what kind of place is kuwait? Is it conservative or western in outlook?Is it a safe place?

Question

Are there dance bars or that kind of places like in Dubai?

Answer 1

Kuwait is almost similar to Dubai, not much conservative. There are big shopping malls and entertainments etc, but I have never seen any dance bars in Kuwait. Alcohol also prohibited in Kuwait.

Answer 2

Kuwait is a Conservative country as far as residents. A good friend from college is married to a Kuwaiti. They lived there for 15 years. She did wear the abaya and hijab. She and her husband told me that you rarely see women with uncovered hair or in clothes that didn't cover their arms, and legs. Usually those women you did see uncovered were tourists. If you are going as a resident, then plan for very Conservative.

Answer 3

KUWAIT is an arab counrty located on the northern part. it is
a small but progressive, rich country banking on oil as the prime source of money. this small country is very rich in first class oil, which is being supplied to all parts of the world. multi-nationals are manning the oil riggs. their oil is the reason why saddam hussien tried to capture this country to be his own, but did not win.

Answer 4

I visit the elderly where ever they happen to live in my job. Some of their neighbors seem to watch me or be hostile to me if I don't fit with the neighborhood I am visiting. Once they understand I am there for a good reason, it has been fine. Some pretty tense moments, though!

Answer 5

Hi, I want to subscribe for this question to obtain newest replies, so how can i do it is anyone willing to help.

Answer 6

safe, they are a very "western" country. there's malls, all the amenities.

Answer 7

Not for u it's not, we live with animals

Answer 8

It is inevitable in a country like Kuwait, which has
grown from relative poverty to great wealth in a
very short time, that clashes should occur between
the old and the new. It cannot be emphasized too
strongly that the most important part of Kuwaiti
society remains the family, and here the old values
are retained and cherished.
The traditional virtues of hospitality, courtesy and
respect must not be lost in a head-long rush to what
some may term "modernization". Nowadays in
Kuwait it is generally felt that not enough attention
has been paid to the country's heritage, and so a
number of government projects have sought to
reverse this trend.




For a country of such small size, Kuwait boasts a very broad and rich culture, containing a particular
heritage and encompassing certain trends whose roots are embedded in the cultural traditions of antiquity.
Kuwait holds a strong tie to its past, and the government takes pride in its assistance in the retaining of
historical artifacts and antiques, as well as in the preservation of the arts and modern cultural endeavors.

Folklore
Today, Kuwaiti society bases much of its culture on the country's ancient folklore, which is a broad-ranging
mosaic of emblematic land and sea tales, riddles, and proverbs. In 1956, the Folklore Preservation Center
was established in an attempt to collect, record, and classify Kuwaiti folklore, as a way of assuring that this
piece of Kuwait's historical culture will forever be maintained and hold a prominent place in the traditions
of today.

National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters
In 1974, the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters was founded, as the country's first real,
definitive organization for cultural planning, with the task of promoting, developing, and enriching
intellectual and artistic production. The council provides a suitable environment for the enhancement of
the arts within Kuwait, and is responsible for disseminating news and information about the fine arts, as
well as for the preservation and study of the country's national heritage. To contact the Council, click here.

Architecture
Kuwaiti culture embodies a variety of different modes of art and expression. The one feature that truly
exemplifies Kuwait's creative tendencies is the architecture that can be found all over the country: from
the city, to the oceanfront palaces and government buildings, to the smaller, but no less extravagant,
suburban areas. The main characteristic feature of this architecture is the same quality that can be used to
describe almost all aspects of Kuwaiti life and culture: it is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern,
modest and extravagant. Few houses and buildings remain today that are authentic examples of the
original architecture of Kuwait. However, the few that are still standing, such as the Bayt Al-Bader, are
nonetheless excellent examples of structures Kuwaitis used to live and work in around 150 years ago.

The traditional Kuwaiti house consisted of a central courtyard, with a series of rooms built around this
quad. These houses were usually simple in structure, but were heavily adorned with ornaments, paintings
and mosaics. Today, some people still try to build their houses based on this original design. However, the
trend in Kuwaiti architecture today seems to be to strive for the more unique and more intricate designs.
Houses vary in dimension according to family size, and each family has their own tastes and desires.
Because of this, it is difficult to attribute one single, definitive characteristic to these houses. This same
notion also goes for the non-residential architecture.

Kuwait exhibits some of the most impressive modern buildings in the world, with such examples as the
Ministry of Justice building, and the National Assembly building . Another masterpiece of architecture in
Kuwait is the Grand Mosque. One of the largest and most modern of its kind, the mosque follows
traditional Islamic styles along with the local architecture of Kuwait and the Gulf region, and is liberally
decorated with Islamic designs and calligraphy both inside and out. Click Here for more information on the
Grand Mosque.

The Kuwait Towers, the national symbol of the land, can be seen from most angles within Kuwait City and
the areas around it, and are comprised of three towers. The largest tower holds two large, globe shaped
chambers, one on top of the other. The top, and smaller, one is an observation deck with a cafeteria that
gives the visitor a full panoramic view of Kuwait City and the Arabian Gulf every half hour. The top half of
the lower, and larger, sphere houses three rotating restaurants, while the bottom half is a one million-gallon
water reservoir. The second tower holds one large globe, which is another water reservoir with a one
million-gallon capacity. The third structure is simply a long, pointed electricity tower, which illuminates the
other two towers and the surrounding grounds with 96 concealed spotlights. The Kuwait Towers are
recognized all over the world as being the dominant sight in Kuwait.

Click Here to visit our Photo Galleries section to view many different pictures of the Kuwaiti Towers.

Museums
Kuwait has about 50 different locations where the arts and antiquities are housed and preserved. The most
prominent of these is the Kuwait National Museum, which was opened in December 1957. The main
objective for this museum was, and still is, to represent the various aspects of Kuwait's cultural life and
heritage, and to display the country's history and civilization. The museum houses much of the country's
antiquities, and also exhibits collections of different forms of contemporary art. Besides having a lecture
hall and library, the museum also provides the public with a sophisticated planetarium, with old and modern
astronomical devices, maps, and manuscripts. Kuwait has several other, smaller museums as well. One
example is the Tareq Rajab Museum, which was originally built and run privately by the Rajab family.
Open to the general public since 1980, the museum houses a host of Islamic art and artifacts, ranging from
poetry and glass work, to musical instruments and jewelry.

The Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah (The Museum of Islamic Arts) has a collection of more than 20,000 items
of rare Islamic works, dating back twelve centuries to the rise of Islam. It also contains a specialized
library of several thousand books in different languages on Islamic history and heritage. This collection
belongs to Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Hussa Sabah Al-Salem
Al-Sabah, who personally preside over the administration of the museum. In addition, the museum holds
exhibitions, lectures, training sessions for tour guides, and applied art training in pottery and ornaments
making.

One of the most prominent forms of art that can be found in Kuwaiti museums is Bedouin art. The best
example of this can be found in the Al-Sadu House, established to preserve the traditional handicraft of
"sadu", which is the manufacturing and decoration of textiles made out of sheep wool. Click Here for more
detailed information on Sadu Weaving.

Music and Dance
Traditional music in Kuwait is another reflection of the country's diverse heritage. As a trading and
pearling center, Kuwait attracted foreigners who left their music with the inhabitants, while the Kuwaiti
traders brought back music from East Africa and India. The result was a rich, varied sound full of vitality.
Click Here for more information on the unique quality of the traditional music of Kuwait.

Traditional dance is another form of cultural art that is important in Kuwait. The Ardah dance involves the
use and skill of the sword, accompanied by the rhythm of drums and poetry reading. The Samri, Khamari ,
and tanboura are all dances and traditions that are performed at family and social gatherings, and
weddings.

The Formative Arts
The formative arts in Kuwait have reached a new level of international recognition, and the country has
established its own Society for Formative Arts. Several Kuwaiti artists have held exhibitions of their work
both locally and abroad. The origins of this genre of art can be traced back to 1959, when the formative
arts were first introduced into Kuwaiti schools. Today, it exemplifies the government's involvement in the
preservation of the arts; it is supported by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs, and Labor, as well
as by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. The State also attempts to patronize the arts by
designating ten thousand Kuwaiti Dinars annually for the selection and purchase of paintings by Kuwaiti
artists.

Theater
Theater is yet another mode of culture and art that is celebrated in Kuwait. Kuwaiti drama troupes have
won numerous prizes and awards all over the world, and several theatrical companies exist throughout the
country. Some examples of these are the Gulf Theater, the Popular Theater, and the Kuwaiti Theater. In
1973, the Ministry of Information established the Higher Institute for Theatrical Arts to prepare future
artists in the field of theatrical arts and ethics, and to promote widespread theatrical awareness and
appreciation.

Kuwait has a large variety of customs and traditions, and this gives rise to a colorful and extensive culture.
The government does what it can to preserve these customs, and the result of this conservation is a clear
and distinct Kuwaiti cultural identity.

Answer 9

Thanks for the answers!