About Kuwait
Population
As of 2007, Kuwait’s population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people which included approximately 2 million non-nationals.[54] Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait.
GDP
Kuwait has a GDP (PPP) of US$138.6 billion and a per capital income of US$60,800, making it the third richest country in the world.
Geography
Total Area: 17,820 (sq km) 6,880 (sq mi)
Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KD) ~ 3.2 U.S. Dollars
Exchange Rate: For a current exchange rate to other world currencies, please click here.
Kuwait History
Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The head of state is the Emir or Sheikh, a hereditary office. A council of ministers, also known as cabinet ministers, aids the Prime Minister in his task as the head of Government of Kuwait which must contain at least one elected member of the Kuwaiti parliament, known as Majlis Al-Umma (National Assembly). The National Assembly has the power to dismiss the Prime Minister or any member of cabinet through a series of constitutional procedures. All cabinet ministers are answerable to the National Assembly.
Kuwait has some of the world’s richest oil fields with the Burgan field having a total capacity of approximately 70 billion barrels (1.1×1010 m3) of proven oil reserves.
Weather
Kuwait has an arid continental climate. Summer, which lasts from May to September, is extremely hot and dry with temperatures easily crossing 45 °C (113 °F) during daytime. Kuwait has a fairly high diurnal temperature range (day-night temperature difference). Winter season, from November through February, is cool with some precipitation and average temperatures around 13 °C (56 °F) with extremes from -2 °C to 27 °C. The spring season in March is warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. Southeasterly winds, usually hot and damp, spring up between July and October; hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer. The shamal, a northwesterly wind common during June and July, causes dramatic sandstorms.
Coming to Kuwait
Visit Visas
Citizen of other GCC states have a right to enter and live in Kuwait without undergoing any particular formalities. Additionally, Kuwait grants 34 nationalities entry visas upon arriva:
USA - UK - France - Italy - Germany - Canada - Australia - New Zealand - Japan - The Netherlands - Belgium - Luxembourg - Switzerland - Austria - Sweden - Norway - Denmark - Portugal - Ireland - Greece - Finland - Spain - Monaco - the Vatican - Iceland - Andorra - San Marino - Liechtenstein - Brunei - Singapore - Malaysia - Hong Kong - South Korea - China
Other countries can obtain visas through Kuwait Airways offices as the airline has an online facility to process the visa through the Ministry of Interior.
But all other nationals are subject to strict rules of entry and registration as foreigners under the sponsorship of Kuwaitis or Kuwait companies or as dependents of foreigners under who already enjoy residence under Kuwait sponsorship.
International airline have been instructed by the Kuwaiti authorities not to board passengers for Kuwait unless they have valid visas or entry permits.
Application for a Visit Visa
Visit visas and entry permits are valid for entry within 90 days of issue and then for a stay of up to 30 days only after entry, A visit visas costs KD 3/- . Entry permits are free.
A visit to Kuwait must be sponsored by a Kuwait individual or company, or a resident foreigner who is relative of the visitor while he or she is in Kuwait.
To obtain a visit visa for a business, visitor, a Kuwait sponsor or company will require:
- Visa application and security from completed by the sponsor
- Copy of the visitor’s passport
- Copy of the sponsor’s signature as registered for business purposes
- Copy of the letter of invitation from the sponsor to the business visitor stations the purpose of the visit.
To obtain a visit visa for a relative, a resident foreigner will require:
- Visa application and security form completed by the sponsor
- Copy of the visitor’s passport
- Original and copy of the sponsor’s passport
- Original and copy of the sponsor’s civil ID
- Original and copy of the sponsor’s work permit (Private sector employees)
- Recent salary certificate from the sponsor’s employer
- Authenticated proof of the family relationship
Usually the sponsor of a relative is expected to be earning at least KD 450 per month if he works for the government and at least KD 650 if he work in the private sector. These amounts vary.
Normally a visitor goes to a Kuwait embassy to have his visa processed and passport stamped before traveling to Kuwait. However a Kuwait sponsor can use a faxed copy of the visitor’s passport to obtain the visa in Kuwait. The sponsor then faxes a copy of the visa to the visitor (to enable him to travel to Kuwait) and meets him at the airport with the original visa. The sponsor deposits the visa papers at a special counter in the arrival hall and the visitor must pick these up at a similar counter inside the immigration area.