The Embassy of the State of Kuwait

There has always been a strong link between Kuwait and the sea, and it is this which shaped the distinctive character of today's Kuwaitis and constituted the Kuwaitis main source of income in olden time. Today the picture is different, with the urban expansion and rapid modernization. Yet the link with sea is still to the Kuwaitis a cherished memory of the past, expressed in the nights spent at the beach.

The 290 kilometers coast can be divided into two main parts: one extends along the Arabian Gulf and the other lies around Kuwait Bay and Khor Subiya. The two areas are basically different. Most of the first area is characterized by sandy beaches, while the second area, 70 km in length, is characterized by mud flats, especially in the shallow northern area in the Bay of Kuwait, where the maximum wave height is 26 cm opposite Kuwait City.

A statistical analysis of the coastline of Kuwait categories it as follows: sandy shores constitute 33.3% seaports, water distillation plants and hospitals 14%. There are six seaports at Shuwaikh, Doha, Ahmadi, Mina Abdullah, Shuaiba and Al-Zor, besides some special anchorages used by companies, and individuals. There are also 20 anchorages for small boats. 11% of beaches are assigned for tourists. Independent shores are about 35% of the total number of shores and are centered at the northern tip.