Hi there
Have u taken the job? Good salary for expat anywhere from 2000 - 2500 KD but I am in IT industry so that might not help you.
Concerning your other questions - they told me you cannot bring in booze but they did not physically search my bags - only x-ray. Then again I would not take the chance....
There are expat parties - you just have to know the right people. I have just recently arrived here and am picking up a few contacts. I must say as a single South African who thoroughly enjoys the social scene I have found it rather quiet thus far..
Anyway here is a letter I received from an expat doctor in Q8 when I was faced with same dilemna as you (salary, expenses etc)
Hi,
I live in kuwait since 3 years, I'm a docor, from Alexandria, Egypt, and by the way, I have a friend from Cape Town, he is a surgeon, we both arrived to kuwait same time.
living in kuwait is not bad, you will love it, especially if you are single, I mean my trouble came from raising my children in this country, but it can be a heaven for signles
regarding your iquiries:
1- is your contract in kuwait is governmental, small private buisness, or large multinational company?
governmental is the best, 6-7 working hours, usually 7:30-2:3 pm, and free for the rest of the day, thursday and friday are weekend, granted salary, and no real employer who will control your way of working, your boss usually is your experience anyway, that point is not so important for professionals, but you have to be carefull if it is a private buisness, make sure to clear up the entity of working hours in your contract, before you arrive to kuwait
2- the IT buisness is good here, I don't know about what you are making back home, but for me, I need at least 3-4 times money than I make at home to convense my self of coming here.
3-live in kuwait is veeeeeeeeeeery expenssive, not like paris, but expenssive, to buy a new car will cost you for example, 4000 KD for a toyota corolla, I got a mistubishi lancer brand new for about 3000 KD, but that was a hot shot, it should be more, the most popular cars here are american big cars, 4X4s, and BMW, Jaguar, Poursche, it's Kuwait here, a camry will cost you about 6000-8000 KD, you can off course get your self a used car, althoght the maintanance here is so expenssive, I got a used mazda when I came here, then I sold it, and got a new car, because I realized that the maintanance cost, equals more than you pay as installment for a new car per month, I pay about 70KD installments, and 0 cost for maintanance, at least for 3 years.
used cars start from 600 KD up to 3000 for ordinary cars, not sport ones and expensive ones, although a friend of mine just got a Suzuki Vitara 4X4, 6 cylinders model 2001 for about 2800 KD, in a good condition. any way, if you need more details about cars, contact me, because it is my hoppy. my mail is islam@radiologist.net
about rent, for a small apartment for an expat, who is single, 200 KD per month will give you a nice place, small but clean, good, you can rent a studio in a complex, where there is an advantage of being all expats living there, mostly western, swimming pool, gem, tennis, and so on, that will cost you between 150-200 KD half furnished
furnishing a small apartemnt will cost not less than 700KD, usually about 1500 KD
I pay 190 KD rent for a 2 bedroom apartment, with central air condition (this is very important here) in a 6 years old building, almost new, clean , and in a nice neighbourhood, you can get less, or more, up to you
a friend of mine is ilving in a 300KD apartment, but a wonderfull one, the place of your dreams

food is not a problem, if you cook, or you prefer to use the 1000000 resturants in town, of all kinds, you will spend about 100-150 KD per month to be fine, including gasoline, cell phone, food, apart from leisure, rent and car cost
joining a club will cost you about 15-20KD per month, some places are as expenssive as 500 per year, Crown Plaza hotel costs about 200 KD per year, for the swimming pool, the gem, and every thing, it is a nice place, but not on the see side
cell phone, there are two ways, prepaid and post paid, there are 2 companies serving the service, the best one is MTC, to get a prepaid line it costs about 10 kd initial cost, plus the cost of the phone handset (15-150KD, depends upon the brand) you pay topping up cards 3 or 5 KD the cost of 20 seconds = 15 fils (a kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils = 2 English pounds 3 US dollars)
usually I use 2 or 3 5 KD cards per month, including international calls, which I perform from my cell phone
there are thousands of places where you can dine in, play sport, malls, cinemas (although few ones only) drink coffee on the sea side, and not to be bothered usually by anyone. the culture of the contry includes absolute respect for ladies, wheather kuwaitis or expats, you have priority in ques, services, banks, resturants, supermarkets, even when police stops your car for overspeeding, they are super polite, and may let you go without a ticket
diving fans are having a lot of fun hear, and so are fishing, and all water sports most kuwaities have their own boats. the whole country is the daughter of the arabian gulf (persian gulf)
very nice hotels serving every thing, but NO ALCOHOL is being served inkuwait, it is prohipited by law, but you can find it in black market, and at the western parties, there are a big western community in here, mostly English, they are having a lot of fun
there is no problem in getting in and out of kuwait, there are only one airport, but if you work for a governmental place, you are asked to show an exit permit which you are given at place of work when you apply for a vacation. it shows on your passport if you are working for the goverment or not.
the country is very civilized, nice looking houses, streets, highways, malls, shops, shopping here is great, especially during the discount period, like now for example, prices have gone more than 50%, for example, yesterday I got an adiddas shoes, it was 30KD beofre, now it is only 13 KD
I got a laptop for 540KD, Toshiba, 2410-603, but you can have cheaper ones, not for a professional like you
but anyway, in general you will love the country, it worths trying, poeple are very civilized (at lesat 70% of the kuwaities) whenever you have a problem in the street, vehicle flat tyre for example, hundreds will offer help, and not because you are a lady, it happens with me too

Post a Reply

00abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

Learn More Get a Quote

Hi, I new to this whole form stuff, and way i have a question for kinga, I am a american/kuwaiti citizen. I have never been to kuwait, nor speak a word of arabic. My dad is a citizen over there, and i have not talked to him for some years now. Anyway I was wondering what is it like over there, I am going to University over here in the States, but was thinking about going to kuwait after I am done, Are the pay rates for a citizen very good over there? What is the life sytle like?. I read your reply to the other guy, and you seem to know some things about it. The only thing that I know is that they are paying for my heath care over here, and that I can go to kuwiat if I choose. Also do you know if I am allowed to bring a freind over, or how that works? any way any info would be great.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hi Nazer

Lifestyle in Q8 is very different to America. Much less to do and see and you really do have to meet the right people to enjoy Q8. It is a rather quiet place and socialising is quite difficult as you can't walk into the local cocktail lounge and order a drink! I really can't tell you the payrates for a citizen because I myself am not one, it is not discussed and I have not been here long enough. The general feeling I get is that Kuwaiti's get paid well, most of them work in the government or bank sectors. Because this is a monarchy (and this came quite as a shock to me coming from a democracy), expats (of western world countries, not India, Philipines etc) and Kuwaiti's get preferences in cues at government institutions, banks etc. Lifestyle can be very good if you hook up with fellow expats - they like a good party and you are bound to meet people from all walks of life. Regarding your friend - I presume this is your girlfriend
? I was told when coming out here that living together is absolutely taboo (and not legal), but have recently been informed that there are couples that have managed to do it. If your friend is not Kuwaiti, and wants to work here she will need a Kuwait company to sponsor her visa. That way she can easily get into the country and you may work out the living arrangements. However, if she is not planning on working she might have problems getting into Kuwait and will only be granted a visitor's visa. Apparently the couples just say they are married to avoid arousing suspicion, but in anycase it is not that common for the police to come check if you are or are not married. I have also heard of couples that rent out 2 adjoining apartments and only use the one.... All quite complicated.
Well hope you make the right decision for yourself, good luck!

Post a Reply

00abuse