(a) The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset, which causes disruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore there may be restrictions for travelers.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be taken into account that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as in respect of Islamic traditions.
Some interruptions may also occur during Eid al-Fitr. This festival, like Eid al-Adha, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
(b) If a public holiday falls on a Friday, another day will be released instead.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Kuwait duty-free: 500 cigarettes or 900 g of tobacco.
Prohibited Imports
alcohol, drugs, pork and its products, fresh food and food not packaged as a canned food; pornographic material, Israeli products. Penalties for non-compliance are high. Trafficking in drugs can carry the death penalty. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
English is widely spoken in business circles. Business cards are common. Some of the larger hotels offer translation services.
Opening hours
Business hours: Sat-Wed 08.00-13.00 and 17.00-20.00.
Business contacts
Commercial Department of the Kuwaiti Embassy Griegstraße 5-7, 14193 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 897 30 00. Website: kuwait-botschaft.de German-Emirati Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) (also responsible for Kuwait) U- Bora Office Tower, 27th floor, Al Abraj Street (Al Marasi Drive), Dubai, Dubai Tel. +971 (0)4 447 01 00. Website: vae.ahk.de/laender/kuwait Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce PO Box 76, Lobkowitzplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 513 39 65. Website: aacc.at Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry District 9, Abdulaziz Al-Saqer Street, Kuwait City, Kuwait Tel. +965 (0)180 55 80. Website: www.ekcci.org.kw
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 00965. Landline numbers always start with a 2. Emergency call: 112. Public payphones are available. The telephone cards are available in post offices. Internet telephony is mostly used in Kuwait.
Mobile phone
GSM 900 and 1800. Roaming agreements exist with Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others.
Internet
Internet cafes can be found throughout Kuwait. The main providers include QualityNet (Internet: www.qualitynet.net). Numerous hotels also offer Internet access, some in their own business centers.
Post office
Air mail to Europe is about 5 days on the way.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
