Middle East and North Africa

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

Travel Summary

• On 24 August 2009, one of the main pumping stations in Kuwait City has broken down and untreated sewage has been released into the sea. It is strongly advisable to avoid swimming in the sea off Kuwait City until the problem has been resolved.
  
  
• There have been confirmed human cases of the A (H1N1) virus (swine flu) in Kuwait, including a death (source: the Kuwait Government). The Kuwaiti authorities are screening visitors and transiting passengers for A (H1N1). This may result in the request for payment for medical procedures. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic threat alert phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.
  
  
• There remains a general threat from terrorism. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on Western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests. See the terrorism section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• In August 2009, Kuwaiti security forces disrupted a Kuwaiti terrorist cell and arrested six Kuwaiti nationals who were in the final stages of planning a major attack against a US military base in Kuwait. In January and February 2005, Kuwaiti security forces mounted operations against suspected militants and discovered bomb-making equipment and material linked with planned kidnaps. Three individuals associated with these incidents are still at large and remain a threat to Westerners and Western interests in the region.
  
  
• You should review your security arrangements carefully and maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places. Avoid large gatherings and demonstrations. Exercise caution if you intend to travel through or to conservative areas such as Jahra, where there have been a significant number of incidents involving firearms, and Jleeb As Shuyoukh where there were riots by migrant workers protesting about their conditions in summer 2008.
  
  
• Most visits are trouble-free. 35 British nationals required consular assistance in Kuwait in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (11 cases), hospitalisations (6 cases), and arrests, for a variety of offences (10 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (16 cases). Labour disputes are common; the Embassy cannot usually intervene in these, so if you are considering coming to work in Kuwait you are advised to check the details of your contract thoroughly in advance.
  
  
• Penalties for trafficking, dealing and using illegal drugs are severe. Penalties for drug trafficking include the death sentence. See the local laws and customs section for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the general (insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.