Communication
Mobile Phones
The U.S. Embassy recommends that for safety purposes, you carry a mobile phone with you at all times. Mobile phones are the primary form of telecommunication in Kuwait. Download and become familiar with WhatsApp as this a popular form of communication here.
The majority of people in Kuwait use pay as you go services through Ooredoo or ZAIN. This is the easiest and fastest way to get mobile service, and you can easily buy cards to add to the balance on your phone at bakalas or even pay online. To get started with service in Kuwait, the school will provide you with a SIM card which you can pop into your phone and you‘re ready to go. The Orientation Team will help you get started with service within the first few days of your arrival in August.
International Phone Calls
In Kuwait, you can not make international calls without special international calling cards. The best option are apps like FaceTime, Skype, etc. Some people have trouble downloading Skype in Kuwait, so it is best to do so before you leave home.
Mail System
Airmail delivery of letters to and from the U.S. requires ten days or more and delays of a month or more are not uncommon. Express mail and courier service is available and is the only fast and reliable way to get important documents here. For those who wish to frequently order online or receive packages from home, Aramex and MyUS, and others provide U.S., Canadian, and/or other worldwide addresses from which they will ship your items to Kuwait on a regular basis. Customers pay a fee based on the weight of the packages shipped.
Packages mailed to Kuwait by international airmail or air parcel post arrive quite reliably, but surface mail parcels are often delayed for months if delivered at all. Avoid sending anything related to alcohol, pornography or religion. Anything judged to be illegal will be confiscated, and the addressee may be subject to prosecution.