Think twice.
Kuwait holds a 54/100 think-twice score due to US and Canadian travel warnings, though the UK disagrees by two levels. Watch for the global measles notice while you navigate these conflicting government advisories.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Kuwait
The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Restricted photography
Taking pictures or videos of government buildings, airports, or oil fields can lead to detention by authorities.
Photographing locals
Recording videos or taking photos of Kuwaiti citizens without their explicit permission is prohibited.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Kuwait, by and large, is a very safe country to visit.
- •Emergency telephone number (police, fire, ambulance) is 112.
- •Middle Eastern situation and terrorism threat: Kuwait is a Gulf State and may be affected during times of heightened tensions in the Middle East, and there is often a heightened risk when travelling to or being within Kuwait, during times of crisis.
- •Terrorist attacks have been threatened on Gulf countries and cannot be ruled out, especially threats to carry out attacks on Western interests.
- •Extreme weather: Perhaps the biggest danger in Kuwait is the hot climate. Be sure to hydrate often when walking out during the day, and wear appropriate clothing to deal with the heat.
- •Crime: The crime threat in Kuwait is assessed as low.
Staying healthy
- •Public health is entirely supported by the government at local clinics and hospitals, with a KD 5 fee paid by foreigners visiting Kuwait and KD 1 for expats with a resident visa, or a visitor's visa.
- •Tap water is drinkable, although most of it is desalinated and not particularly tasty, and in summertime, you may have a hard time telling apart the hot and cold taps.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers consistently describe Kuwait as safe but boring. There are no reports of violent crime or specific street scams targeting visitors in the provided discussions. The primary concerns for travelers center on cultural adjustments rather than physical danger. Photography is restricted in many public locations, so keep your camera tucked away to avoid trouble. While the lack of alcohol is a reality, the country remains secure for business travelers. Focus on respecting local norms, especially during Ramadan, and ignore the alarmist headlines from home; your biggest risk is likely just boredom rather than any actual threat to your personal safety.
“The impression I've been getting online is safe but boring, plus no booze of course.
— r/travel
“Also what are the rules on photography? I've heard it is prohibited is most public locations
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / G · 240V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Zoom in
One Kuwait city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12