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Luxury Yacht Charter Guide to Kuwait
Spectacularly sandwiched in-between Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait is often overlooked when sailing the warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. This oil rich little gem serves up a striking skyline, glorious mosques with sky puncturing minarets, desert safaris, charming marinas, and some of the most mesmerising flavours in the Middle East. The beaches of Kuwait are simply stunning – clear, calm and with iridescent shades of white and blue. Being only a pint-sized country with plenty of coastline makes it an excellent charter destination and its tax-free status secures it as one of the best shopping stops when sailing from port to port.
Reasons to Charter a Yacht in Kuwait
Amazing Attractions
Kuwait’s skyline staggers under the weight of so many amazing attractions. The Kuwait Towers with its triple slender columns is one of the best spots for cloud perching views right across the city. The 19th Century Seif Palace stands in direct juxtaposition to the modern towers, boasting a gold-plated rooftop and beautiful blue tiles. The Grand Mosque is another must, with its 144 windows, soaring teak doors, and gold central dome that leaves an everlasting impression.
Mouthwatering Morsels
A bustling port filled to the brim with no less than 70 percent of its population being expats, Kuwait is nothing short of a cultural crossroads. With so many people from across the globe, this means that the foodie scene is simply dazzling. Each corner of the far-flung world is represented in taste, but the Persian style food is the one to truly grab the imagination by both hands. Saffron bright rice and chicken dishes are the local delicacy, warm flatbreads are used to mop up spicy hummus, and fresh seafood straight from the warm Arabian waters sizzle in style.
Sublime Shopping
Golden Souks and designer shopping malls pave the way to a spenders paradise in Kuwait. Hit up The Avenues to pick up gorgeous garments from top-tier brands, dine at award-winning restaurants, and be dazzled by the glittering jewels adorning the windows. For a more traditional take on splurging, the 200-year-old Souq-Al-Mubarakiya is where to load up on silk carpets, antiques, Persian style perfumes and Kuwait jewellery.
Where to Visit in Kuwait
Kuwait City
Authentically Arab and with scores of personality, Kuwait City takes up a big chunk of this small country. A vibrant and beautiful city, Kuwait City is surprisingly modern. The city is filled with art galleries, museums, magical mosques, and memorials. This is where you will find all the finest cultural sites in Kuwait, not to mention some of the best restaurants for dining with abandon and glorious spas for perfect pampering.
Failaka Island
The tiny island of Failaka is a must for charter guests looking to island hop in the fourth wealthiest country in the world. Sitting 20km away from Kuwait City, the island started life way back in the 3rd Millennium BC when it was occupied by the Dilmun civilization. Afterwards, it passed many hands including belonging to the Babylonians. It also comes soaked in Greek history, awash with Byzantine ruins, and brimming with the remains of Christina settlements. Along with darting around to find out all about the island's history, there is plenty of scope for watersports, swimming, fishing, and basking in all the pleasures of island life.
Kazmah Desert
From the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf to the gold and red desert dunes, for such a small country, Kuwait has plenty of different landscapes on offer. The Kazmah Desert Cliffs bring the most sublime sunset colours to the table and are also a great spot for rallying around on 4X4’s and learning to sandboard. Powder soft beneath the board, the sport is exhilarating. Even if you don’t want to fly down the slopes, heading deep into the desert for stargazing and to feel the expanse of the dunes is an absolute must.
When to Charter a Yacht in Kuwait
Like many Middle Eastern desert and gulf destinations, the best time to charter a yacht to Kuwait is the shoulder seasons. Spring and Autumn keep things temperate so that the summer heat doesn’t scorch. Winters can be unpredictable and while not heavy, can be crisp and cold or grey and drizzly. Between March and May and between September and October are the best times to set sail.
