What's the best time of year to travel to Kuwait?

Kuwait is a one-of-a-kind country, especially because most of its citizens are from other places of the world! It has an extremely modern architecture but traditional values, which makes for a unique travel experience. 

Get to know the climate and festivals of the country and find out which is the best time of year to visit Kuwait.

General climate in Kuwait

Kuwait has a continental climate with the four common seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring.

• Summer: from June to August. It’s a very busy season for travelers and temperatures usually surpass 40ºC (104ºF). 
• Autumn: from September to November. The busiest season for tourism.
• Winter: from December to February. There’s a chance of snowfall during these months! 
• Spring: from March to May

When is the best time to visit Kuwait?

Kuwait can be visited and enjoyed all year long. Even the summer months, with temperatures as high as 46ºC, are busy with tourists. However, some months can be better than others.

The best season to visit Kuwait is during the fall, from September to November, as the temperatures are cooler. Try to avoid traveling in November as you may encounter a lot of rain, but September and October are the driest months of the year in Kuwait. All of this is why autumn is the busiest season for tourism in Kuwait.

The spring, from March to May (but especially March), is another good time to travel to Kuwait. It’s the slowest tourism season which is great for finding good deals on lodging and excursions. Temperatures are not as high as during the summer while still being very nice for being outdoors. You may need a light jacket or sweater at night, but it’s more likely during early March than in the rest of the spring. 

Best festivals and events

New Year’s Day 

The first and last festival of the year is also one of the best. There are fireworks and special events hosted by the hotels, where you can also enjoy delicious meals! Definitely an event you don’t want to miss when visiting Kuwait.

National Day

One of the few holidays in Kuwait not related to religion, the National Day is on the 25th of February and it celebrates the emancipation of Kuwait from foreign rule and the forming of the country. The citizens dress in traditional clothing and they meet with family members to party and eat. There are parades all over Kuwait, exhibitions and fireworks.

Liberation Day

It’s the day after Kuwait National Day (26th of February), and it celebrates the end of the First Gulf War and the liberation of Kuwait through Operation Desert Storm. It commemorates those who lost their lives in the Iraqi invasion and it’s a national display of patriotism: people dance in the streets, throw parades and wave the national flag. 

Hala Festival

This festival celebrates the arrival of spring in February, a time in which the desert comes alive with vegetation and flowers of every color. There are street parades and carnivals all month long, and the shops of Kuwait hold their annual sales. Even the birds don’t want to miss this festival: it’s the time of year in which millions of migratory birds arrive in Kuwait.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the most important religious event in Kuwait. The holy month of Ramadan is in August/September, and it’s a time in which Muslims fast until sunset and pray five times a day. This traditional festival celebrates the revealing of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad. 

At the end of Ramadan comes Eid el-Fitr, with many days of festivities.

Some things that are prohibited (and illegal) during Ramadan:

• Eating in public
• Drinking in public
• Smoking in public
• Chewing gum in public

Islamic New Year

Also called the Hijri New Year, this event marks the beginning of Muharram. It can fall in October, November or December, depending on the Islamic calendar. It’s a day to spend with family, and it involves gifts exchanges and the setting of New Year resolutions.

Travel and packing tips

• Scarf: not only should you take a scarf if you’re traveling in winter, you will also need this if you’re a woman wishing to visit Muslim places of worship. It always comes in handy! 
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: especially for the warmer months, it’s extremely necessary to be protected against the sun to avoid getting heat stroke or severe sunburns. 
• Kuwait has a Type G plug so, if your country doesn’t, you’re going to need an adapter. British citizens are lucky: it’s the same one as in their home country.
• There are no trains in Kuwait! You can only travel around on a bus or taxis. Renting a car is also an available option.
• Avoid showing affection in public.
• Greet people only using your right hand.

Visa and documents

All foreign citizens that are not part of the GCC need a visa for Kuwait. Find out how to get your visa to make sure you meet every requirement of entry.

Do you want to know more about Kuwait before traveling? Here is all the basic information to visit Kuwait.