Hotels in Kuwait

Kuwait is a small country in the Arabian Peninsula, at the northwestern corner of the Persian Gulf. It is flanked between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, sharing borders with them. Kuwait derives its name from the Arabic-Hindustani word, kut, that means ‘fort.’ Kuwait is an emirate, meaning that it is a country that is ruled by a dynastic Arabic or Islamic monarch, the emir. Kuwait’s ruling family, the al Sabah, had formally established a sheikhdom in 1756.

The town of Kuwait was founded in 1613, and it was inhabited by a few fishermen. Kuwait was primarily a fishing village. In 1716, Bani Utub settled in Kuwait. Bani Utub had appointed a member of the Sabah family to be their ruler, and since then, the al Sabah family has been the sole ruler of the country. Kuwait became a major trading route from the Persian Gulf to Aleppo in the late 17th century, and by the 18th century, it was the principal commercial centre for the transit of goods between India, Muscat, Baghdad and Arabia. Kuwait’s maritime commerce boomed during the Persian Siege of Basra in 1775 when India trading routes with several countries nearby rerouted to Kuwait to get away from the war.

Kuwait became the boat building centre in the Persian Gulf region. The ships that were built in Kuwait renowned throughout the Indian Ocean and they also carried most of the trade goods between ports of India, East Africa and the Red Sea. Kuwait gained economic prosperity with the continued instabilities happening in Basra. Basra’s merchants came to Kuwait as a haven to escape the Ottoman government persecution.

Late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, the Sheikhdom of Kuwait became a British protectorate. This was due to the severe threats Kuwait’s independence were facing from the Ottoman Empire. Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah and the British government signed the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899.

The Saudi government imposed a trade blockade on Kuwait from 1923 to 1937 after the Kuwait-Najd War. Kuwait-Najd War was an aftermath of World War I, and it happened because Saudi Arabia wanted to annex Kuwait. A conference was held to set the boundaries between Kuwait and Najd, but due to British interference, Kuwait did not have any representative at the Uqair Conference. This cost Kuwait two-thirds of its territory when the Saudi managed to persuade British representative. Kuwait not only lost its territory, but the country was also still subjected to the Saudi economic blockade and intermittent raiding.

During the Great Depression, Kuwait’s economy suffered as international trading was its primary source of income. From 1948 until 1982, Kuwait’s prospered once again when oil was found. In 1952, the country became the largest oil exporter in the Persian Gulf region. Kuwait regained its independence from the British in June 1961. The country celebrated its national day in 25th of February, in conjunction with the anniversary of the coronation of Sheikh Abdullah. Kuwait also became the first Arab states of the Persian Gulf to establish a constitution and parliament.

In the early 1980s, Kuwait went into a major economic crisis due to the market crash and decreased in oil prices. In the 1990s, Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait due to the economy rivalry. Several diplomatic negotiations were held, and they failed which brought in the United States to interfere. This lead to the Gulf War, a coalition to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Kuwait has the highest Human Development Index ranking in the Arab world. It is also first in the Arab world for the Global Gender Gap Report.

How to Get There

By Flight

Flying into Kuwait will be the easiest way to go there. However, there is no direct flight from Singapore to Kuwait. All of the airlines that fly to Kuwait from Singapore will have at least one stopover. Scoot Airline in Singapore flies to Chennai where passengers are required to change the flight to Kuwait Airways to get to Kuwait. The return ticket to Kuwait starts from just S$ 970. Most flights to Kuwait from Singapore will have at least two stopovers, mostly at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia and the other one is at Muscat, Oman. On average, the travelling time from Changi International Airport to Kuwait International Airport will take about 12 to 16 hours, depending on the stopovers time.

A Singapore passport holder will require a visa to enter Kuwait. The visa can be applied online, and it will take just minutes to complete. There is no need to go to the embassy or consulates of Kuwait to get the visa as it will be an electronic document. Payment for the visa can be made online by using a credit or a debit card. Do make sure to keep a copy of the visa, on the person, all the time during the trip to Kuwait. The Kuwait eVisa allows the visitors to stay in Kuwait for the maximum numbers of 90 days. The visa is a single-entry visa thus only applicable for one-time usage. Kuwait does not have a visa on arrival for Singapore’s citizen, so make sure to get one before getting on the flight to Kuwait.

What to Do There

Souq Marbarakia

Souq is a name for the marketplaces in the Middle East and some parts of Africa. Souq Marbarakia is a marketplace in Kuwait, and it is one of the oldest in the country. It was the centre of trade before Kuwait discovered oil. Souq Marbarakia has been established for at least 200 years old, and it is located between the Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Abdullah Al-Salem & Palestine Street. Back in 1990, the marketplace was damaged during the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait, but it was renovated to get it back to what it is now.

Souq Marbarakia is still a popular traditional market in the city, among the locals especially. People usually spend hours at the Souq Marbarakia, strolling along the hallways and discovering unique items sold at the shops. One can find great items such as Persian silk carpets, antiques, perfumes and traditional costumes. Bargaining is highly recommended to get the best price for the items. Shops are selling dried fruits with various types, especially dates. Restaurants are also aplenty at the marketplace thus making the souq a great place to try the local delicacies.

The souq also has two mini-museums that visitors can enjoy for free. These museums are Sheikh Mubarak Kiosk and the first Islamic pharmacy in Kuwait.

The souq opens every day from as early as 9 AM until 11.30 at night. Some of the restaurants do open earlier than the souq.

House of Mirrors

House of Mirrors was an originally a private residence of an Italian artist and her late husband. The couple that turned their private residence into an art museum on mirrors. The arts are made by the artist herself, Lidia and the whole house is covered by the colourful mirror mosaics. The House of Mirrors started in 1966, and the works of arts were finished in 2006. All the mirror arts required for around 70 tonnes of the mirror. An appointment is required to visit the House of Mirrors as it is still a private residence although it has turned to a museum. The artist herself will guide the guests during the visit, with short explanations of the arts and such. The host also serves tea and homemade biscuits for the guests. A ticket during the weekday is around S$ 9 while during the weekend is S$ 14. A visit to the House of Mirrors would be one-of-a-kind experience during a vacation in Kuwait City.

Where to Stay

Al Manshar Rotana

Al Manshar Rotana is a hotel located outside Kuwait City. The hotel has four types of rooms in its building with a rate that starts S$ 249 a night. These rooms are luxurious, even for their most basic room. The in-room amenities are great such as a flat-screen television with satellite channel, a kitchenette and a refrigerator together with a microwave apart from the standard coffee/tea maker set and an electric kettle. There is also an in-room safe. Guests are also may use the telephone in the room to make free local calls. The private bathroom in each room is complete with hot water shower, a couple of bathrobes and slippers.

The Al Manshar Rotana has several services to accommodate the guests as best as they could. One of their best services is the 24-hour receptionist with an express check-out, concierges, and porter among others. Multilingual staffs are also available to ease the communication between two parties. The hotel also has several tour services that they could and would arrange for the guests upon request. Although the Al Manshar Rotana is located quite far from the city, it is a great place which those who are looking for some relaxation time.

The Palms Beach Hotel and Spa

This hotel is located not far from Kuwait City, just twenty minutes away. There are five types of rooms at this hotel, and the room rate starts from S$282 a night. All of the room rates already include a breakfast service for two people. The rooms are spacious and comfortable especially the beds that have Egyptian cotton bedding. The Palms Beach Hotel and Spa