Kuwait

Kuwaiti Culture

Kuwait is located between Saudi Arabia and Iraq and is larger than the state of Connecticut. Oil has turned Kuwait into one of the Middle East’s richest countries. Its landscape consists almost entirely of flat desert with slight elevations. Approximately 75 percent of the population is Muslim, including nearly all Kuwaiti citizens. Kuwaiti society is generally conservative, in which Islam is a pervasive influence. Sincerity, family ties, and adhering to tradition are important in Kuwaiti society.

Host a Kuwaiti student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

Families in Kuwait are typically close knit. Time spent with family is at the center of everyday life. Traditional Kuwaiti families were once large, but today, most families have two children. Young Kuwaitis usually live with their parents until marriage. Even after marriage, parents often support their children for many years. Aging parents and grandparents are usually taken care of by their children.

Kuwaiti families are patriarchal, but decisions are made by both husband and wife. Currently, Kuwaiti women work outside of the home. However, they are still in charge of childrearing and household duties.

Teenage Life in Kuwait

Soccer is the most popular sport in Kuwait. Tennis, basketball, golf, volleyball, fishing, horseback riding, and water sports such as sailing, waterskiing, wind surfing, and scuba diving are also commonly played, especially among young people. A favorite pastime in Kuwait is visiting friends and family. Shopping is also popular, along with meeting friends at coffee shops and walking in parks and near the water.

Holidays in Kuwait

Official Language

The official language of Kuwait is Arabic.

Communication Styles

In Kuwait, an indirect communication style is favored. To avoid confrontation, Kuwaitis may allude to or suggest their true meaning without stating it plainly. The concept of “saving face” is important, so Kuwaitis especially avoid public embarrassment and delivering criticism directly. Kuwaitis are often expressive in conversation while displaying a roundabout way of arriving at their point. In Kuwaiti culture, it is common to speak loudly and passionately. Speaking with a high volume is indicative of sincerity, and if a person is quiet, Kuwaitis may feel there is something wrong.

Kuwaiti Diet

Rice is a staple of Kuwaiti cuisine. One of the most popular dishes is makboos (saffron-flavored rice with tomato sauce and lamb or chicken). Other dishes include gaboot (raisin-filled dumplings in a meat or chicken stew), marag laham (a lamb and vegetable stew), and kousa (squash filled with meat and rice). Dishes with shrimp, crab, and other seafood are customary. Laban (a yogurt-based drink) and soft drinks are common.

Desert plains and Islamic traditions