Airport The distance from Kuwait International Airport to the city centre is approximately 15-16kms (15-20 minutes by road).

Taxis Taxis are available at the airport, but a better option is to arrange for the hotel to pick you up, particularly when visiting for the first time. If you do take one, the taxi fare will be £9.40.

Car hire Most car rental companies have offices in the main hotels as well as a main office. Some also have offices in the airport arrivals area. To rent a car, foreigners on a visitor’s visa require an international driver’s licence. Insurance is usually included in the rental rates, however, those using an international licence are required to have that licence insured through a local insurance company. Car rental companies lease cars on a long-term basis, with the company responsible for all insurance, registration, maintenance and other costs during the period. Terms and rates are very reasonable by international standards.

For example, the all-encompassing cost, excluding petrol, for an ‘executive’ car can be as little as £280 per month. The main companies are: Avis (Tel: 245 3827/3828, Fax: 245 3829), Budget (Tel: 481 0844, Fax: 481 0879), Europcar (Tel: 484 2988, Fax: 483 5218), Hertz (Tel: 484 8034, Fax: 484 8035), Rent-al-Mulla (Tel: 398 0533, Fax: 398 0578) and Thrifty (Tel: 246 0339, Fax: 246 0338).

It is important to point out the lack of road safety on Kuwaiti roads. Beeping and gesturing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong, so be very attentive and always buy plenty of insurance if hiring a car. The ‘slow’ lane on a three-lane road is the middle one, making for interesting driving as traffic merging from the right immediately crosses two lanes of faster moving traffic. Seat belts are compulsory, though few locals comply, and talking on the mobile is widespread, regardless of speed.

Other forms of transport There are no internal air services in Kuwait and there is no railway. The network of roads linking together the major towns are relatively new. The nationwide bus service operated by Kuwait Transport Company is generally rated as good and inexpensive. Fares range between 10p for journeys within the city to 60p for outlying urban areas.