Where to Go - Middle East / India

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Kuwait

Population: 1,973,572 (includes 1,159,913 non-nationals)

Literacy rate: 78.6%

Life expectancy at birth: male – 75.27 yrs, female – 76.92 yrs

Infant mortality rate: 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 3.44% (this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates)

GDP growth rate: 1.1%

GDP per capita: £15,100

Unemployment: 1.8%

Inflation: 2%

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Time: GMT + 3.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz; single phase. UK-type flat 3-pin plugs are used.

Websites: The US Library of Congress page is at http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kwtoc.html

The Kuwaiti information office website contains visa and other information and can be found at http://www.kuwait-info.com/index.asp

This country once had the third largest GNP in the world. As well as the enormous income from oil (90% of export revenues), the government has made wise foreign investments, which have helped to maintain the country. Before the discovery of oil in 1938, this was a country of fishermen and nomads. Enormous progress has been made. In the 50s, Kuwait City was still surrounded by a mud wall to keep out invading tribesmen; it now has high-rise office blocks and shopping centres selling the latest products. Kuwaitis are guaranteed subsidies with housing, education and health provided that they can prove their family has lived in the country for two generations. Recovery from the Gulf War has been swift and things are looking up, especially with negotiations that have started with foreign oil companies to exploit the northern oil fields. The country only measures 160km north-south by 140km east-west. It is mostly desert, although there are some mountains where snow sometimes falls during the winter. There is practically no public transport. Get a driving licence if you don’t already have one.

Entry requirements

Kuwait does not issue tourist visas, although large hotels can sponsor visas. If your passport contains an Israeli stamp you wont get in. For work permits you will need to take an HIV and a TB test first off. After that, you must have a work permit and an entry visa.

Vaccinations

Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid.

Tax and Insurance

No income tax. Ain’t life wonderful? Get health insurance.

Gap Year Programmes

Click here to find gap year programmes and placements in Kuwait

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