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OSAC Country Security Report Kuwait

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OSAC Country Security Report Kuwait OSAC Country Security Report Kuwait Last Updated: August 20, 2021 Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should not travel to Kuwait due to COVID-19. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Peace Index 2021 ranks Kuwait 36 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as being at a High state of peace. Crime Environment The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes. The crime emergency line in Kuwait is 112. Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure. Crime: General Threat Criminal activity seems to be rising in Kuwait; it is unclear if COVID restrictions on the population are a factor, but there appears to be increased media reporting of criminal incidents. Foreigners, including more than 45,000 U.S. citizens, comprise approximately two-thirds of the population. It is probable—particularly among non-Kuwaiti crime victims of lower income/economic status—that a high percentage of crimes go unreported. Violent crime occurs between Kuwaitis and/or by Kuwaitis against foreign workers (e.g., domestic staff), but often goes unreported or lacks full police investigation. Violent crime against U.S. citizens and other Westerners is rare, but does occur. In January 2019, an apparently emotionally disturbed person physically assaulted a family member of a U.S. Embassy employee in Mahboula. In addition, in May 2020, a U.S. Embassy employee was a victim of road rage and assaulted on the roadway. The assaults appear random and not linked to the nationality of the victims, who escaped with only minor injuries. Crime victims have reported various types of immigration and residency fraud, ATM/credit card theft, white-collar fraud, embezzlement, and property theft. Crime: Areas of Concern Petty theft occurs occasionally in the popular outdoor markets and shopping malls. Although several districts in Kuwait City may have high incidences of crime, only the J’leeb Al Shuyoukh area (near the airport) is of enough concern that the Regional Security Office recommends that U.S. government personnel not visit. 1 Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, and Taking Credit. Kidnapping Threat The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait. Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips. International parental child abduction can be a concern. Kuwait is not party to The Hague Abduction Convention or a U.S. Treaty Partner on International Abduction, and this can prove problematic if a Kuwaiti national travels to the country with a U.S. citizen child without permission of the other parent. Once in Kuwait, U.S. citizens are subject to the jurisdiction of the Kuwaiti legal system. Drug Crime In 2020, media outlets continued to report government seizures of large quantities of illegal narcotics at the maritime ports, the airport, and private residences. It is illegal to possess or use alcohol in a public place or in the company of others. It is also illegal to distribute, provide, or sell alcohol to others. Consult with the CIA World Factbook’s section on Illicit Drugs for country-specific information. Terrorism Environment The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Kuwait. Review the latest State Department Country Report on Terrorism for Kuwait. The Institute for Economics & Peace Global Terrorism Index 2020 ranks Kuwait 81 out of 163 worldwide, rating the country as having a Very Low impact from terrorism. Terrorism: General Threat The U.S. Embassy often receives threat information indicating possible targeting of official and private U.S. citizens for terrorist attacks. Soft targets are vulnerable to terrorist attack, although many are making improvements to their perimeters and internal security. There have been no terror incidents in Kuwait since 2016. Political Violence and Civil Unrest Environment The U.S. Department of State has assessed Kuwait City as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Elections/Political Stability Kuwait held elections in December 2020. There are currently contested parliament positions, but these are not expected to lead to political unrest in the country. 2 Protest & Demonstration Activity Kuwaiti law permits freedom of assembly for its citizens if organizers of demonstrations and public gatherings of more than 20 people obtain advance approval from the Interior Ministry (MOI). Foreign residents in Kuwait may not participate in demonstrations. There are many protests in Kuwait, the vast majority are peaceful. In December 2017, an MOI-approved, peaceful demonstration protesting the U.S. decision to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem attracted approximately 1,000 individuals to al-Irada Square across from the National Assembly. At times, Bidoons (stateless Arab residents) hold unlicensed demonstrations demanding Kuwaiti citizenship. For more information, review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest. Law Enforcement Concerns: Security Agencies Police have sole responsibility for the enforcement of laws not related to national security, while the Kuwait State Security oversees national security matters. Each reports to the MOI, as does the Coast Guard. Kuwait’s MOI maintains a visible police profile, with uniformed and plainclothes officers deployed in key locations for response and deterrence. Each district and governorate has police stations operating under the direction of the MOI Public Safety Directorate. The Kuwait National Guard is an independent body from the Interior and Defense Ministries; it reports to the prime minister and the amir. The armed forces are responsible for external security and report to the Defense Ministry. The Kuwait National Guard is responsible for critical infrastructure protection, support for the Interior and Defense Ministries, and the maintenance of national readiness. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. There have been some allegations that members of the security forces committed abuses. Police Response Police response to requests for assistance to U.S. citizens is generally good. Those who do not speak Arabic should request assistance from a bilingual switchboard operator. Emergency switchboard operators do receive prank calls and may hang up if they do not understand the caller. The Embassy advises callers to call again in such cases. The police accept crime reports at the police station with jurisdiction over the area where the crime occurred. If filing a crime report, the victim must render all testimony in Arabic; bring a person who speaks Arabic and/or a local attorney to accompany you, though many police investigators are fluent in English. Filing a crime report can take several hours, as a police investigator will take the victim’s statement orally while composing his investigative report. In all cases of abuse, the victim must obtain a medical report from a Kuwaiti public hospital to file a police report; the police do not accept medical reports from private hospitals. Law Enforcement Concerns: Emergency Contact/Information The emergency line in Kuwait is 112. Transportation Security Road Safety Apart from periodic sandstorms and heavy rain, road conditions and weather are favorable for driving most of the year. 3 Aggressive driving is the most dangerous daily threat Kuwait residents face. Drivers must remain on the defensive. Locals often drive aggressively, pass on shoulders and emergency lanes, and operate without headlights at night. Speed is the primary cause of traffic fatalities. Kuwait has an excellent highway system, but many drivers weave through traffic and exceed posted speed limits. Many reported accidents occur due to negligent driving or driving while talking on a cellular phone. Avoid driving in the far-left lane on highways due to the prevalence of aggressive drivers who may flash their headlights rapidly, tailgate in order to get the slower drivers to move to the right, or pass on the left shoulder. Kuwait permits driving on the shoulder on certain roadways from 0630-2200. When the authorities permit shoulder driving, there will be orange flashing lights along the road’s center jersey barriers. There is a set speed limit of 45 kilometers per hour for driving on a shoulder, but drivers using the shoulder routinely drive much faster than the speed limit. Road rage, aggressive driving, and competitiveness often end in disaster. It is quite common to see remnants of traffic accidents alongside the highway. Avoid confrontations, refrain from making hand gestures/eye contact with drivers, and move away from anyone acting aggressively. Never allow such persons to follow you back to your home or to a secluded area. Kuwaiti authorities treat public intoxication and driving while under the influence of alcohol as serious offenses; any trace of alcohol in a driver’s blood is illegal. Authorities will arrest and prosecute offenders. Offenders may face a travel ban during the investigation and court proceedings that can take months to conclude. Offenders may receive prison sentences, fines, and/or deportation if found guilty. Kuwaiti law mandates that individuals involved in traffic accidents immediately notify the police and file a report.
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