Kuwait Healthcare and Money

By | May 9, 2022

Health care

Vaccinations

Vaccination needed receipt required
yellow fever no
Eat Drink
malaria no
Typhoid & Polio Yes
cholera no

Overview

Private and state health care is possible. Medical care in the capital is satisfactory. However, it can be problematic in terms of organization (e.g. rescue chains) or hygiene. In rural areas, too, there is often a lack of European-trained doctors who speak English or French. Adequate health insurance coverage valid worldwide and reliable travel insurance are strongly recommended. An individual first-aid kit should be taken with you and protected according to the temperatures on the way. Check directoryaah for more information.

Food and drink

Tap water is usually chlorinated and relatively clean, but you may experience a mild stomach upset. Bottled water, which is available everywhere, is therefore recommended for the first few weeks of your stay. When buying packaged water, you should make sure that the original packaging has not been opened. Meat or fish dishes should only be well cooked and eaten hot. Pork, salads and mayonnaise should be avoided. Vegetables should be boiled and fruits should be peeled.

Other risks

The standard vaccinations for children and adults recommended by the Robert Koch Institute (including against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, measles, rubella, pneumococci and influenza) should be refreshed before the trip if necessary. There are isolated cases of severe respiratory infections caused by the coronavirus (MERS-CoV, the abbreviation for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus). It is unclear exactly where and how people in different countries can get infected. Close contact with camels and bats should be avoided as they are suspected to be carriers of disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) assumes that very close contact with sick people can also lead to transmission from person to person. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. A hepatitis A vaccination is generally recommended. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Vaccination against hepatitis B should be given during longer stays and close contact with the local population, as well as for children and young people in general. HIV/AIDS is a danger for everyone who takes the risk of infection: sexual contact, unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents. Unclean syringes or cannulas and blood transfusions can then pose a significant health risk. Leishmaniasis occurs nationwide. Protection is offered by skin-covering clothes and insect repellents.

Health certificate

For work stays, a health certificate and possibly an HIV test in English are required (form available on request from the embassy).

Money

Currency

1 Kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils. Currency code: KD, KWD (ISO code). Banknotes come in denominations of 20, 10, 5, 1, ½ and ¼ KD; Coins in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 (rarely) fils.

Credit cards

Most credit cards are accepted. Details from the issuer of the relevant credit card.

ATMs

Bank cards With the credit card and pin number, money can be withdrawn from ATMs. The Girocard (formerly ec card) with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol is accepted worldwide. It can be used at a few ATMs with the Cirrus, Plus or Maestro symbol. To be on the safe side, travelers should always have an alternative source of money such as cash. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Attention: Travelers who want to pay with their bank customer card abroad and withdraw money should find out from their bank about the possibility of using their card before starting their journey.

Travelers cheques

Traveller’s checks are no longer available in Germany and Switzerland and are hardly available in Austria. Travelers checks can be cashed at bureaux de change in Kuwait’s major cities.

Bank opening hours

Sat-Thu 08.00-12.30.

Foreign exchange regulations

No restrictions.

Currency Exchange

Israeli and Iraqi currency will not be exchanged and should not be carried under any circumstances. Money can be exchanged at the airport, in banks and hotels, but the fees are high (banks) and the exchange rates are unfavorable (hotels).

Currencies

Code Symbol Exchange rates (no guarantee)
KWD 1 EUR = 0.32
1 CHF = 0.38
1 USD = 0.31

Kuwait Money