There is one question that is being asked over and over on the blog and I don’t seem to have a good answer for. How can you get food from the supermarket if you don’t have a Civil ID card? To book an appointment on the moci.shop website you need to have a Civil ID number but that means anyone in Kuwait on a tourist visa, or anyone that moved to Kuwait just before the government shut down and didn’t get their Civil ID yet won’t be able to book an appointment.
There was a blog post that got published yesterday about an American couple in Kuwait on tourist visas complaining about this. Although the article has some inaccurate information in it (there is no 30 item limit when shopping at the supermarket for example), it does highlight this issue further.
So how do you get food if you don’t have a Civil ID? The best options I’ve been able to come up with are the following:
– Order food from the bakala on your street since they are allowed to open during the lockdown.
– Order from the Coop with Whatsapp. Every area coop has a delivery service by Whatsapp and some even have websites. Visit your Coop Instagram account for more information.
Previously I’ve suggested ordering from Oncost since they were delivering during the lockdown but they’ve stopped that now. If you have another option other than the two I’ve listed, let us know in the comments.
Update: A few moments ago @mociq8 posted the graphic below. If you’re in Kuwait on a tourist or family visa you can now book an appointment!
34 replies on “Getting Food without a Civil ID Card”
Sultan Centre started their delivery service again yesterday afternoon (16 May).
tried booking a schedule today at coop block 10 salmiya but when I came there it was closed (without any announcement) and I am not the only one who came, some people also who has appointment at 9 am and a health worker. awful
you went to the wrong Salmiya coop. Only the main big one is open.
Please change your appointment date asap so that you don’t miss your time slot for the week.
Cooperatives like abu halifa rarely respond on their whatsapp nos. Ive been trying since 2 weeks but to no avail. Another friend of mine reported the same about his mangaf cooperative
Co-op isn’t an option. You need K-net and if you don’t have a civil ID you’re unlikely to have K-net.
Unless you get someone else to buy your shopping with their card and give them cash.
Umm, why is KNET a compulsion for Co-ops? I pay by my MasterCard credit card and its accepted.
Is it? Ive been trying to pay my STC bill by MasterCard since lockdown with no luck and now they cut me off. I presumed that Kuwaiti companies only took Kuwaiti cards.
maybe it’s just STC
I presumed that Kuwaiti companies only took Kuwaiti cards.
^^ Nope that is not the case.
I pay with my visa at the co-op and most other retail outlets in Kuwait … except for paying a phone bill LOL …. they do not take Amreeki credit cards
ah yeah good point
City center is delivering online again
Sultan Center resumed their online delivery as well.
The Co Op what’sapp service does not work. When I had a appointment at the Salwa Co Op I took the chance to ask the guy why is no one answering the what’sapp messages, and he simply said “we don’t have drivers, so we turned off the phone” could have said on your what’sapp status that the service is closed. 🙄
My aunt put her info and then she selected another CO OP not in her area then she input the number outside the door of her apartment and they gave her the permit. She lives in salmiya but her ID is on another area. Hope this helps.
How to get gas cylinder delivery at Salmiya Block 2? Anyone who has tried?
The day that you get your appointment to the co-op you can go and collect the gas directly from the gas Centre. This announcement was posted online yesterday.
Thank you
Iam on visit visa how can i apply for a appoinment ? Pls help
Make an appointment to salmiya co-op or city center , or any supermarket in the area and on the way there or back you can stop at the Gas Cylinder Station and change it. They might ask for a reservation but, but we said we don`t have one and they changed the cylinder for us.
Other wise try calling them on 25759272, not sure if the number is still correct.
Thank you
Two glaring problems here:
– Order food from the bakala on your street since they are allowed to open during the lockdown.
Almost all bakalas in my area have had inflated prices (even before this lockdown) and dont speak English. I stopped ordering from them after the first 2-3 times because of these issues.
– Order from the Coop with Whatsapp. Every area coop has a delivery service by Whatsapp and some even have websites. Visit your Coop Instagram account for more information.
There’s no Whatsapp or IG account for Bneid Al Gar or Dasma Coop (which is actually a City Center outlet).
So the solutions aren’t universal in nature.
How can we use sultan delivery? is it via Talabat?
You can book either through Sultan center’s website or their app.
Tried today and no delivery slot for a week… maybe its cause of the area I live (Riggae)… my friend in salmiya did order last night and got a slot for post 3 days.
I’m new here in jahra I came to Kuwait last Feb 20th my company didn’t arrange yet my visa or civil I D card but I’m having a one paper just a government paper that’s only I have it in my hand for everything. I’m struggling to buying a foods now I’m really help less and I haven’t receive my salary either if eny one can help me or give some foods stuffs that could be great.
I read it. These people should have stocked up weeks ago. The lockdown came into effect and all they had at home was a bag of marshmallows? Really?
Places that deliver and not necessarily need a civil ID:
– The Sultan Center (Website)
– @maqadhecom (instagram – website/app)
– @jm3eia (instagram – website/app)
they stopped delivering since the lockdown.
check their instagrams, they all posted that they are open for deliveries.
How can we buy from Bakalas during the curfew? I heard they’re open from 8AM to 4PM, but the curfew break is from 4:30PM!
Call him
oh how I miss an empty supermarket..
Isn’t it humorous how everything is being done by means of technology?
Did it really take a pandemic to move Kuwait into the 21st Century?