Kuwait provides a distinctive fusion of Arabian heritage and modern luxury. It is a country with deep-rooted traditions, sophisticated skyscrapers, and abundant oil wealth. Knowing how to get currency is crucial while visiting places like the famous Kuwait Towers, lively souks, and seaside promenades. Despite the widespread acceptance of card payments, cash is still helpful in traditional marketplaces and for modest purchases. In order to provide a seamless financial experience during your trip, this guide offers essential information on cash and ATMs in Kuwait, such as withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance.
Where to find ATMs in Kuwait?
You can find ATMs in major cities like Kuwait City, Hawalli, and Salmiya, especially in commercial districts, shopping centers, and near bank branches. Banks such as Kuwait Finance House (KFH), National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), and Gulf Bank have extensive ATM networks. For instance, KFH provides a comprehensive list of their ATM locations on their website.
Popular destinations like The Avenues Mall, Souq Mubarakiya, and Kuwait Towers have ATMs within or nearby. Additionally, NBK offers multi-currency ATMs at Kuwait International Airport, allowing withdrawals in various currencies, including US Dollars, Euros, and British Pounds.
Don’t expect to find a lot of less populated regions.
Best ATMs to use in Kuwait for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Kuwait are those owned by popular banks such as:
- National Bank of Kuwait (NBK)
- KFH
- Al-Tijari
- Gulf Bank
- Boubyan Bank
- Ahli United Bank
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Kuwait.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
If the ATM asks you to Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in KWT), choose wisely.
- ‘Accept’ means ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate.
- ‘Decline’ means the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
To avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in KWT’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Kuwait?
Yes, Kuwaiti ATMs accept many foreign debit and credit cards – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus cards. Some of them accept American Express cards. Others like JCB, UnionPay, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
ATM operating hours
Many ATMs operate 24/7, especially those located outside of bank branches. If the ATM is inside a bank branch it is usually operational Sunday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM or Sunday to Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
What are ATMs called?
Word ‘ATM’ is used or ATMs have only the name of bank.
Language options at ATMs
Kuwaiti ATMs typically present Arabic and English as the primary languages. If you’re not familiar with it, use live translation via Google Translate’s camera function for getting a basic translation.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Kuwait?
ATMs dispense cash only in the local currency, Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD).
ATM withdrawal limits in Kuwait?
ATMs in Kuwait have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of KWD 2,000 (Kuwaiti Dinar KWD).
ATM Fees in Kuwait
Bank ATMs in Kuwait typically do not charge any ATM fees so there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Kuwait as a foreign cardholder!
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Kuwait. These are:
1. The ATM’s Currency Conversion Charges (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion charge (check with your bank what it is).
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Kuwait
- Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for Decline Conversion or Without Conversion during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Kuwait?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in this country on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Kuwait. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Kuwait.
Safety at ATMs
Kuwait is generally considered a safe destination for travelers, and ATMs are widely available in urban areas. However, instances of petty crime, including pickpocketing and ATM theft, have been reported, particularly in crowded public areas such as popular tourist spots, public transportation hubs, and shopping malls. It’s advisable to use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid displaying large amounts of cash after withdrawals. Regularly monitoring your bank statements can help detect any unauthorized transactions promptly.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM here swallows your card, here’s what you should do. First, if it happened at an ATM inside a bank branch, talk to the bank staff; they might be able to retrieve it if you show proof of identity. If not, call the bank’s helpline. They usually only recover and resend cards to their own customers. In that case, you’ll need to contact your own bank to arrange for a new card delivery, whether at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Kuwait?
Yes, there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Kuwait as a foreign cardholder as bank ATMs in Kuwait typically do not charge any ATM fees!
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Kuwait
Bitcoin ATMs
As of now, there are no known Bitcoin ATMs operating in Kuwait.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Kuwait
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs in Kuwait.
Citibank: Yes, Citibank operates here, offering banking services, including ATMs.
Barclays: No, Barclays is not present here.
HSBC: Yes, HSBC has a presence here but only for business customers and no ATMs.
Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not operate here.
