Kuwait

As the third largest oil producer in the Middle East, Kuwait is a wealthy country and is of great strategic importance. This is a culturally rich country which hasmade huge leaps in re-development and diversification since the conflict in the early 1990s.Kuwait has a pro-western stance, and in recent year’s huge steps forward have been made opening doors to foreign investors and encouraging international trade. With a strong cultural tradition of family, hospitality and courtesy, there is much evidence of ‘old values’ within Kuwait, sat alongside the country’s modernisation. Examples include Kuwait being the first Arab country to have an elected parliament, and the granting of full political rights to women in 2005.Within Kuwait, you are likely to experience true diversity amongst the people you encounter. Only 40% of the residents are nationals, with the remaining made up of Arabs from other countries, South Asians, East Asians and Westerners. A real mix of cultures, languages and religions are present, with expats from a variety of countries filling skill gaps at all levels. The population of Kuwait has always been so small that the country has had to rely on foreign workers. Prior to the Iraqi invasion in 1990, nationals of virtually every country could be found working in Kuwait. However, the government now encourages employers to employ locally where possible, using expats to fill the skill gaps in the labour market.

Overview

Since the Iraqi invasion of 1990/91, Kuwait has undergone an impressive economic recovery. Kuwait has embarked on a continuous process of re-developing and reconstructing itself to overcome the destruction caused by the Iraqi invasion and occupation. The process has salvaged the country’s amenities, restoring facilities and the infrastructure to allow the country to return to normality. The industry in Kuwait has traditionally depended largely on oil production. It has funded the economic and social development in Kuwait, and met the necessary demands of the population for commodities and services. Meanwhile, the government is playing an important role in encouraging the expansion of industry by giving loans, providing necessary infrastructure facilities, and by protecting newly established industries. Kuwait has several major infrastructure projects planned, including one of the biggest sea front projects in the world, Madinat al-Hareer. When complete, this project would include the world’s tallest tower, and, numerous housing, health, education, environmental, business, and tourism centres. Other major projects are the development of a deep-water port on Bubiyan Island, which could become a gateway for trade into Iraq and western Iran. Kuwait is generally regarded as a cosmopolitan and Westernised country within the Middle Eastern region. However, it is an Islamic country, and the majority of citizens are Muslims. As such, residents and visitors are expected to dress and behave appropriately. While Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken. The selling and consumption of alcohol is illegal in Kuwait and strictly adhered to. Westerners are warned that the penalties for breaking this law are severe. Despite this, in Kuwait City a black market does exist where alcohol can be bought for extortionate prices. As such, ex-pats are strongly advised to avoid the black market and respect the law and culture of the country. The month of Ramadan is a feature of life in the Middle East. During this month of fasting, eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in public, from sunrise to sunset. This is strictly adhered to, and even as anon-Muslim it is unacceptable to partake in any of the above in view of anyone who is observing Ramadan. One of the big attractions of life in Kuwait is the warmth of the climate. The winter months (December to February) get fairly cold, with temperatures in the day ranging from13º to 18ºC, and lower at night. In the hottest months (July and August) it is particularly hot with daytime temperatures reaching over 40ºC; however, the climate is not humid which means even at these temperatures the weather is bearable.

Potential earnings and savings

One of the great attractions of working in Kuwait is that there is no personal taxation.

Travel and transport

Kuwait International airport is 10km south of Kuwait City and is a hub at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Airlines such as Gulf Air, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM regularly fly in and out of Kuwait. Most expats purchase a car for the duration of their stay in Kuwait. The majority of these models will include air-conditioning and tend to be automatic. Cars are substantially cheaper than in the UK, and many expats opt for a 4-wheel drive vehicle for off-road and desert driving. For those who are reluctant to buy, long term leases are also available. The low cost of petrol is also a factor when considering your ideal car, especially for those expats who have lived in the UK previously. Alternative transportation is essentially limited to taxis, which are metered and numerous. Bus services are not generally used by expats, and as yet there is no rail system in place.

Health regulations

There are no compulsory regulations for entry to Kuwait.

The Kuwait workplace

Smart, conservative clothing is expected, despite the soaring heat outside and the fiercely efficient air conditioning inside. Friday is the main day of prayer, so meetings should not be scheduled for this day. Calls to Arab colleagues or clients should also be avoided on this day. Depending on the company you work for, the other day making up the weekend will either be Thursday or Saturday.

Employment prospects

The market is booming in Kuwait, and excellent opportunities exist for the right candidates who possess the required skills. Given the relatively small percentage of Kuwaiti nationals who make up the working population, many opportunities exist for expats. The government strongly encourages employers to use the local labour force where possible. Local graduates are being encouraged to take up employment and employers are strongly urged to recruit Kuwaiti graduates.UK graduates are likely to have particular difficulty securing a position unless they have substantial relevant work experience, or are already employed by a UK firm who transfers them to Kuwait. Having made major investments in education and social welfare, Kuwait aims to ultimately become as self-sufficient as possible in terms of labour. In general, for a candidate to be employed from overseas they must have experience and skills that cannot be found locally. Taking into consideration the current popularity of tax-free destinations like Kuwait, and the number of people wanting to relocate, this does not necessarily make finding a job a foregone conclusion or a quick process. As a general rule, candidates will need to have at least four years’ post qualification experience to be considered as viable. Often, lower to middle level jobs are not advertised, instead, recruiting and man power contracting agents are used to hire back in their native country. So many of these jobs never appear in a public forum. Even if they did, the salary packages would be too low for most candidates who have previously lived and worked in the West to consider and survive on. However, for those candidates with skills in demand the tax-free lifestyle and booming market can be a great career move. Generally, the remuneration packages and the lifestyle that can be achieved are more favourable than equivalent roles in the UK, and the quality of life and experience of working in such a vibrant economy are experiences not to be missed.

 Facts

·         Population: 3,100,000

·         Area: 17,818 km²

·         Government: Constitutional hereditary emirate

·         Established: 19th June, 1961

Capital: Kuwait City