10,000 Egyptians, 5,000 Indians can fly to Kuwait every week

Government mulling increasing airport’s daily capacity from 7,500 to 10,000

After the Kuwaiti government lifted the ban on passengers travelling directly from six countries to Kuwait, civil aviation have determined the number of flight seats allocated to Egypt and India per week.

Direct flights from Egypt, operated by both Kuwaiti and Egyptian airlines, can carry 10,000 passengers a week. Flights from India have been allocated 5,000 seats a week.

Seat allocation on flights is yet to be done for the other four countries — Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Kuwait government is considering increasing daily capacity at the airport from 7,500 to 10,000 passengers, as demand increases.

Travel requirements

Since August 1, expats can enter Kuwait as long as they have received two doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Only those with a valid residency permit are allowed in.

Kuwait had imposed a seven-month ban on non-Kuwaitis entering the country.

As for Kuwaitis, starting August 1, only those who received both doses are allowed to travel outside the country. Those exempt are children under the eligible age group, pregnant women and people who cannot take the vaccine due to health issues. The rules differ for residents holding an Article 20 visa, which is specific for domestic workers. They are free to travel to Kuwait even if not vaccinated, but must quarantine in a hotel in Kuwait for 14 days.

Passengers who received two doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik vaccines can only enter if they take a third dose of one of the vaccines approved by Kuwait.

PCR test

Prior to arrival, all passengers need to take a PCR test conducted no more than 72 hours before arrival. They also need to download the Mosafer and Shlonik apps.

Once in Kuwait, all vaccinated passengers need to quarantine for a week, or do a PCR test in Kuwait and test negative to end quarantine.