timetotravel

Hi everyone,
I have no idea if I will be moving to Kuwait but a job opportunity has come my way and I am keen. But with my keen-ness also comes nervousness mainly about being a 30-something single woman in a country I know very little about.
Are there any other women out there who are living out there on their own and could share any advice?
I'd take views from the guys too....!
Thanks all.

soukie

I have been to Kuwait a few times on visits. The driving is atrocious;much worse than the UAE and there is no alcohol. We know people in Kuwait who like it but they are all families so I can't comment on what it would be like for a single person. There is a decent club called the Corniche Club for sports, swimming etc, the shopping is good and there are plenty of restaurants. There seems to be a fair bit of growth in Kuwait and I expect that there will be lots more Europeans working there soon. I recommend a visit to get the feel of the place before accepting a job.

lionheart

Dubai would be much more suitable for a single girl, trust me.

scottishgirl1985

Sorry to take over the post I may be going as well and was wondering if anyone knows:
what the rents are like in Kuwait comparable to Dubai or London?
Is the accomodation on compounds like in Saudi?
Can women drive?
are restaurants divided into family and men sections?

Sorry and many thanks.

Roadking

Answers...ish below

Bahtatboy

Where the hell have you been hiding? Good to have you back.

Roadking

Still around but not on the bored much, been travelling and very busy at work. Will try to do better!

JimandBettina

Hi,

I live in Kuwait and would advise you, as a single female, against moving here. The Kuwaitis are very old fashioned in their treatment of women. There is NO and I mean NO contact allowed between young men and women. It goes on but its not allowed. The police check cars and if you are with a guy and not married, it will be a bad outcome. There is no alcohol allowed anywhere.

Society is two tier - the rich Kuwaitis and the poor immigrant workers. The rich drive around in their fast cars, not abiding by any rules of the road, they drink and take lots of illicit drugs (ie they do whatever they want) They have the police in their pockets and look down upon any foreigner, treating their maids like dirt. They also think that western women are floozies and that they can have sex with them by flicking their fingers.

Kuwaiti women will also look down upon you as a floozie and treat you badly.

I have never met such an arrogant, ignorant bunch of people in my life.

Oman, on the other hand is fantastic, the people are lovely. I have perspective and I do not think Kuwait will be the place for you if you are worried about these things. If not and you can take all this with a pinch of salt, ie have an adventure, then go for it!

J

UKCityGent

Hi JimandBettina

Im in Kuwait and i think you paint a very bleak picture and possibly unfair.

Gent

JimandBettina

Possibly, but I am just advising from the perspective of a single female coming to Kuwait. I have Kuwaiti friends but generally I stand by my comments.

I deal with young Kuwaiti males at work, who are constantly asking me how they can get a western woman and where the best places in Uk to do so are. It's a matter of education and I believe they have had the misfortune of the experience of 60 years of western decadence on top of a bedouin base culture. It takes time for subconscious historical memory to change and I am afraid they need more time.

nottmbantam

Out of curiosity - what was your reply?

lionheart

Isn't Nottingham supposed to have the best looking women in England? It's what I was told many moons ago.

nottmbantam

Is it? I lived there for nearly twenty years ( before coming to KSA ) and wouldn't have said it was. But that doesn't make it necessarily the 'best place to get western women'

There is a well quoted myth that the ratio of women to men in Nottingham is 4:1. But it's not true,sadly.