Transport in Kuwait

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As a small country, local transport in Kuwait is largely road-based with one car for every 2.25 people. Bus services make up Kuwait's entire public transport network. There are seven airports in Kuwait, the largest of which and solely allocated for civil use is Kuwait International Airport. The Gulf Railway is currently under planning in Kuwait. [1] Kuwait has several maritime ports along the coast of the Persian Gulf, the largest port is Mubarak Al Kabeer Port which is currently under construction.

Contents

During the First Gulf War, a lot of Kuwait's infrastructure was damaged or destroyed. [2]

Road transport

As a nation with one car per 2.25 people, [3] Kuwait relies heavily on its road network for transportation. The total length of paved and unpaved roads was 6,524 km in 2009. [4] Traffic congestion is common throughout the day, particularly in Kuwait City. [5]

The country's public transport network consists entirely of bus routes. The state-owned Kuwait Public Transportation Company was established in 1962. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait. [6] The main private bus company is CityBus, which operates about 28 routes across the country. Another private bus company, Kuwait Gulf Link Public Transport Services, was started in 2006. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait and longer distance services to neighbouring Arab countries. [7]

Ports and harbors

The Ash Shu'aybah port Ash Shu'aybah port.jpg
The Ash Shu'aybah port

Kuwait lies on the Persian Gulf and ports include: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud, and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port.

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port

Under China's Belt and Road Initiative, the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is part of the first phase of the Silk City project. [8] [9] As of 2021, the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is currently under construction. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] In September 2020, it was reported that the port is 53% complete. [15] [16] In March 2021, it was announced that Kuwait and Pakistan will develop linkages between Gwadar Port and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port. [17] [18] In April 2021, the port's first phase was completed (4 berths). [13] As part of Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's development, Bubiyan Island will contain power plants and substations. [19] [11] [20] [21] A 5,000-megawatt power plant has already been built in Subiya, [22] the Subiya power plant is the largest power plant in Kuwait. [23] [24] [25] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is among Kuwait's largest infrastructure projects in 2021. [26] [27] There is a current road project connecting Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's first phase to the existing road network in Bubiyan Island. [28] [13] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port's fire stations are currently under development. [29] The port is set to be environmentally sustainable. [30]

Merchant marine


total: 38 ships (1000 GT or over) 2,294,233 GT/3,730,776 DWT
ships by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 20
foreign-owned: 1 (Iran 1)
registered in other countries:29 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1, Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 6, UAE 8) (2005)

Airports

Overview

There are seven airports, the largest of which and solely allocated for civil use is Kuwait International Airport. Kuwait International Airport recently inaugurated two new terminals to cater to Kuwait-based airlines. Moreover, the largest Kuwait International Airport terminal (Terminal 2) is currently under construction and will expand the airport's overall capacity by 25–50 million passengers per year. [31] The new terminal is environmentally sustainable. [32] [31] [33] It is one of the world's largest environment friendly airport projects. [33]

Airports - with paved runways

Airports - with unpaved runways

Heliports

Kuwait-based Airlines

This is a list of airlines currently operating in Kuwait.

AirlineArabic nameImage IATA ICAO Callsign Hubs Notes
Jazeera Airways طيران الجزيرة Jazeera Airways, 9K-CAJ, Airbus A320-214 (39243847214).jpg J9JZRJAZEERAKuwait International Airport
  • The airline commenced operations in 2004. [34]
  • The airline is Kuwait's second national airline after Kuwait Airways. [35]
  • The airline is the Middle East's first fully privately owned airline.
Kuwait Airways الخطوط الجوية الكويتية Kuwait Airways B777-300ER (9K-AOC) @ FRA, Aug 2017 (03).jpg KUKACKUWAITI Kuwait International Airport

Railways

Gulf Railway

Kuwait City will form one terminus of the Gulf Railway, a 2,000 km (1,200 mi) railway network which will run from Kuwait to Oman, via cities across the Persian Gulf. [1] As of 2021, the Gulf Railway project is currently under construction in Kuwait. [1]

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port in Bubiyan Island is part of the Gulf Railway. [38]

Metro

The Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit System Project was a planned four-line metro network covering 160 km with 69 stations. [39] The project was meant to solve the increasing congestion to the country's roads. [40] The project was eventually cancelled in 2023, citing financial burden. [41]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Kuwait</span>

Kuwait is a country in West Asia, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Kuwait is located at the far northwestern corner of the Persian Gulf. Kuwait is 17,820 square kilometres in size. At its most distant points, it is about 200 km (120 mi) north to south, and 170 km (110 mi) east to west. Kuwait has 10 islands. Kuwait's area consists mostly of desert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Kuwait</span>

The economy of Kuwait is a wealthy petroleum-based economy. Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the world. The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest-valued unit of currency in the world. According to the World Bank, Kuwait is the fifth richest country in the world by gross national income per capita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Pakistan</span>

Transport in Pakistan is extensive and varied. In recent years, new national highways have been built, with the addition of motorways which have improved trade and logistics within the country. Pakistan's rail network is also undergoing expansion in recent years. Airports and seaports have been built with the addition of foreign and domestic funding. Transportation challenges in Pakistan are escalating due to poor planning, inadequate governance, and corrupt practices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Saudi Arabia</span>

Transport in Saudi Arabia is facilitated through a relatively young system of roads, railways and seaways. Most of the network started construction after the discovery of oil in the Eastern Province in 1952, with the notable exception of Highway 40, which was built to connect the capital Riyadh to the economically productive Eastern Province, and later to the Islamic holy city of Mecca and the port city of Jeddah. With the economic growth of the 1970s, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has initiated many infrastructure development projects across the country, and the extensive development of the transportation network has followed suit in support of various economic developments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dammam</span> Capital of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. With a population of 1,532,300 as of 2022, Dammam is the kingdom's fourth-most populous city after Riyadh, Jeddah, and Mecca. Dammam constitutes the core of the Dammam metropolitan area, also known as the Greater Dammam area, which comprises the 'Triplet Cities' of Dammam, Dhahran, and Khobar. The region is closely linked to the city through social, economic, and cultural ties. As of 2022, the Dammam metropolitan area's population was 2,190,900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubiyan Island</span> Island in the Persian Gulf

Bubiyan Island is the largest island in the Kuwaiti coastal island chain situated in the north-western corner of the Persian Gulf, with an area of 863 km2 (333 sq mi). Bubiyan Island is part of the Shatt al-Arab delta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mubarak Al-Sabah</span> Ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, 1896–1915

Mubarak Al-Sabah "the Great", nicknamed "The lion of the peninsula", was the seventh ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, from 18 May 1896 until his death on 18 November 1915. Mubarak ascended the throne upon killing his half-brother, Muhammad Al-Sabah. Known for his significant role in shaping modern Kuwait, the constitution of the State of Kuwait mandates that the Emir of Kuwait must be a descendant of Mubarak from the ruling Al-Sabah family.

The Gwadar Port is situated on the Arabian Sea at Gwadar in Balochistan province of Pakistan and is under the administrative control of the Maritime Secretary of Pakistan and operational control of the China Overseas Port Holding Company. The port features prominently in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is considered to be a link between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Maritime Silk Road projects. It is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) southwest of Turbat, and 170 kilometres (110 mi) to the east of Chabahar Port.

Silk City is a large infrastructure project in northern Kuwait which is currently under development. The project will be built in individual phases. In May 2019, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway opened as part of the Silk City project's first phase, the project's first phase also includes Mubarak Al Kabeer Port which is currently under construction. The Silk City project is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuwait</span> Country in West Asia

Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the north and Iran with the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia to the south. With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), Kuwait also shares a maritime border with Iran. Most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of Kuwait City, the capital and largest city. As of 2023, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million, of which 1.53 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.29 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries. In 2024 the population of Kuwait has risen to 4.93 million which is a population increase of 1.98% from 2023.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) was formed by the decree number 17 for the year 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heathrow Terminal 5</span> Airport terminal at London Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Terminal 5 is an airport terminal at Heathrow Airport, the main airport serving London. Opened in 2008, the main building in the complex is the largest free-standing structure in the United Kingdom. Until 2012, the terminal was used solely by British Airways. It now is used as one of the three global hubs of IAG, served by British Airways and Iberia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Kuwait-related articles</span>

This page list topics related to Kuwait.

Shuwaikh Port is an urban industrial area within the Al Asimah Governorate in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Mubarak Al Kabeer Port is a port in Bubiyan Island, Kuwait. The port is currently under construction. In April 2021, the port's first phase was completed. The port is part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Areas of Kuwait</span>

Kuwait is divided into six governorates, and in each there are several areas. Areas are much less commonly called by other names such as districts or towns. However they are commonly known inside the English-speaking community in Kuwait as, and are officially translated as, areas. The Arabic word for area, Mintaqah, can mean both mean area and region. Areas are further subdivided into blocks, each of which is refereed by to a number. All blocks are divided into streets (شوارع). However, some areas may be further subdivided into جادات Jaddāt, which might be translated to avenue or lane.

The Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway is a causeway in Kuwait with an estimated construction value of approximately US$2,66 billion under China's Belt and Road Initiative, the causeway is part of the first phase of the Silk City project. The causeway spans the Bay of Kuwait in two directions and comprises two projects: Main Link, which connects Kuwait City with northern Kuwait ; and Doha Link, which connects Kuwait City with Doha. It crosses two artificial islands which were constructed for entertainment and tourism purposes. The causeway project is part of Kuwait Vision 2035.

Subiya or al-Subiyah is a region in northern Kuwait on the north coast of Kuwait Bay (Kuwait), consisting of several micro-regions: Bahra, H3, Nahdain, Radha, Muhaita, Mughaira, Dubaij, and Ras al-Subiyah. The area features archaeological sites with tumuli graves, settlements, campsites, wells, and shell middens. Most of the tumuli date to the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Subiya is the location of the Silk City project, the project's first phase was launched in May 2019.

South al-Mutlaa is a new city under construction in Jahra Governorate, northern Kuwait. It is the largest housing project in the Kuwaiti history, ultimately intended to provide homes for 400,000 people in 12 suburbs, together with schools, mosques, mini-markets and health-centres. The city was approximately 39% complete by May 2019, and is expected to be completed by 2023. South al-Mutlaa is one of several new cities planned by the Kuwaiti government, alongside South Saad Al Abdullah and South Sabah Al Ahmad. On 29 March 2023, A French company by the name of Egis Group has taken management over the construction of the city.

The Grand Faw Port is a port under construction on the coast of Iraq, in proximity of the city of Al-Faw, on the northern tip of the Persian Gulf.

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