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TRANSPORT
Kuwait has a well developed road system, but there are no trains and
public transport is limited to buses and taxis.
In the near future a rapid transit system serving the coastal corridor,
with direct access into Kuwait City using fixed track vehicles or
automated buses, may be created. A proposed GCC-Railway may have
terminals in Shuaiba and Shuwaikh. Future plans also include passenger
ferries linking the City to Faylaka Island, and to mainland Subiya and
Bubiyan Island, and a bridge linking Shuwaikh to Subiya.
THE
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Kuwait International Airport is in Farwaniyah, about 16.5km from the
centre of Kuwait City, a fast 20-minute drive. Operated by the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, it is considered one of the
safest airports in the world. It is the only civilian airport in the
country. Aero plane fuel (Jet A-1) is provided by Kuwait Aviation
Fuelling Company (KAFCO) and aircraft catering by Kuwait Aviation
Services Company (KASCO). Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) has its
operational headquarters at Kuwait International Airport and garage for
private aircraft is available through KAC.
The airport has two terminals. The old Terminal One is used for
short-haul passenger flights and freight, and has nearby cargo handling
and storage facilities. Just east of this terminal is Terminal Two, the
main passenger terminal. All long distance flights depart from and
arrive at Terminal Two, which is built in the shape of an aero plane,
its arrival and departure areas forming the wings of a long fuselage
which contains the aircraft access gates. Passenger facilities reach
international standards and include automatic baggage handling, TV
monitors for flight information, a bank, post office, restaurant and
buffets, hotel reservations and airline ticketing, shops, a mosque, a
transit zone with duty free area, as well as an express courier centre
and transit hotel.
A two-year $39 million project is launched in September 2000 to expand
the country's only international airport to double its capacity to six
million passengers a year. The project includes car park, shops, airline
offices, restaurants etc. A new terminal is also in the planning which
will be executed on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
LOCATING AN ADDRESS
Getting around Kuwait is easy and quick provided you know your way, as
the whole of the Metropolitan Area is laid out in a conical grid-like
pattern of main roads, feeder roads and local roads. In addition, most
road signs are in English as well as Arabic, though many streets are not
sign-posted.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Vehicle number plates are colored white on private cars, blue on
government vehicles, reddish orange on commercial vehicles, and a sort
of dun colour on military vehicles.
Taxis
There are several types of taxis: call taxis, orange cabs, and wanettes.
Call taxis are radio controlled 24-hour cabs which are booked by
telephoning the company's office. Fares, based on distance, are cheap, a
standard KD1 for a trip originating and ending within the same area.
Fares get progressively more expensive as trips extend across area
boundaries. Fares also increase substantially late at night. The actual
fare for a trip is decided by the driver's controller over the radio,
either when the cab is booked or at the end of the trip. Regular clients
can usually negotiate a discount and credit may be given.
Orange cabs are of two types. The first type operate from ranks where
they pick up several passengers going to a particular area and then
follow set routes. Fares are 150fils a person inside the City, 250fils
each (five sharing) from the City to Salmiya, and 500fils from the City
to Fahaheel. The orange cabs also operate from outside the main hotels
and the airport, where they can be hired without sharing. Fares start
from about KD1/250, and are negotiable.
Wanettes (pick-up trucks) with red number plates are only authorized to
transport goods and to carry passengers accompanying goods.
Public Transport: Bus Services
The Kuwait Transport Company (KTC) has a monopoly on public bus
services. KTC has over 30 routes in operation and coverage of the
Metropolitan Area is comprehensive.
There are two types of buses, ordinary and air-conditioned. The minimum
fare on an ordinary bus is 150fils, while the cost from the City to
Salmiyah is 200fils. The fare on an air-conditioned bus is 250fils but
for certain short distances it is 150fils. KTC is however introducing
air-conditioned buses on many routes, replacing the ordinary buses, the
fares remaining same as the ordinary buses. Season tickets, which are
economical for regular frequent traveler, are available from main bus
stations.
KTC's buses front seats are always reserved for women. Route maps are
available from the KTC terminal in Mirgab. KTC also operates
international bus services to several cities in Saudi Arabia and
Bahrain. Special Umrah tours (to Mecca) are also offered by KTC.
DRIVING LICENSES
A GCC national may drive a car in Kuwait on his home country license.
Non-GCC nationals may not drive on a GCC license. An expatriate on a
visit visa may only drive on an international driving license for the
period of validity of his visa and any extension and a license issued in
his home country is not acceptable. Foreign nationals with residence
permits can only drive on a Kuwaiti license.
Car Hire & Leasing
There are plenty of car hire firms in Kuwait. To rent a car, foreigners
on visit visas need an international license, and foreign residents must
have a Kuwaiti license.
Hire rates, sometimes a combination of time and distance with the
first 150km a day free. Charges are based on a 24-hour day and an hourly
charge (excess hours) for late returns is made. Special weekend rates
are available. Insurance maybe included in the hire rates. But those
using an international license must have their license validated through
a local insurance company, at a cost of KD9 a month, the minimum period.
The hire rates shown in the box are based on current models available
from major companies. There are also plenty of hire firms which hire out
three to four year old small cars for as little as KD3/500 a day,
including insurance, or less than KD100 a month, down to as low as KD65
a month for six month periods. |
