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 Thursday and Friday.
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- to name a few. 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.
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 Thursday and Friday.
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- to name a few. 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.
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