pedestrian lanes create ideal conditions for pickpockets, particularly during evening shopping hours and on weekends. Thieves typically work in pairs — one creates a distraction near a stall while another removes wallets or phones from bags and rear pockets.

How to avoid: Use a front-facing or zipped crossbody bag in the souq. Keep phones out of back pockets. Be especially alert near crowded food stalls and the spice market section, where foot traffic bottlenecks. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; use a card and keep a small amount of spending cash accessible.

Online and in-person agents in Kuwait City offer to process tourist or work visas, residence permit renewals, and labor transfer services at inflated fees, sometimes collecting payment and providing nothing. Kuwait's government has digitized most visa processes through the PACI (Public Authority for Civil Information) portal, making intermediaries unnecessary for most standard processes.

How to avoid: Use the official PACI online portal for residency and visa processes. The Kuwait government's e-government portal handles most standard procedures. Never pay an unlicensed agent for services available directly through government channels.

The gold jewelry section of Souk Al-Mubarakiya sells gold items labeled at specific karats (21K, 22K) where the actual gold content is lower than marked. Kuwait has an official gold testing authority (KFAS), but not all souk traders comply, and tourist purchases made under time pressure are vulnerable.

How to avoid: Purchase gold only from established jewelers who display current gold price boards matching the day's Kuwait gold rate, and who provide a stamped receipt specifying karat and weight. Request a purity certificate for significant purchases.