Arrival In Kuwait

Your arrival in Kuwait begins when you step off the plane from the United States and/or Europe.

A visa is necessary and will cost you $15. This was free for Americans up until just a few short months ago.

When you arrive at the counter, take a number. Get used to looking for the take a number system. Always take a number to avoid unnecessary delays in the Middle East.

Next, go to Passport Control. Do not stand in the line here. Go to the far left line and show them your visa. They will let you go through since you already got your passport stamped at the Visa counter.

Now, go to Baggage Claim downstairs to pick up your luggage. Look for the carousel with your flight number on it and find all of your stuff. There are porters to help you. They take cash and will gladly assist you. If you do not want to use a porter, they also offer free dollies for your convenience.

So far, you are doing great since your arrival in Kuwait. Next stop, Customs. The Customs officials usually just scan your bags and let you go through. I have not yet seen them actually inspect anyone's bags.

Once you are through Customs, your arrival in Kuwait changes. It is like you are entering a whole new world.

The company you are working for should have arranged for a representative, either another employee or someone from your hotel to meet you at the airport. He will be holding a card with your name on it. You will think that the entire population of Kuwait is at the airport holding a card with a name on it!

Finding your name becomes a game as you walk through a long corridor lined on both sides with hundreds of people with name cards, staring at you, wondering if you are their assigned person. You begin to wonder if this is a national pasttime.

Finally you see your name and meet your rep. He takes your bags from you. He will not allow you to carry any of them. For some reason, Kuwaitis think Americans are weak. So they send their Indian employees to get you and carry your bags. Kuwaitis will never carry your bags. They feel they are above manual labor so they hire workers from India to come in and do menial tasks. It is considered an insult not to let them carry your bags so just hand them over.

For the most part, the Kuwaiti people aim to please and will take good care of you. They are grateful to the Americans for freeing them from Iraq's clutches back in 1991.

If you are squeamish in traffic, you may want to close your eyes during the drive to your hotel. Traffic is moving everywhere and it is frightening, but the Kuwaitis know how to maneuver in what seems to be total chaos.

On the first day of my arrival in Kuwait, when I got to the hotel, three hotel employees immediately descended upon me, taking my bags and showing me to the check-in counter. After I checked in, they escorted me to my room. It was huge.

The TV had 100 channels, but nothing good to watch. The American TV shows playing in Kuwait are basically American rejects. Every once in a while, you can find something entertaining, but it is best to bring books or DVD's and a portable DVD player to entertain yourself while you wait for your paperwork to be completed so you can enter Iraq.

Unless you are the adventurous type or you have a guide, there is really nothing else to do as you wait.

Even though it is safe upon arrival in Kuwait for Americans, I do not recommend going out and about by yourself. If you do, make sure you have a cell phone with you and someone to call if you get lost or need help.

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