What animals live in Kuwait?

Kuwait is mostly hot desert, so the animals there are built tough! You can find Arabian sand gazelles that sprint across the dunes, desert foxes with big ears that help them stay cool, and spiny-tailed lizards called dhubs that bask on rocky ground. The coast along the Persian Gulf is home to sea turtles and dugongs — big, gentle sea mammals related to manatees. Birds make Kuwait a surprisingly busy place during migration season — falcons, flamingos, and osprey all pass through or stop to rest near the water. Falconry, the ancient art of training falcons to hunt, is a big part of Kuwaiti culture and has been for centuries. God packed a lot of variety into that small patch of desert and coastline!

What do kids eat in Kuwait?

Kids in Kuwait enjoy some really flavorful food! One favorite is machboos, which is spiced rice cooked with chicken or lamb and flavored with dried limes and warm spices like cardamom and cinnamon. It smells wonderful and fills the whole house when it is cooking. Kuwaiti kids also snack on things like dates, which are sweet dried fruits that grow on tall palm trees in the desert. Fresh flatbread, hummus made from chickpeas, and grilled meats are common too. For something sweet, a treat called luqaimat — small fried dough balls drizzled with date syrup — is a real favorite at celebrations and family gatherings.

How do people say hello in Kuwait?

In Kuwait, most people speak Arabic, and the most common greeting is 'As-salamu alaykum,' which means 'Peace be upon you.' The person you are greeting will usually answer back with 'Wa alaykum as-salam,' meaning 'And upon you be peace.' It is a warm and respectful way to say hello that has been used in this part of the world for many centuries. Kuwait is a Muslim country, so this greeting is tied closely to the Islamic faith there. But here is something worth knowing — the word 'salam' for peace comes from the same root as the Hebrew word 'shalom,' which you can find all through the Bible. Christians in Kuwait, though they are a small and sometimes quiet group, also know what it means to long for true peace — the kind that only comes through Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

What sports or games do kids play in Kuwait?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Kuwait love football — what Americans call soccer — more than almost anything else. You'll find boys and girls kicking a ball around in neighborhoods, parks, and schoolyards all across the country. It's the sport that gets everyone off their seats. Kuwait also has a coastline on the Persian Gulf, so water sports like swimming and fishing are popular too. Indoors, many Kuwaiti kids enjoy board games and a traditional game called 'Dama,' which is a bit like checkers. Basketball has also grown quite popular in recent years, with courts popping up in many neighborhoods. Kids there aren't so different from kids anywhere — they love to compete, move, and have fun with friends.

What's the weather like in Kuwait?

Kuwait is one of the hottest places on Earth! In summer, temperatures can climb past 50°C (that's over 120°F), hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. The desert sun beats down hard, and sandstorms called 'shamals' blow in from the desert and turn the sky orange. Winters in Kuwait are much more pleasant — cool and breezy, usually around 10–20°C (50–68°F). There is almost no rain all year, since Kuwait sits in a dry desert region. Most people stay indoors during summer afternoons and come out in the evenings when things cool down a little.

Tell me a fun fact about Kuwait.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kuwait sits at the top of the Persian Gulf, and here is something worth knowing: Kuwait City has one of the largest dhow harbors in the world. Dhows are those beautiful wooden sailing boats with tall, curved sails that sailors have used for thousands of years to trade goods across the Gulf. Rusty wants to add this one — Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world, but it holds some of the largest oil reserves on earth. That oil wealth means Kuwait City is packed with glass skyscrapers and giant shopping malls rising right out of the desert. Yet with all that, most people there have not yet heard the good news about Jesus. That is worth thinking about.

What is school like for kids in Kuwait?

Herman here! Schools in Kuwait follow a system where boys and girls study in separate buildings — that is just how it works there. Kids learn Arabic, math, science, and they also study Islam as a required subject, since Kuwait is a Muslim country. School days can feel long and serious, with a lot of memorization. Rusty jumping in! Here is something interesting — Kuwait has very high school attendance, and many families care deeply about education. But here is something worth knowing: Christian children in Kuwait cannot openly share their faith at school, and there are no churches allowed to share the gospel freely in public. That means kids who know Jesus have to be brave and careful. We can pray that children and families in Kuwait would somehow hear the good news about Jesus and come to know Him.

Who are the unreached people in Kuwait?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding right beside me! Kuwait is a small country on the Persian Gulf, and most of its people follow Islam. The biggest unreached groups there are Arab Kuwaitis, who make up the native population, plus huge numbers of workers who have come from South Asia — places like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Many of these people have never once heard a clear explanation of who Jesus really is. Rusty wants to add that Kuwait has strict rules about sharing the Christian faith, so it can be very hard for anyone to openly tell others about Jesus there. There are some secret believers — people who have trusted Jesus quietly — but they often have no church to gather with and no pastor to help them grow. That means workers like tentmakers (Christians who move somewhere for a job and share the gospel along the way) are often the ones carrying the good news into Kuwait's homes and workplaces.

How can I pray for the people of Kuwait?

Kuwait is a country where most people follow Islam, and it can be very hard to share the good news about Jesus there. Pray that Kuwaiti people would have chances to hear who Jesus really is — and that their hearts would be open to trust Him as Savior. There are some believers in Kuwait, and they need courage because following Jesus can cost them a great deal. Pray for those small groups of Christians to grow strong in their faith, for missionaries to have open doors to share the gospel, and for Kuwaiti children and families to come to know Jesus personally.

What is a holiday or celebration in Kuwait?

One of the biggest celebrations in Kuwait is National Day on June 25th. That is the day Kuwait became an independent country back in 1961. People wave red, white, green, and black flags — those are Kuwait's national colors — and there are fireworks, parades, and lots of family gatherings all across the country. Kuwait is also a Muslim country, so Eid al-Fitr is a major celebration there. It happens at the end of Ramadan, a month when Muslims fast from food and drink during daylight hours. Families dress up, share big meals, give gifts to children, and visit relatives. Most people in Kuwait have not yet heard the good news about Jesus, so when we see them celebrating and gathering together, it reminds us to pray that someone would tell them about the real joy that comes from knowing Him.

What language do people speak in Kuwait?

Great question! The main language spoken in Kuwait is Arabic — specifically a dialect called Gulf Arabic, which sounds a bit different from Arabic spoken in Egypt or Morocco. You might hear people say 'Shukran' (shoo-KRAN), which means 'thank you.' Because Kuwait has many workers who come from other countries, you will also hear a lot of English, Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog on the streets. Missionaries who want to share the gospel there often learn Arabic first, since it is the language of most Kuwaiti hearts — and sharing Jesus in someone's own language is a powerful thing.

What's a famous place to visit in Kuwait?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder! One of the most famous places in Kuwait is the Kuwait Towers — three tall towers that stand right on the shore of the Arabian Gulf. The biggest tower has a big blue globe near the top where you can ride up and look out over the whole city and the sparkling water below. Rusty loves this part — the towers were built in 1979 and have become the symbol of Kuwait City, kind of like how the Eiffel Tower represents Paris. Nearby you can walk along the Gulf Road waterfront, smell the salty sea air, and watch traditional wooden boats called dhows floating in the harbor. It's a place where old Kuwait and modern Kuwait sit right next to each other.

Kuwait — Kids Missions Explorer

Arabian Oryx

This elegant white antelope was once hunted to extinction in the wild but has been carefully brought back and is now Kuwait's national animal.

Socotra Cormorant

Tens of thousands of these dark seabirds nest along Kuwait's coastline each year, making the Persian Gulf one of the most important places on earth for their survival.

Arabian Sand Gazelle

Built for life in the desert, this small, nimble gazelle can go for long stretches without drinking water by getting moisture from the plants it eats.

Machboos

Kuwait's most beloved dish is a fragrant rice cooked with spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and dried limes, usually served with slow-cooked lamb or chicken on top.

Gabout

These small, doughy dumplings are simmered in a spiced meat broth and eaten especially during the cold winter months as a warming family meal.

Khanfaroush

A traditional Kuwaiti sweet made from rice flour and flavored with saffron and cardamom, these small fried cakes are often enjoyed with tea or at celebrations.

Kuwait

Things you should know about Kuwait

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Kuwait

Missions in Kuwait

Pray for Kuwait