In most international hotels, restaurants and shopping malls in Kuwait City you will be able to pay with international credit cards. Debit cards are accepted by most payment terminals as well.

Smaller eateries, cafes and grocery stores in Kuwait generally only accept cash. Gas stations in Kuwait accept debit card payments but no credit cards.

If you are going to pay by card in Kuwait: Be aware of steep currency conversion fees and bank fees for card payments: Your bank’s KWD to GBP exchange rate may be quite bad. This is how banks make money. Before using your bank card for payments in the Middle East, it’s certainly a good idea to contact your bank. This will avoid your card becoming blocked due to international transactions that your bank may find suspicious.

We recommend that you take some Kuwaiti Dinar cash on your trip to Kuwait. Cash remains a popular and convenient method of payment in Kuwait, and it’s a great fallback option in case card payments aren’t available.

You’ll need cash in Kuwait for taxis, grocery shopping, tipping and for shopping in traditional markets like Souk Al-Mubarakiya or the Old Kuwaiti Souq Market in Kuwait City.

Contrary to what many people believe, the cost of living in Kuwait is actually lower than the cost of living in the UK. Prices in Kuwait are on average 21% lower than prices in the UK.

For a coffee in a cafe in Kuwait city you can expect to pay around 1.50 KWD. A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant costs on average 7-10 KWD per person.

Tipping is not expected in Kuwait. A service charge of 15% will often be added to the bill in hotels and restaurants.