| Embassy of The State of Kuwait Australia - New Zealand |
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THE SOCIETY
There are many societal conditions in Kuwait that all seem to have stood the test of time. Some of these social rites
include traditional Kuwaiti food, sports, and family life. Other aspects of society, such as national dress, have changed over
time, and others, such as society’s leisure activities, seem to fluctuate with each generation. However, through everything
that has changed, and with everything that has stayed the same, it is still possible to get a sense of a distinct national
identity in Kuwait.
Family life
The fundamental core of Kuwaiti society is the family. Kuwaiti families are usually quite large, and many different families
are interconnected and related to one another through ancestry and marriage. Therefore, there exists a community of
interpersonal relationships in which it seems that everybody knows each other through only a couple degrees of
separation. Again, this community is founded on the structure of the family. Kuwaitis keep very close family ties, both in the
immediate and extended sense. Regular gatherings and lunches are common. There are a couple of other traditions in
which families get together as well, although these are held separately in terms of gender. For the men, the diwaniya is a
common custom that has existed throughout Kuwait’s history. A special room in the house, or a tent set up outside, is
designated as a nightly meeting place for the men of a family or the neighborhood to meet to discuss politics, business,
and just socialize. Click here for more detailed information on diwaniyas.
The women also hold several gatherings to meet with one another to socialize. Large weddings are a common tradition,
where the men and women gather separately, and the women’s reception usually lasts through breakfast. This all-night
celebration of the matrimony of two people, of the coming together of two families, demonstrates the importance of the
idea of family in Kuwaiti society.
Food
One thing that is common in these different social and family gatherings is the food. Kuwaiti food is primarily based on the
staple product of rice. However, there are a large number of different ways to prepare the rice, and each family has their
own way of making one of the several traditional meals. One of the most common, and most Kuwaiti, of these rice dishes is
machbous, which is saffron rice topped with either chicken or lamb, served with a tomato paste sauce. Considering their
history with the sea, it is not surprising that Kuwaitis have a great affinity towards fish. The most common types of fish
caught around Kuwait in the Arabian Gulf are hamour, sboor, nagroor, and zubaidy. Shrimps, crabs, lobsters, clams, and a
wide variety of other fish can also be found, and when bought from the traditional fish market, these can usually be bought
at a very low price. Click Here for more information on traditional fishing in Kuwait.
Although most Kuwaitis prefer eating lunch at home with family and having a traditional meal, it has become common,
especially among the younger generations on the weekends, to go out to dinner to one of the many restaurants that keep
popping up all over the country.
Recreation and Social Life
Although the cities around Kuwait are quite active during the day, the main life of the country comes out at night, most
commonly on the weekends. The main attraction of the nightlife is the area of Salmiya, as well as the area around the Gulf
Road, which runs along the coastline near Salmiya. The area is lined with several shopping complexes and an abundance
of restaurants. It is here that one can detect how much influence western society and culture has on the society of Kuwait.
Restaurants range from the more casual TGI Fridays and Fuddruckers , to the slightly more refined Nino and Le Notre. Fast
food chains such as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut can be found all over the country as well. For more information on dining out
in Kuwait, visit the Tourism section in Statistics, or visit the Sinsal Directory to Dining. During the day, the shopping malls,
such as the new impressive Souq Sharg or Fanar Complex, are busy with all different types of people in society, stopping in
for a coffee at Starbucks, or shopping around in British stores such as the Body Shop and Oasis. For more information on
places to shop, see the Tourism section in Statistics. Shopping hours are Saturday through Thursday, 9 am to 1 p.m., and
then again from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday hours vary. Weekends in Kuwait are Friday and Saturday.
There are other types of activities that are prominent among Kuwaiti social life. The gathering of people of all ages at
traditional coffee shops, called maqahas is common. For more information on traditional maqhas Click Here. Also, Click Here
to read all about the art of coffee as a sign of traditional Kuwaiti hospitality. In contrast to these more traditional coffee
shops, Internet cafés are also common, which provide Internet access at a rate of around 2KD (approximately $7) per hour.
These cafes also offer food, coffee, and a relaxing environment to surf the web, email, or just socialize.
Another traditional aspect of society that serves as a break from the rapid modernization presently sweeping the country,
and provides more of a glimpse back in time, is the old Kuwaiti souks or covered markets.
Click Here for more information on other interesting and entertaining places to visit in Kuwait and more fun activities.
Dress
The large number of clothing stores with names that the people recognize from abroad, from casual to designer, has
undoubtedly changed the sense of dress among the Kuwaiti population. Men and women alike are now accustomed to
wearing clothes of “western” design. However, it is still common for men, both young and old, to go out in the traditional
dishdasha, which is a long-sleeved garment that comes down to the ankles, with a loose pair of pants underneath. The
men usually wear dishdasha’s made out of white cotton in the summer, and darker, more woolen ones in the winter. The
head apparel is also still common. The gahfiya, a small, round knit head covering, goes on the head first. Next comes the
khitra , which is a large piece of cloth, either white (for summer), or small red and white checkered (for winter), which is
folded diagonally and placed over the gahfiya. Finally, a firm circular piece called the igal , is placed on the head to hold the
khitra in place.
For women, traditional apparel is a bit less common. The dara’a is a loose fitting dress-like garment which usually comes in
many beautiful colors and designs. It is still common for older women to wear these out, however the tendency to do so is
getting less common with the younger generation. Women in Kuwait are not forced to wear the hijab or niqab, the different
Islamic veils. The decision to do so is usually left up to the girl, or is based on her family’s desires.
Sports
Another custom that is common in Kuwait is sports. One of the most common sports played in Kuwait is soccer. There are
several local club teams, such as the Al-Qadisia Club, the Kuwait Club, the Yarmouk Club, and the Khazma Club,and Alarabi
club. The Kuwait national team has won the title of the Gulf Cup for two championships in a row (in 1996 and 1998).
Soccer, as well as several other sports, is played throughout the country both professionally and recreationally.
Professional national teams, besides soccer, include basketball, swimming, as well as many others. The Amir of Kuwait also
established a Disabled Sports Club in 1977. Its aims are to integrate disabled persons into the society by giving them the
opportunity to partake in sport, social, cultural, and other such activities. People of any nationality, both male and female,
showing minimal disability are allowed to join the club. Types of sports practiced at the club are track and field, swimming,
wheelchair basketball, fencing, and several other sports. Click Here for information on the Kuwaiti Paralympic Team.
Water sports are also very common in Kuwait. Most Kuwaitis spend weekends in the warm seasons at the beach, either in
one of the local private or public beach clubs, such as the SAS or Messila Hotel clubs, or at privately owned chalets or beach
houses. Many Kuwaiti families own beach chalets of different styles and sizes up and down the coast and tend to use them
as an escape on the weekends and holidays. Along with these beach trips comes a wide variety of water sports and
recreation. Swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, fishing, and just cruising up and down on different sized boats is common for
Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, of all ages. Click Here for more information on similar leisure activities in Kuwait.
The population of Kuwait likes to keep up with times, while at the same time sticking to certain customs and traditions that
tie them to their heritage and culture. The lifestyle of Kuwait today, however, is also composed of a very lavish artistic
tradition, with a foundation dating back to the origins of the country and its society.
Kuwait Festivals form an important part of the lifestyle and culture of the Kuwaitis. There are different types of important
festivals celebrated in Kuwait, which occupy an important place in the life of the people of Kuwait.
Important Festivals of Kuwait and public holiday
There are other important Kuwait Festivals, which are celebrated with equal amount of pleasure. They are Prophet
Mohammed’s Birthday, Hala February and Ascension of Mohammad.
There are many societal conditions in Kuwait that all seem to have stood the test of time. Some of these social rites
include traditional Kuwaiti food, sports, and family life. Other aspects of society, such as national dress, have changed over
time, and others, such as society’s leisure activities, seem to fluctuate with each generation. However, through everything
that has changed, and with everything that has stayed the same, it is still possible to get a sense of a distinct national
identity in Kuwait.
Family life
The fundamental core of Kuwaiti society is the family. Kuwaiti families are usually quite large, and many different families
are interconnected and related to one another through ancestry and marriage. Therefore, there exists a community of
interpersonal relationships in which it seems that everybody knows each other through only a couple degrees of
separation. Again, this community is founded on the structure of the family. Kuwaitis keep very close family ties, both in the
immediate and extended sense. Regular gatherings and lunches are common. There are a couple of other traditions in
which families get together as well, although these are held separately in terms of gender. For the men, the diwaniya is a
common custom that has existed throughout Kuwait’s history. A special room in the house, or a tent set up outside, is
designated as a nightly meeting place for the men of a family or the neighborhood to meet to discuss politics, business,
and just socialize. Click here for more detailed information on diwaniyas.
The women also hold several gatherings to meet with one another to socialize. Large weddings are a common tradition,
where the men and women gather separately, and the women’s reception usually lasts through breakfast. This all-night
celebration of the matrimony of two people, of the coming together of two families, demonstrates the importance of the
idea of family in Kuwaiti society.
Food
One thing that is common in these different social and family gatherings is the food. Kuwaiti food is primarily based on the
staple product of rice. However, there are a large number of different ways to prepare the rice, and each family has their
own way of making one of the several traditional meals. One of the most common, and most Kuwaiti, of these rice dishes is
machbous, which is saffron rice topped with either chicken or lamb, served with a tomato paste sauce. Considering their
history with the sea, it is not surprising that Kuwaitis have a great affinity towards fish. The most common types of fish
caught around Kuwait in the Arabian Gulf are hamour, sboor, nagroor, and zubaidy. Shrimps, crabs, lobsters, clams, and a
wide variety of other fish can also be found, and when bought from the traditional fish market, these can usually be bought
at a very low price. Click Here for more information on traditional fishing in Kuwait.
Although most Kuwaitis prefer eating lunch at home with family and having a traditional meal, it has become common,
especially among the younger generations on the weekends, to go out to dinner to one of the many restaurants that keep
popping up all over the country.
Recreation and Social Life
Although the cities around Kuwait are quite active during the day, the main life of the country comes out at night, most
commonly on the weekends. The main attraction of the nightlife is the area of Salmiya, as well as the area around the Gulf
Road, which runs along the coastline near Salmiya. The area is lined with several shopping complexes and an abundance
of restaurants. It is here that one can detect how much influence western society and culture has on the society of Kuwait.
Restaurants range from the more casual TGI Fridays and Fuddruckers , to the slightly more refined Nino and Le Notre. Fast
food chains such as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut can be found all over the country as well. For more information on dining out
in Kuwait, visit the Tourism section in Statistics, or visit the Sinsal Directory to Dining. During the day, the shopping malls,
such as the new impressive Souq Sharg or Fanar Complex, are busy with all different types of people in society, stopping in
for a coffee at Starbucks, or shopping around in British stores such as the Body Shop and Oasis. For more information on
places to shop, see the Tourism section in Statistics. Shopping hours are Saturday through Thursday, 9 am to 1 p.m., and
then again from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday hours vary. Weekends in Kuwait are Friday and Saturday.
There are other types of activities that are prominent among Kuwaiti social life. The gathering of people of all ages at
traditional coffee shops, called maqahas is common. For more information on traditional maqhas Click Here. Also, Click Here
to read all about the art of coffee as a sign of traditional Kuwaiti hospitality. In contrast to these more traditional coffee
shops, Internet cafés are also common, which provide Internet access at a rate of around 2KD (approximately $7) per hour.
These cafes also offer food, coffee, and a relaxing environment to surf the web, email, or just socialize.
Another traditional aspect of society that serves as a break from the rapid modernization presently sweeping the country,
and provides more of a glimpse back in time, is the old Kuwaiti souks or covered markets.
Click Here for more information on other interesting and entertaining places to visit in Kuwait and more fun activities.
Dress
The large number of clothing stores with names that the people recognize from abroad, from casual to designer, has
undoubtedly changed the sense of dress among the Kuwaiti population. Men and women alike are now accustomed to
wearing clothes of “western” design. However, it is still common for men, both young and old, to go out in the traditional
dishdasha, which is a long-sleeved garment that comes down to the ankles, with a loose pair of pants underneath. The
men usually wear dishdasha’s made out of white cotton in the summer, and darker, more woolen ones in the winter. The
head apparel is also still common. The gahfiya, a small, round knit head covering, goes on the head first. Next comes the
khitra , which is a large piece of cloth, either white (for summer), or small red and white checkered (for winter), which is
folded diagonally and placed over the gahfiya. Finally, a firm circular piece called the igal , is placed on the head to hold the
khitra in place.
For women, traditional apparel is a bit less common. The dara’a is a loose fitting dress-like garment which usually comes in
many beautiful colors and designs. It is still common for older women to wear these out, however the tendency to do so is
getting less common with the younger generation. Women in Kuwait are not forced to wear the hijab or niqab, the different
Islamic veils. The decision to do so is usually left up to the girl, or is based on her family’s desires.
Sports
Another custom that is common in Kuwait is sports. One of the most common sports played in Kuwait is soccer. There are
several local club teams, such as the Al-Qadisia Club, the Kuwait Club, the Yarmouk Club, and the Khazma Club,and Alarabi
club. The Kuwait national team has won the title of the Gulf Cup for two championships in a row (in 1996 and 1998).
Soccer, as well as several other sports, is played throughout the country both professionally and recreationally.
Professional national teams, besides soccer, include basketball, swimming, as well as many others. The Amir of Kuwait also
established a Disabled Sports Club in 1977. Its aims are to integrate disabled persons into the society by giving them the
opportunity to partake in sport, social, cultural, and other such activities. People of any nationality, both male and female,
showing minimal disability are allowed to join the club. Types of sports practiced at the club are track and field, swimming,
wheelchair basketball, fencing, and several other sports. Click Here for information on the Kuwaiti Paralympic Team.
Water sports are also very common in Kuwait. Most Kuwaitis spend weekends in the warm seasons at the beach, either in
one of the local private or public beach clubs, such as the SAS or Messila Hotel clubs, or at privately owned chalets or beach
houses. Many Kuwaiti families own beach chalets of different styles and sizes up and down the coast and tend to use them
as an escape on the weekends and holidays. Along with these beach trips comes a wide variety of water sports and
recreation. Swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, fishing, and just cruising up and down on different sized boats is common for
Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, of all ages. Click Here for more information on similar leisure activities in Kuwait.
The population of Kuwait likes to keep up with times, while at the same time sticking to certain customs and traditions that
tie them to their heritage and culture. The lifestyle of Kuwait today, however, is also composed of a very lavish artistic
tradition, with a foundation dating back to the origins of the country and its society.
Kuwait Festivals form an important part of the lifestyle and culture of the Kuwaitis. There are different types of important
festivals celebrated in Kuwait, which occupy an important place in the life of the people of Kuwait.
Important Festivals of Kuwait and public holiday
- Eid al Fitr – This is one of the most important festivals of Kuwait, which hold immense religious significance for the
Muslims. This festival is celebrated in order to mark the end of the fasting month Ramadan. This Kuwait Festival is
celebrated with great enjoyment.
- Eid al Adha – This is yet another important religious Kuwait Festival that is celebrated either on the tenth or the
twelfth day of Dhu al Hijjah or on the sacred month of pilgrimage.
- National Day – This is one of the most important national festivals of Kuwait, which reflects the true patriotic feeling
of the Kuwaitis. National Day is celebrated on the 25th of February, which signifies the inception of Kuwait as a
nation in 1961. The Kuwaitis wear national dresses on this day and also meet with their dear ones.
- Liberation Day – This is celebrated on the 26th of February. This festival marks the liberation of Kuwait from Iraq,
which was gained on the 26th of February, 1991. This day also rekindles the patriotic sentiments within the Kuwaitis
and also enables them to remember the great sacrifices that were made in gaining liberation from Iraq.
- Hala February - Hala Festival is a great opportunity for young and old alike to participate in this kaleidoscope of
events featuring cultural festivals, shopping carnivals, visit tourist spots, and win prizes at the many raffles and
contests held during the time period. It is an important and a remarkable event among the Arab and Gulf festivals.
There are other important Kuwait Festivals, which are celebrated with equal amount of pleasure. They are Prophet
Mohammed’s Birthday, Hala February and Ascension of Mohammad.
