Can a British Driver Drive in Kuwait? — IDP Required + a Side Switch

British drivers get a qualified yes in Kuwait, and the qualifications matter more than usual. Your UK licence works only with an International Driving Permit, and unlike most destinations that just suggest one, Kuwait requires it. On top of that you face a side switch and an absolute alcohol ban. None of these is a deal-breaker, but all three deserve attention before you collect a car.

The licence verdict — IDP is mandatory, not optional

For Kuwait, treat the IDP as required equipment: carry it with your UK licence and passport, and arrange it in Britain before departure, because you cannot get one on arrival. Your home licence is generally valid for short visits of up to three months. The “required” status is the headline difference from a typical European trip, where an IDP is merely advisable.

The side switch

The UK drives on the left; Kuwait drives on the right. This is the adjustment most likely to trip you up, and the danger window is the first day — joining a roundabout that now flows the other way, pulling out of a forecourt, or glancing the wrong way at a junction. Start somewhere quiet rather than in Kuwait City traffic, and be deliberate at every turn until right-hand driving feels normal.

Zero alcohol, and fast roads

Kuwait enforces a 0.00 alcohol limit, and alcohol is banned in the country outright — so the rule is simply no drinking before driving, ever. On speed, towns are a low 45 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, and motorways a brisk 120 km/h, which is faster than the British motorway norm — stay within your comfort zone in the heavy, quick highway traffic. Fuel is cheap at around $0.35/litre, and the emergency number is 112.

Confirm the mandatory permit with the Driving Permit Checker, read the full rules on the Kuwait driving guide, and check the wider Gulf context on the Speed Limit Map.