KUWAIT (October 2025)<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\u2018Esther in wonderland\u2019<\/h2><\/h1><\/div>On my way to the yearly Dynamite Circle<\/a> (DC) conference in Bangkok, I thought: why not stop in a country I don’t know yet? Kuwait is unlike any other place I have ever been. It feels like stepping into a completely different world. Outside, the heat is unbearable (up to 60 degrees Celsius in summer!), so life happens mostly indoors, or early in the morning and late at night.<\/p>\nSurprisingly, there are virtually no tourists. In the ten days I was in Kuwait, I have seen 3 or 4 foreigners at most, which makes it a very authentic experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>
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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The country has about five million inhabitants, but only one and a half million are Kuwaiti citizens. The rest are expats and workers from India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Life is very different for them. Kuwaiti citizens receive monthly support from the government, and housing, weddings, and even studies abroad are often paid for. Education is free, and the country has no national debt. I\u2019ve never seen another place with such abundance among its local citizens.<\/p>\n
Money flows easily here. Nobody splits bills. No friend or stranger is allowed to pay, it\u2019s part of their culture of hospitality and generosity. When the bill arrives at a table, it always goes to the Kuwaiti. Often it even becomes a game: who gets to pay the bill, wins. If you say you like something, it will be ordered for you immediately. Drivers come and go all day, picking people up, dropping things off, or bringing food.<\/p>\n<\/div>
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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The food is incredible, with influences from all over the world. Spices fill the air, and the bread is unforgettable: fresh, warm, and in all shapes and sizes. Huge loaves of soft, fragrant bread are served with every meal. And of course, there\u2019s the light brown Arab coffee, infused with cardamom, served from a silver pot, poured artfully into tiny cups. Or sweet mint tea. It\u2019s impossible to say no to another cup.<\/p>\n
Most women wear long black abayas and veils, while men wear traditional white robes. People can tell where someone is from just by small details in the clothing or headscarf. \u201cOh, that\u2019s an Emirati.\u201d \u201cThat one\u2019s Bedouin.\u201d It\u2019s fascinating. They don\u2019t wear these clothes because of laws, by the way, but out of tradition and because they want to. You can also wear Western clothes here, though modesty (covered shoulders, chest, belly and knees) is respected.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Kuwaitis are modern and stylish, women wear beautiful makeup, many are Instagram influencers. The malls are enormous, luxurious, and ice-cold from the air conditioning. Everyone I\u2019ve met has been warm, friendly, and curious. On my first day, I was already welcomed into the family home of my DC friend @Fajerthenomad<\/a>, sharing a big meal together. I went to a local \u2018conversations with strangers<\/a>\u2019 event and had deep and interesting conversations with locals I would otherwise never have met. Young and old, male and female, traditional and modern.<\/p>\n
\u2018Esther in wonderland\u2019<\/h2><\/h1><\/div>On my way to the yearly Dynamite Circle<\/a> (DC) conference in Bangkok, I thought: why not stop in a country I don’t know yet? Kuwait is unlike any other place I have ever been. It feels like stepping into a completely different world. Outside, the heat is unbearable (up to 60 degrees Celsius in summer!), so life happens mostly indoors, or early in the morning and late at night.<\/p>\nSurprisingly, there are virtually no tourists. In the ten days I was in Kuwait, I have seen 3 or 4 foreigners at most, which makes it a very authentic experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The country has about five million inhabitants, but only one and a half million are Kuwaiti citizens. The rest are expats and workers from India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Life is very different for them. Kuwaiti citizens receive monthly support from the government, and housing, weddings, and even studies abroad are often paid for. Education is free, and the country has no national debt. I\u2019ve never seen another place with such abundance among its local citizens.<\/p>\n
Money flows easily here. Nobody splits bills. No friend or stranger is allowed to pay, it\u2019s part of their culture of hospitality and generosity. When the bill arrives at a table, it always goes to the Kuwaiti. Often it even becomes a game: who gets to pay the bill, wins. If you say you like something, it will be ordered for you immediately. Drivers come and go all day, picking people up, dropping things off, or bringing food.<\/p>\n<\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>The food is incredible, with influences from all over the world. Spices fill the air, and the bread is unforgettable: fresh, warm, and in all shapes and sizes. Huge loaves of soft, fragrant bread are served with every meal. And of course, there\u2019s the light brown Arab coffee, infused with cardamom, served from a silver pot, poured artfully into tiny cups. Or sweet mint tea. It\u2019s impossible to say no to another cup.<\/p>\n
Most women wear long black abayas and veils, while men wear traditional white robes. People can tell where someone is from just by small details in the clothing or headscarf. \u201cOh, that\u2019s an Emirati.\u201d \u201cThat one\u2019s Bedouin.\u201d It\u2019s fascinating. They don\u2019t wear these clothes because of laws, by the way, but out of tradition and because they want to. You can also wear Western clothes here, though modesty (covered shoulders, chest, belly and knees) is respected.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Kuwaitis are modern and stylish, women wear beautiful makeup, many are Instagram influencers. The malls are enormous, luxurious, and ice-cold from the air conditioning. Everyone I\u2019ve met has been warm, friendly, and curious. On my first day, I was already welcomed into the family home of my DC friend @Fajerthenomad<\/a>, sharing a big meal together. I went to a local \u2018conversations with strangers<\/a>\u2019 event and had deep and interesting conversations with locals I would otherwise never have met. Young and old, male and female, traditional and modern.<\/p>\n
On my way to the yearly Dynamite Circle<\/a> (DC) conference in Bangkok, I thought: why not stop in a country I don’t know yet? Kuwait is unlike any other place I have ever been. It feels like stepping into a completely different world. Outside, the heat is unbearable (up to 60 degrees Celsius in summer!), so life happens mostly indoors, or early in the morning and late at night.<\/p>\n Surprisingly, there are virtually no tourists. In the ten days I was in Kuwait, I have seen 3 or 4 foreigners at most, which makes it a very authentic experience.<\/p>\n<\/div> The country has about five million inhabitants, but only one and a half million are Kuwaiti citizens. The rest are expats and workers from India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Life is very different for them. Kuwaiti citizens receive monthly support from the government, and housing, weddings, and even studies abroad are often paid for. Education is free, and the country has no national debt. I\u2019ve never seen another place with such abundance among its local citizens.<\/p>\n Money flows easily here. Nobody splits bills. No friend or stranger is allowed to pay, it\u2019s part of their culture of hospitality and generosity. When the bill arrives at a table, it always goes to the Kuwaiti. Often it even becomes a game: who gets to pay the bill, wins. If you say you like something, it will be ordered for you immediately. Drivers come and go all day, picking people up, dropping things off, or bringing food.<\/p>\n<\/div> The food is incredible, with influences from all over the world. Spices fill the air, and the bread is unforgettable: fresh, warm, and in all shapes and sizes. Huge loaves of soft, fragrant bread are served with every meal. And of course, there\u2019s the light brown Arab coffee, infused with cardamom, served from a silver pot, poured artfully into tiny cups. Or sweet mint tea. It\u2019s impossible to say no to another cup.<\/p>\n Most women wear long black abayas and veils, while men wear traditional white robes. People can tell where someone is from just by small details in the clothing or headscarf. \u201cOh, that\u2019s an Emirati.\u201d \u201cThat one\u2019s Bedouin.\u201d It\u2019s fascinating. They don\u2019t wear these clothes because of laws, by the way, but out of tradition and because they want to. You can also wear Western clothes here, though modesty (covered shoulders, chest, belly and knees) is respected.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div> Kuwaitis are modern and stylish, women wear beautiful makeup, many are Instagram influencers. The malls are enormous, luxurious, and ice-cold from the air conditioning. Everyone I\u2019ve met has been warm, friendly, and curious. On my first day, I was already welcomed into the family home of my DC friend @Fajerthenomad<\/a>, sharing a big meal together. I went to a local \u2018conversations with strangers<\/a>\u2019 event and had deep and interesting conversations with locals I would otherwise never have met. Young and old, male and female, traditional and modern.<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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