World Country Guide

Travel - International

Note
Following the military action in Iraq, there is an increased risk of terrorism in Kuwait. For further advice visitors should contact the relevant local government travel advice department.

Air
Kuwait’s national airline, Kuwait Airways (KU) (website: www.kuwait-airways.com), operates daily non-stop flights to Kuwait from London. Other airlines serving Kuwait include Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, KLM, Lufthansaand United Airlines.

Approximate flight times
From Kuwait to London is seven hours 30 minutes, to New York is 15 hours, to Los Angeles is 19 hours, to Singapore is eight hours 30 minutes and to Sydney is 27 hours.

International airports
Kuwait (KWI) (website: www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) lies 16km (10 miles) south of Kuwait City (travel time – 20 minutes). Reliable transport to and from the city is available, including a bus (travel time – 30 minutes) departing every 45 minutes (0600-2300), and taxi service costing KWD4. Airport facilities include restaurants, shops, cafe, bank/bureau de change, car hire (Al Mulla, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National, Thrifty and Sixt), conference room and post office.

Departure tax
KD2; transit passengers not leaving the airport transit area and children under 12 are exempt.

Sea
More than 30 shipping lines call regularly at Kuwait City, Kuwait’s major port. Most traffic is commercial.

Road
All road links with Iraq, and therefore through to the Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan, are advised against due to political instability within Iraq. It is also wise to check with the embassy before considering travelling to Lebanon.
There are bus services between Kuwait City and Cairo (Egypt), via Aqaba in Jordan and Nuweiba in Egypt. Buses also operate to Damman in Saudi Arabia. The main land route into Saudi Arabia is Beirut–Damascus–Amman– Kuwait, which follows the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (TAP line) through Saudi Arabia.