Are you ready to fly to Kuwait? Be sure to arrange to pick up a rental car at the Kuwait airport. Also, don’t forget to brush up on these road, speed, and safety basics before hitting the road!
Road basics
Kuwait has two major highways that run from Al-Ahmadi in the south and Kuwait City in the north. These highways are called King Abdul Aziz, which the locals also refer to as Highway 30, and King Fahad, which is also known as Highway 40. Crossing these two roads are bypass roads: seven, to be precise. They make the entry and exit of vehicles quick and orderly.
Speed limits
On the main roads in Kuwait, the airport, the King Fahad and King Abdul Aziz roads, respectively, the speed limit is 120 km per hour. However, be careful to reduce your speed to 80 km per hour, once you are near Kuwait City. Also, watch for traffic signs indicating speed limits in certain areas. These can vary considerably. For example, some roads may have a minimum speed limit of 50 km per hour, while others may have up to 70 per hour. In urban areas, the minimum speed limit is much lower and is set at 45 km per hour.
Be on the lookout for flyovers, loop roads, and bridges. They usually have a different speed limit, which is usually set at 60km per hour.
Security
Here’s the good news: Compared to other countries, Kuwait is much safer than you think. Still, there are neighborhoods you should avoid.
Safe areas to drive or park are Hawalli, Salmiya, and Shuwaikh. These are primarily residential and commercial areas, and you shouldn’t have a problem finding a safe and quiet place to park. This is very convenient for you because the main commercial area of Kuwait is in Salmiya, on a street called Salem Al-Mubarak to be precise. If you are looking for restaurants, recreation centers or the fish market, go to Sooq Sharq or visit Sultan Center or City Center, the two main supermarkets in Kuwait.
Wherever you choose to shop and whatever you choose to buy, avoid driving, let alone leaving your car, at Jahra or Fahahael if you can help it. These neighborhoods are where robberies and other crimes occur.