There are many up market diners and restaurants. Apart from western fast food outlets, some Chinese and Lebanese restaurants, most of Kuwait’s cheap restaurants serve Indian food. Cafes in hotels or shopping centres sell snacks and sandwiches catering to western tastes. Alcohol is not sold in Kuwait and so the country has hardly any nightlife.

November to April is the best time to visit Kuwait when day temperatures come down to 18º C and nights are colder. If you are visiting in summer, it is important to stay away from direct sunlight as much as possible. Sunstroke, severe sunburn and dehydration are potential hazards. Drink a lot of fluids to make up for the vital body salts you will lose through perspiration. Initially, you will feel fatigued and even drowsy on occasions until your body adjusts to Kuwait’s summer. A prickling sensation on the skin and abnormal fatigue usually means dehydration and must be treated immediately.

Ramadhan is the most important festival of the Muslims and it happens once a year. A month long fasting is observed by the entire nation. Certain forms of public behavior need to be observed even if you are a foreigner in Kuwait – eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum is prohibited in public in daylight hours. If you are a non-Muslim make sure you eat, smoke and drink in the privacy of your own home. The office hours, business hours and television programme timings change during this month.