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Some Co-op’s Allowing Kuwaitis to Skip the Long Lines

A couple of days ago my friend was telling me that she went to her local Co-op and spotted the chairs outside with people sitting and waiting to get in. So she went up to the guy in charge and asked him where she should wait. He then asked her if she was Kuwaiti and when she said yes he told her she didn’t have to wait and they let her in. This morning I read a post on reddit about a similar situation where they were also letting Kuwaitis enter without having to wait in line while expats were forced to wait. It doesn’t seem to be happening at all co-ops but it’s still pretty messed up that it’s even happening. It’s like every time I feel like the rift between expats and locals closes, something like this happens to open it up again.

75 replies on “Some Co-op’s Allowing Kuwaitis to Skip the Long Lines”

As a white woman, I was also escorted to the front of the queue outside whilst at least 20 or 30 men had to sit and wait outside.

It’s sad but typical for a country that is systemically taught to be wary of and/or hate Asians.

Women and senior citizens must gø before men. Thats absolutely fine.

Although they do allow anyone to shop there isn’t it really a government cooperative for citizens? The head of house is given a number to track purchases.

In jleeb they were letting ladies in regardless of nationality & in one case while I was waiting they let a kuwaiti couple in too who in all fairness were in there 50s or 60s…

Now theres some nonsense about not selling to non-residents of that area based on the address on there civil ID cards?

What happened to surplus supplies? What the guy doesn’t have a car OR for some reason is living somewhere & the address belongs to somewhere else?

Is the measure only for residents or citizens also? If so then that rift bit is sorted. Otherwise its just another one of those ridiculous things this country can’t shake itself from!

Kuwait has more priority to kuwaitis
and then to arabs and then to americans and then to the rest of the world.
And btw i dont think kuwaitis with african ancestry is different to normal kuwaitis.

Shameful and racist!
Because viruses discriminate, right?
SMH… Some countries will never learn. All these expats built your cities, literally.

And im not one for women get privileges either. That man is someones father and husband, as equally as she could be someone’s mother or wife. When will they get over this?

Isnt that always the case in gov hospitals?! I have seen Kuwaiti women just barge into the doctors room just ignoring all the people who are waiting outside with their token.

Last week the same happened to me, but in a hospital. My daughter was rushed to the hospital as we doubted she was choking. The egyption guard didn’t allow me to go along with my wife to the doctor. The way he was talking was as if iam dying to see how it looks like inside. At the same time he just allowed Kuwait couples and other young chaps to go inside without even asking. I know these guys don’t have the balls to stop them. But what pissed me off is that a Kuwait adminstration guy came out where I was standing and asked me to go and sit in my car rather standing there. His body language was very annoying as if he is least bothered to understand what iam saying..
I don’t blame anyone here but me
Everyone is a lion in his own country that message I wanted to relay it out to all these kind of people.

Its probably because maybe the couples were visitors or the wife was sick, and as for you they dont want to crowd the hospital since your wife isnt sick.

You seem……surprised. C’mon bro, you know the drill. Hell, they’ve even got some hospitals JUST for locals (although most of the staff are expats) As for the coops, or course that’s the case, just like everywhere here. Racism is alive and well, both on social media and in real life wherever you go to finish any sort of government paper anywhere anytime. As a matter of fact, I think it’s getting worse by the day….

Kuwaitis cant even get treated in most hospitals because you go there and its 1000 egypt/india/etc people waiting in lines so a kuwaiti will pass and go to private hospital unless he is dirt poor he stay and wait

so its the other way, all Hospitals are for none kuwaiti mostly 99% only one hospital is for kuwaiti (AND ITS NOT now, because it become the center for treating corona virus even none kuwaiti)

The coops are funded operated and managed primarily by Kuwaitis for Kuwaiti interests so citizens should of course get priority over the rest- no two ways about it. However, the waters start getting murkier when people start discriminating between and among expats basis how melanin deprived they are, i.e. European and American expats before Arab expats before South East Asian expats. There can be no justification for this kind of vile behavior.

And it is precisely this kind of damning discrimination which finds an echo in the deep American South. The American South has always been about White privilege and not about Americans together against white foreigners. Equally, you see this kind of class and accent discrimination in all walks of life not just in Kuwait but all over the world which I find to be profoundly disturbing. Often this discrimination in Kuwait is expat on expat discrimination- nationals are not always part of this equation which makes it all the more poignant.

Alot of South East Asian expats may be dark complexioned and not appear tidy- many may be poor (even hand to mouth), illiterate and appear trashy but they are NOT bad or lazy people. Just that they are down on their luck and trying to improve their lot by the sheer dint of working hard in Kuwait with its hostile non welcoming and non nurturing environment and all. All we are asking is for people (citizens and expats) to be civil with them if not particularly nice.

As a ministry of health employee i can assure you there are no kuwaiti only hospitals. None. It never happened and never will. The ‘people’ wanted it, the ministry of health employees alllllll collectively told them its not gonna happen because of our ethical duties. plus as you said, a lot of expats work within hospitals. please don’t spew garbage unsubstantiated rumours. As for co-ops…with the large number of local shareholders in the coops with corresponding civil ID’s SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY over the local coop over anyone. expat or kuwaiti. I know Shamiya coop was getting drained and the locals shareholders couldn’t even get bread, they started allowing people in with a shamiya civil ID and shareholder number. I don’t think that’s unfair or uncivil. Plenty of private supermarkets and plenty of food to go around. Anything happening now is reactionary based on how people are acting. Non kuwaities are getting free treatment by the ministry of health if they have corona, find me ONE country in the world that would offer to do that. i lived in america and the uk and neither would do that unless you pay or have insurance. Be grateful, the grass isn’t greener i can guarantee you that. Rant over. Also, hi mark! see, i do check your blog 😀

I hardly need to use a healthy facility in Kuwait, but last year when i had a throat infection, i was told that i had to go to a clinic as hospitals arent for expats and i can only go there in the morning as that is the time designated for expats.
I went to the sharq clinic (i stay in sharq) in the morning and they told me my civil id says I need to go to farwaniya clinic (where my civil id says i live – stupid office HR caused this). So i take a bus and go all the way to farwaniya to get it diagnosed.

Using a civil ID system is great, but most private companies dont give a shit about their employees and there are a lot of limitations on which the companies must operate under. Also, the insurance in this country is a joke.
The US has terrible healthcare policy and they are trying a lot to rectify this. most Americans can afford healthcare only if their employers provide them insurance. this is a terrible state to be in if you lose your job. However, i believe corona diagnotics and treatment was declared to be free. they have no choice here. corona will hurt the pockets of the politicians.
Canada, european countries, Australia have a more socialistic outlook to healthcare and have great healthcare for the masses.

No that is not correct – there has been no issuance of free corona testing and treatment, no where in the world can afford that. Every country is worried over the economic shit show that is to come after paying all the corona infection expenses. the US barely has 5000 hospital beds to accommodate the entire US! As for your issue with going to the wrong place based on your civil ID, thats what happens world wide. Do you think the Dr in the uk would let me into their office for treatment if i wasn’t a registered patient in that post code and area? Do you think if i went to the doctor it would cost me 2KD FOR JUST A STAMP and that would include medication and dr time? No you are once again wrong, you pay for medication. You pay if you schedule and appointment and miss it. Oh also; walk in service doesn’t exist. You are sick? Call and book an appointment which may be weeks later. Antibiotics cost the equivalence of 15kd for a 5 day course. If you have a headache they tell you go to a pharmacy and buy panadol the dr won’t see you. I have a million other examples. So you do the maths and let me know if you think canada and europe have better healthcare. I’ve been in healthcare since 2003 – i know the field well. Please don’t make further assumptions and know-it-all statements – you will embarrass yourself 🙂 Mark, this is so much fun…! This self quarintine has made me a troll!

I have no idea where you got your information, but 5,000 hospital beds for the entire US is grossly grossly mistaken. That would mean that each of the 50 states has 100 beds each. The US has over 5,000 HOSPITALS alone, so you should know there are way more beds.Proper research would show you that there 924,107 staffed hospital beds in the US. While it is not nearly enough for the possible outcome of this pandemic, it is certainly not “5000”.

Oh sorry my apologies – the 5000 figure i was throwing around is for ICU beds equipped with ventilators. It’s the figure you hear repeatedly on reputable news channels – having 100 ICU beds equipped with ventilators per state is not unfathomable. Let’s assume the ICU figurr is wrong by a factor of 10, it’s still nothing for what’s to come.
The almost 1 million hospital beds you are referring to are useless if they are not in an ICU facility for the severe pneumonia cases. These useless 1 million hospital beds in america are also attached to a a hefty bill that you would need to cover or have your insurance provider partly cover. Almost 1 million beds to accommodate JUST the super elite? Definitely not something to be proud of.

Thank you for this. Unfortunately many of our fellow expats tend to think racist twitter rants are actual policy

As for coops, yes each area’s residents/shareholders should be allowed some advantages. There’s enough food and other items to go around and the weather isn’t that bad to queue outside for now.

Remember this is not permanent!

Im not Kuwaiti but I honestly cant blame them for this as co-ops share their profits to those that take part in them (only locals). I would expect the same treatment in my country too, especially when facing a global epidemic like this.

Right…. a woman just posted her totals for medical bill from being treated for Corona in US health system…….

35,000 USD which is about 10,700 KWD !!!!

Couldnt agree more with Abdulwahab, Kuwait is providing Covit 19 testing and treatment for free, yet they’re highlighting the fact that they cant go into a coop and priority is for kuwaities.

الله يعز ديرتنا والله

There is a state called Kerala in India is giving free treatment and food for all the ppl who are in quarantine regardless of their nationality. 🙂

You are seeing the real Kuwait. I don’t live there anymore but I was just tired of seeing this on a real day to day basis. Expats especially the one from Asian countries will always be third class citizens in Kuwait and the mentality will never change as long as there is no international exposure/education with the locals.

When has the rift ever closed? For the past month all of Kuwaiti twitter was acting like Egyptians are the cause of all corona in the world because they eat bat soup apparently. Even after the MOH daily new infections and their origin showed that the infections in Kuwait are about 45% from Iran and 50% from Europe. I’ve actually seen 4 cases that the MOH has attributed to travelers from Egypt.

It’s sad but typical for a country that is systemically taught to be wary of and/or hate Asians.

Women and senior citizens must gø before men. Thats absolutely fine.

Was at shaab coop specifically told a lady, who just asked if “families” were allowed to skip the line, that everybody takes a turn Kuwaiti non Kuwaiti family or bachelor

Not defending the situation (at least not fully), and I didn’t read all the comments, but it could be that the management are giving Kuwaitis the priority for those who go to the co-op themselves. You see many, MANY, people rely on their drivers and help to do the shopping for them, and others have to go there themselves. So to be fair, yeah I would understand the Kuwaiti-over-other-Kuwaitis prioritizing, because that would make sense. However, there are always victims in these situations (the help), and this would make it just wrong.

As for other non-Kuwaitis doing the shopping for themselves, of course this is not fair. Hopefully there are better solutions, and I myself did my part by leaving the co-op when I saw a long line instead of trying to take advantage of being Kuwaiti and get ahead of anyone.

This is exactly what is going on
These are supermarkets within obviously cities that is 99% Kuwaitis in them so most of these are maids and drivers

Its not racist at all, it would be racist if it was in a city where its full of none-Kuwaitis
Why would i sit in the sun for 1hour because i dont have money for my own driver/maid?

Heck i’d say Mark post here in this blog is racist and paint a wrong picture
There are even countries already not even treating none-citizen for corona i didnt hear none-Kuwaiti not getting treated here

How is this blog post racist? If it’s painting a “wrong picture” it isn’t my fault because I’m reporting it, it’s the co-ops fault for letting it happen.

Because this is a CO-OP within a city that have kuwaiti houses only no towers etc
You are telling me i gotta stand in line for 1 hour in the sun because i can’t offer a maid or driver?
You know what kuwaitis will do? i’m sure you know, they will ignore the law and enter regardless because we don’t care about the elites that send their maid/drivers for their shopping

This is not america where we bow down our head and accept the reality that we don’t have as much money, we would stay in line if there was other kuwaitis but wont for drivers and maids not because we are racists but because we don’t care about the rich people

Its racist because it paint a wrong picture of kuwait , plenty of other countries toss you out in the street if you were sick (including us the kuwaitis when we visit Gulf countries, they want us to pay)

A country that spends billions over none kuwaitis have no issues selling bread to none kuwaitis we are not that cheap neither we are treating them as second class

If something similar was in the west people would do exactly as us, name me a country in the west that has a maid/drivers in almost every house

Special circumstances require special solutions.

Ok you clearly don’t understand what racism is or what painting a wrong picture means. I actually you think due to your language barrier you actually missed the point of the post and are continuing to misread everyone’s comments here.

Oh i read the comments i don’t need to quote them because they are too many and obviously clear but maybe you should

Your post is very loud and clear that Kuwait practice racism even against poor people buying Food during hunger oh noes so don’t play innocent here mark.

Have you seen how many people buy food and resell it that got closed? please tell me how many of them were kuwaiti?

Heck once i want to co-op and they asked for my ID (which i lost bad freaking timing cant even get replacement currently) so they didn’t allow me to enter even though im a kuwaiti (I did enter though didn’t argue i just entered and told him go call the cops if you don’t like it)

Racism is illegal in Kuwait, we are a minority within our own country and every country has laws for their minorities so imagine now if that was their own country.

Go read the comments here again and see the stupid arguments used to paint Kuwaiti as racist. we have another problem in kuwait which is privilege not racism you are black american? you get passes, you are white indian? oh too bad its about the $$$ same with rent etc heck i cant even rent an apartment and im a kuwaiti see the racism? we need strict laws to solve our issues not to paint everything as racist

This post in this blog is racist mark and you know it.

Happened to me in salam co-op yesterday. Kuwaitis where allowed in while other had to take a number and wait for their turn. When I confronted the person(kuwaiti ) who was letting people in. His response was “its there country the have the right to go in… u guys can wait 10-15 minutes”.

I guess he gets points for honesty and what he truly feels about expats.

Mark thank you for standing up for equality and justice. I don’t know the full story of the Co-op here, if it was just preference for gender or nationality.

I know you faced backlash for your post about Adidas before. Unfortunately people won’t really understand the issue about racism until they face it themselves in a foreign land. Some feel it’s their privilege and right to receive preferential treatment.

I know if this was happening in your own country you would’ve spoken out about it. I would too. And thankfully there are good Kuwaiti people who understand this issue and want fair treatment for others as well.

Hope we can find more people who fear God and know it is one’s moral responsibility to love their neighbor as themselves.

Stay strong Mark! Use your platform to make this world a better place. 💪🏽

This is freaking sick, I would love to report them. What Co op is doing this. Like seriously in a time of pandemic your gona choose who gets to eat first. This is f**king sick!

Racism , sexism and general prejudice towards expats is alive and well in Kuwait as well as in many parts if the world . The corona virus does not discriminate and it will only get a lot worse before it gets better . And not to play the devils advocate but I do hope that this virus effects the worst of us while sparing the best. All I can hope for is that the world after this pandemic becomes a better and more tolerant . And if hoping that puts me in the naughty list so be it .

I think any person above 60-65, pregnant, with a child, with disability, or with a special diseases should be allowed regardless of the nationality or ancestry
This is how i 2ws raised and this is how all religions taught us
Ppl who are healthy and young like me can wait in lines
These are temporary measures… So everyone have to understand
That is what i personally think

I went to Lulu in Qurain where single men were waiting outside the door, they let an old Kuwaiti guy, myself and other women in ahead but we were met with another 2 lines waiting to get inside and no one had priority there. They weren’t taking temps but offered gloves and hand sanitizer.

It make sense for Kuwaitis to skip line because:
1. they are minority in their own country and skipping the line gives them equal opportunity to shop for groceries.
2. the expats queuing are mostly drivers and maids who are paid to do groceries. Waiting little longer cases no harm.
3. It is called a Co-Op. Kuwaitis own a share of it. I don’t see an issue when share holders enter a place they own.
4. The usual “if you don’t like it then leave”. I’m sure many Kuwaitis will be more than happy to cover the airfare and any other travel expenses!

1. This is not a war between Kuwaitis and Non-Kuwaitis, we are all in this together.
2. I still think they should go in based on first come first serve, but with priority given to the elderly, women, and people with disabilities.
3. I understand your point here.
4. My grandparents came to Kuwait in the 60’s, my parents were born and raised here, and I was born and raised here. I’m 25 and I’ve only visited “my country” twice in my life, so I consider Kuwait to be my homeland. I know its very easy for you to just say “not my problem, leave if you don’t like”, but its always better to be positive and think about the people who consider this place their home.

My life is similar to yours my parents came to Kuwait in the 70’s and I have lived here all my life and I too consider Kuwait to be my home . But I ask you this , does Kuwait consider you to be a part of their citizenry ? Do Kuwaiti’s consider you to have equal rights as them ? .

So yes Kuwait is my home but it will never be my homeland.

At this moment, it does not. However, all my Kuwaiti friends consider me a Kuwaiti because of my growing up with them and just in general being culturally Kuwaiti.

I hope that one day we are recognized on an official level. I don’t mean by being given full citizenship, but by being given permanant residency and such.

Unless I am forcfuly kicked out of Kuwait, it will always be my homeland.

4. Ok then let all the expat doctors and nurses who are treating the patients leave the country. Let all the expat drivers who are delivering your food and groceries while you sit at the comfort of your home, leave the country. Let all the cleaners who clean the roads and clear the garbage bins, leave the country. All these people are risking their lives and doing their work for us all. So the least you can do is just treat them with respect.

Oh how kind of you all, I’m sure all of you are doing it for Free just laughable
Front lines currently are mostly kuwaities treating sick people, and we don’t say “see we are treating you without us you would die blaH BLAH and what deliveries do you even read the news? restaurants are barely working and Kuwaiti volunteers are everywhere

The respect goes both way. you are replaceable and guess what most countries doesn’t even accept “low skill” immigrants, we can offer to clean our garbage we did it during thre war , just because people have luxuries life styles doesn’t mean they are useless and cant manage their stuff.

Only in kuwait you see this laughable ARGUMENTS “we built your country. without us you crash etc” no we don’t, our money did thanks and bye

I never said ppl are working here for free. I just said this “laughable” comment “if you dont like it, you can leave” should stop. Not everyone is as privileged as you are and some have liabilities so they put up with this arrogant behavior. Having said that, my family and i have been lucky to be able to work with amazing Kuwaitis who have been educated abroad so their whole perspective is way different from the backward thinking ppl like yourself.

Also am referring to my Talabat deliveries which am sure is made by an expat.

“we can offer to clean our garbage we did it during thre war ” – what’s stopping you now?

Stay classy Kuwait.

The quicker you realize that the virus doesn’t discriminate based on nationality, the better things will be for everybody.

i’m not Kuwaiti, just a expat always getting mistaken as a American, and same thing happened to me yesterday, i just walked up willing to wait and the guy waved me in while there was like 20 people outside. everyone outside was from Asian countries.

And it has to be all ladies and senior citizens before men….not just some ladies before Asian måles.
Asian women including the House helps should get a preference.

The mentality of most locals in Kuwait is still most Georgia and Albama like and the only way this can change is if there are voices of dissent from within the rank and file of the Kuwaiti gentry, notably the first class Kuwait citizens.

It is a long and arduous process but hopefully, one that must begin. No point expats making some noise about it over here as essentially we are preaching to the converted.

I know what you’re trying to say but there is a key difference here

The “Alabama” mentality you are mentioning is by citizens against citizens. It is primarily Americans attacking other Americans.

In Kuwait there is a strict difference between “I am Kuwaiti” and “You will not be Kuwaiti”. The assumption is most expats are here for a couple of years to make some money and leave and don’t want to be part of the permanent development of the country

Which is also flawed because I know loads of expats who are like… still here after their grandparents came

same shit happening in Australia, non aussie are not allowed to shop pre 5pm, i dont see whats the big deal for kuwait ?

I am in Alberta, Canada, one of the provinces with a high number of positive COVID cases, though still much, much lower than in many other countries. There is no charge for COVID testing here, nor is there a charge for hospitalization and treatment as a result of COVID infection. All purported cases are screened and those in need of testing are selected by the public health officials. There is no bias or discrimination. The health care here is “free” but is, in fact, paid collectively by the annual taxation of all residents. As a case in point, my young granddaughter recently underwent a two year series of major surgeries – at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The cost to the family – nothing! I was recently diagnosed with an advanced and progressively-worsening disability. The cost involved for diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care – nothing. Should I, at some time in the future, need highly specialized care, that will be provided. The cost? Nothing!

Excuse me.. socialism bad, ok? Don’t support it, please. Look at [insert socialist country that was embargoed by the whole world], see how it worked out for them?

This is a sad post. Sad in the sense that the rift of hate has opened up in the comments section yet again and is always triggered by posts like this. In a time like this when Kuwait is really doing all it can to help everybody in this country, and it’s doing a fantastic job to keep everyone safe through it’s efforts, it’s almost disgusting to see the amount of negativity being spread here. This whole, Kuwaitis are allowed this and expats aren’t allowed that bitter whining is getting really tiresome and old. Jesus, just get over it already. It’s their country and citizens at the end of the day.

I bet most of it is over-dramatic and exagerated. As it always turns out.

Wow… so much hate in here. looks like no matter what the situation is, people just need an opportunity to rant and vent out their frustration about how things aren’t perfect.

Kuwait has a lot of issues but has arguably been the best in dealing with this pandemic so far.

If you logically consider the position of Kuwait, then you will understand its mindset.

Kuwait has approximately 2 million foreigners, to its one million + population.

In terms of security, the Kuwaitis will always hold the upper hand, rightfully so.

Having said that, the younger generation of Kuwaitis have fallen short of proper conduct and diplomacy. Many times than not, they can be downright abusive towards expats of ALL nationalities, but I admit, third world citizens take the grunt of it.

This is also a contentious subject which involves family livelihoods, and their incomes which economically stimulates their poor nations.

On one hand, the Kuwaitis are providing much needed income and employment. In turn, the Kuwaitis have relied on such people to the point, they cannot, or unwilling to do for themselves.

I prefer Kuwaitis to roll up their sleeves and work in all sectors of society. Not just as managers, but as workers themselves. I was always taught, since I was a child, you start at the bottom and work your way up. You get up, when you have fallen. It’s called grit and perseverance.

The education system must change as well. We as teachers should be preparing students for realistic, much needed PROFESSIONALS in the service sector. I would think the government at this point in history would prefer people ‘who can do’, rather than become a perpetual liability.

I’m behind you Kuwait. I know you can do it!

I am Kuwaiti and I agree with you Mark I see that a lot in Kuwait but I’ve also seen the same discrimination in the US and UK while studying abroad. It’s sadly the world we live in. I just wait for the day people understand that we are all just human.

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