The Kuwaiti Dinar is the official currency of Kuwait. Each dinar is divided into 1000 fils. The Kuwaiti dinar is actually the most highly valued currency in the world, which makes it an amazingly strong currency.
The dinar was introduced as recently as 1961 as a replacement for the Gulf rupee. Initially the dinar was equivalent to one British Pound. At this point, the British did not have a decimal system, which meant that since the rupee was actually worth 1 shilling and 6 pence, each dinar was worth 13 and1/3 rupees.
The Kuwaiti dinar was briefly replaced by the Iraqi dinar, as a result of Iraq invading Kuwait in 1990. It is believed that a huge quantity of notes were stolen by the Iraqis and as a result, after Kuwait was liberated, the dinar was then re-introduced, but with new bank notes which, made any notes in previous circulation redundant. This meant that any stolen notes became worthless.
Coins in circulation are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 fils and the notes are in denominations of ¼, ½, 1, 5, 10 and 20 dinar.
Kuwait, as a very modern and developed country, has plenty of ATM machines, which can be used to withdraw cash. However, you may find that some of the ATMs actually have a limit as to how much you can withdraw in any one day. Often this can be limited to 500 pounds.
Most ATMs will be able to accept international cards, but there is a fee for using any ATM that is operated by a bank if it is not your bank. As a general rule, you should check prior to travel, that you can use your card in an ATM in Kuwait. It is not always possible to use a credit card or debit card, so it is best to check beforehand.
Usually the ATMs will give you instructions in both Arabic and English, so they are relatively easy to use. Some of the machines will actually snatch back your money, if you are slow in taking it out of the machine. So make sure that you have your wits about you and don't get distracted whilst using the ATM, or you could lose your money.
Credit cards can be used almost everywhere in Kuwait. That being said, if you do go into the interior, you will find that cash is preferred and small shops and stores may not be able to take your credit card.
You can also take traveller's cheques, which can easily be cashed at a bank. If you do take travellers cheques try to make sure that they are in either US Dollars or British sterling, or else you will have to pay two sets of exchange rates.
Kuwait is a very safe country for travellers to visit. Although it was invaded by Iraq, that situation has now been resolved and the risk of terrorist attack in Kuwait is no higher than in most other countries of the world.
In addition, there is an exceptionally low crime rate in Kuwait. There are obviously some risks of petty theft, but this is an exceptionally low risk.
Kuwait is a Muslim country and as such, respect should be shown to the beliefs of Islam. Drinking is not permitted in Kuwait and it is illegal. If you are caught drinking, then you will be put in prison and punished.
Visitors to Kuwait should also be aware that they need to dress quite respectfully. Whilst it is evident that many of the younger Kuwaiti's in particular, have adopted more Western dress styles, such as jeans and loose fitting T-shirts, it is not acceptable to show your shoulders, arms or too much leg!
When out and about you may see some dresses in the shops, which are quite short or may reveal cleavage or show a woman's arms. Whilst Kuwaiti women buy these, they will be worn at private functions and gatherings and will not be worn in public. So just because a dress is on sale in the shopping centre, it is not necessarily suitable to wear in public.
Women should therefore make an effort to make sure that they do not wear very skimpy, short or tight-fitting clothes. Shorts may be acceptable, particularly in Kuwait City and they are major towns, but not in rural areas, where locals may find this offensive.
Communication is very easy in Kuwait. Although Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken to a very high standard and you will find that road signs are written in both English and Arabic, which is extremely beneficial when you are driving.
It can be helpful to learn a few words of Arabic, just so that you can greet people, say hello and thank you. This goes a long way to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and generally people will warm to you more quickly if you can at least say a few words of their language.
As a whole, Kuwait is quite welcoming towards visitors and regards them with interest. Kuwait is quite a wealthy country and as such, does not necessarily need tourism to bolster its economy and it does not encourage mass tourism, preferring to have fewer visitors. Kuwaiti philosophy could possibly be summed up by using the phrase ' quality over quantity. In other words they want Kuwait to remain something of an exclusive destination.
There are lots of things to do in Kuwait. But you need to bear in mind that this is not a cheap country. Many of the people in Kuwait are exceptionally wealthy. This means that there is a great deal of wealth in the country and as a result, it can be expensive to eat and drink in some of the better hotels.
Some of the buildings in Kuwait, particularly in Kuwait City are very impressive. Or you can take a tour of the Grand Mosque, which is quite an amazing sight, especially some of the gold work.
Shopping in Kuwait can range from very exclusive, designer shopping centres, right down to the traditional market. If you go into the shopping centres, be prepared not find any real bargains. Although Kuwait is tax free, so you don't pay any tax on your goods, many of the items for sale are quite exclusive and will be bought by the very wealthy Arab sheikhs. Sometimes, even if you are relatively wealthy by Western standards, it is easy to feel quite poor in Kuwait.
But not be everything needs to cost a fortune in Kuwait, you can go down to the local market and find some fantastic things on offer and then you can negotiate the price. If you have travelled in the Middle East, or even parts of North Africa then you maybe slightly nervous about haggling, but here it is quite gentle and laid-back. Indeed, it can just seem like a little bit of fun. So don't be shy, you can get some great bargains here and it is a nice way to spend some time.
If you visit the Sadu House in Kuwait City, then you can have a look at some of the many hand crafted items made by Bedouins. You can also buy some Bedouin crafted items here, at exceptionally good prices.
The National Museum in Kuwait City is a very good Museum and despite the fact that many of its artefacts were lost in the Iraqi invasion, it has now been restored and is exceptionally interesting.
There are lots of exotic and very exclusive spa clubs in Kuwait City, to pamper and refresh the wealthy of Kuwait. These are well worth a visit and well worth the money, since they are not cheap, but a great day out!
Take care when out and about in Kuwait to shield yourself from the sun, particularly between the hours of 12 and 3 pm, when it really can get quite hot. If you are visiting when it is hot weather, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Lack of fluids can be serious, so take care. It is usually best to wear some kind of protection on your head, such as a hat or cap, to avoid sunstroke.
Eating out in Kuwait is relatively easy. Here you can have exceptional cuisine at, pretty high prices. Or you can have some mid-range priced food to very basic food indeed. This makes it easier to survive if you are on a very tight budget. It is also quite comforting to know that you will not be limited in finding somewhere to eat. The choice really is quite extensive.
Hotels also vary in terms of the facilities available. All are reasonably safe but the higher end hotels can be exceptionally expensive.
One thing you should be aware of is that Kuwaiti drivers seem to drive as if each journey will be their last. And as you watch them career around the roads, you sometimes wonder if it will actually be their last journey. However, they seem to get away with it and accidents are relatively rare. If you are thinking of hiring a car then you need to be very careful on the roads particularly until you get used to how they drive. At all times drive defensively in Kuwait and assume that all other drivers may do something erratic. This should stand you in good stead.
Kuwait can offer a really different holiday, which can often challenge the senses of many Western tourists. It is a very wealthy country, it is a Muslim country and it has a very singular identity within its position as a Middle Eastern country. It is also a country that has very much embraced the 21st century and yet has not adopted a very secular attitude towards society. This gives Kuwait a real sense of having the best of both worlds.
Kuwait also offers the chance to experience some real luxury and to see some wonderful scenery as well as meeting a people who are on the whole, quite friendly.