Bottom line up front:
There are a few one-time activities to do and then you may get bored. But if you like malls and restaurants, and can get a good social group, you can have聽 good time in Kuwait.聽 If you'd like a new experience, I'd say do it for 2 to 3 years and make friends fast to make it fun. And remember, you are experiencing another world.
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DETAILS:
I lived and worked in Kuwait for 3 years from 2017 to 2020 right before the pandemic.
Disclaimers and perspective:
-Not a teacher.
-Worked as a U.S. Contractor on a military base.
-Ate out a lot.
-Did some activities (Beach, diving, boating, events, tours, go-carting, Escape room, Camel races)
- I didn't make a lot of Kuwait friends (although I had some college buddies). But I had friends who did and they enjoyed their hospitality. So add that to the list.
Gyms: Can't say too much since I didn't use them, but I saw many gyms. I believe (someone correct me), the gyms are gender-based, except in the hotels where they have mixed gyms.
Pros:
- Many restaurants.聽 Good food. Both expensive and inexpensive. Heavy Lebanese, Turkish influence, but also many international chain restaurants and Indian restaurants.聽 A few Thai/Korean/Chinese/Sushi restaurants. So, there is good selection. I favored the smaller inexpensive restaurants.聽 ()
- Large expat community.
- Some social groups get together and explore activities in Kuwait (Go-carting, cultural tours like visit the Grand mosque, museums, etc.聽 Outdoor activities like ATVs, boating, diving, Escape Rooms, old style Al Mubarakiya market, some touristy stuff like towers, camel races, desert camping/hangouts/BBQ, Friday brunch at a restaurant, I once went to a dance competition and film festival, etc.) Outdoor activities, you really need to find a group that is willing to do those things.聽 It gets HOT, and much of the year is uncomfortable outside.
- If you like malls and are ok with weekly visits to the mall, then you have a few good ones to visit and walk around, shop, eat. Movies.聽 I'm not a mall person, but I did enjoy a few visits to the malls in Kuwait. They are pretty nice.
- People are friendly. Males experience Kuwait a little differently than females. My wife visited and had many conversations with Kuwaiti women, whereas, I only spoke with male population.
- Very safe
- Health care is good. Get your dental work done there.
Cons:
- Many of the Kuwaitis have an Elitist culture. And many of the lower skilled labor and nomadic Bedoon are marginalized. Hurts to watch. But trying to understand the Kuwaiti mentality, imagine you have permanent guest running around your house all the time using your bathroom, kitchen, car, garage. You may feel entitled to have first privileges' to all amenities before the "guests."聽 Now expand that to driving, service in public spaces, access to bathrooms, shopping, etc. And there is an unspoken hierarchy to discrimination. (my perspective).聽 Also translates to housing access; some places only have openings for westerners, or Kuwaitis, while other places are open.
- Many blue collar expats work long hours and don't have time or money for a lot of extra-curricular activities.聽 That diminishes your social circles in the Expat community,聽 But if you are open to meeting a diverse group, there are still a lot of things you can do and learn with the full expat community; cultural exchange.聽 See demographics:
- Once you do the one-time activities, there is not much else to do except malls and restaurants.
- Movies are censored, even Disney kissing scenes are censored in the cinema. (think kissing scene in "How to train your Dragon" ... censored). And they are quite LOUD.聽 I still enjoyed the movies. (Interesting fact: the seating is arranged by Bachelors only section or Females and Family section).
- Driving is a little wild if you are not used to it. I kinda enjoyed it, but I grew up in Africa and had a large SUV vehicle in Kuwait; THAT made a difference on the road. Fast lane is too fast and slow lane is too slow. Nobody is driving the speed limit. Either above or below.
- As you mentioned, it's a dry country.聽
CON/PRO ... Depends on you:
If open to meet a diverse expat community, then meet some Asians, other middle-eastern folks, Africans, Pacific Islanders and have a few activities within those circles outside of only western friends (US, Europe, Australia). Understand that some have a much tougher experience due to less skilled background and so be ready to scale back those experiences to small parties, hookah lounges, small outings, mall visits.
Last note:
I hear that COVID has changed a lot of stuff in Kuwait.聽 Hopefully with vaccines, things return to normal.
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