We’re all on the same side here

Brilliant post.

Well said Mark !

I often liken criticizing a country to a parent criticizing their child. It just shows that you care and you want the country to be the best it can be.

Is this analogy a logical fallacy? Yes it is, but it works for me.

Irrelevant side note: Have you by any chance been able to see the Entourage movie? I was crushed to find out that they banned it here. Can’t say that I’m surprised though.

I didn’t even know it was banned. I guess I need to go to Dubai and watch it there

Darn it, I wish I could go to Dubai but the sweltering heat + humidity there is just too much.

Piven will always be my number one JILF.

*crying in a corner*

Entourage is going to be butchered in Dubai. The movie contains nudity, sex, drugs and profanity in the same extent as Wolf of Wall Street. I recommend you watch it online, don’t bother travelling to another country to watch a censored version.

In Kuwait they banned it because there’s a new rule which says the MOI can’t release movies which have too many scenes cut. They released the Wolf of Wall Street in Kuwait’s cinemas and it was butchered (50 minutes in Kuwait, in Dubai 45 minutes were cut). Now people won’t have to waste their money since this means butchered version won’t be released in the first place.

Go to Lebanon it’s better.

The Benihana part at the end. Well done Mark, well done.

Translation: “I came to Kuwait because I wanted to live in a Muslim country”. From reading his letter, this guy probably has the same mentality as the policeman who arrested him. “I am a Muslim in a Muslim country so I can getaway with breaking these foreign ideas called the law”. Hypocrisy beyond belief. I lost whatever little sympathy I had for this guy.

That’s a huge assumption to make, it is essentially stating all Muslims are rule/law breakers, perhaps he was wanting to migrate to a region/country where he felt he could eat halal food at all restaurants, be able to have a place to pray close at hand, be able to fast in a country that accommodates it (ie shorter working hours), people migrate for many reasons, financial, religious, quality of life, however to typecasting someone for this desire I personally find hugely unfair.

You can have halal food in Amsterdam next to the Red Light District and there is a mosque right next to the Bulldog Cafe, so stop it with the Islamophobia card. It doesn’t work anymore. This is not about Islam, it’s about people breaking the law. This guy was deported for knowingly breaking the law, and not a moment too soon. Good riddance.

Yes you can have halal food in Europe, however this person may have not wanted to have to find such things but rather have them easily accessible. Regardless, my point was you previously stated you had sympathy for him, however that changed when you found out his desire was to move to a Muslim country, which then in your words meant he must also have a desire to break the law. That thought process is prejudicial and not sure how you can say it isn’t.

Read the English version of his letter and compare it to the Arabic one, totally unrelated. Different B.S. for different crowds. This guy was trying to play the system and it didn’t work. The system works. I feel sorry for the U.K. for granting this pretender citizenship. Good riddance.

So the English letter was tailored to non arab expats sympathies by emphasizing abuse and mistreatment and innocence, while the Arabic letter which is not a translation at all of the English letter is tailored to sympathies of Arabs and muslims, also accepting his violation and stating he “didn’t know what he was thinking” and giving apologies to the minister.

Also the Arabic is very bad.

If you don’t like it, leave.

if you don’t like us not liking it, you leave

How old are you?

How does his/her age matter?

I’m only commenting because I thought that Benihana joke is hilarious LOL

Well said Mark XD

i was born and raised here and even though i am from a different nationality (a passport doesn’t mean shit to me), i relate more to kuwait than i ever do with the country i have my roots from. no matter what anybody says, hates or loves kuwait, i’ll always love kuwait from the bottom of my heart. i was born here and i was raised here, and it’s home to me. no matter where i travel, i think of kuwait.)

and mark, i have been reading your blog since 2005, even the miskan blog and the other blog you did with nibaq. you changed my perspective on a lot of things in kuwait and i owe a lot to you to build the whole forum and keep this blog going. it’s like i grew up from my childhood reading your blog and i hope that means something to you.

that being said, the benihana joke was funny. 😀

Same, I lived my entire life here, when you say return to your country. How is it my country when I never lived in it. Everyone I knew I knew from here. My country is the country of my father and mother. But I only know the country I lived in. I am more of a foreigner on my country than here in Kuwait.

there are lots of people like you. am also born here.. raised here. my father came to Kuwait in late 60s.. and i, my self never went to my passport country… my home is Kuwait. i studied here.. working here.. married here.. and imagin now with me..if i did any small mistake and get deported to my passport country and visit it for the first time 😛

Doesn’t matter what you and I think… there’s no difference between you, me and the guy who came to Kuwait yesterday.

Interesting how the letter in Arabic is completely different than the one in English. In Arabic he is begging the Minister for forgiveness, while in English he is trashing the authorities.

If you found a bug in your food, wouldn’t you complain then leave? I don’t see why you’d stay.

The teacher knew he was breaking the law. But I agree with you, a misdemeanor like this does not warrant a deportation.

Can you read why he broke the law and drove without a Kuwaiti license? He was taking his daughter to the hospital. I have to admit that it isn’t legal, but it wasn’t unethical either.

Also, deportation is too steep of a punishment for unlicensed driving; here in the UAE you only get fined AED 100 (roughly KD 8).

The contrast though is dramatic.

What about the 364 other days of the year he drove his car without a licence?

The letter clearly states that the car he borrowed was a friend’s. Under Kuwaiti law, he couldn’t have bought or registered the car if didn’t have a Kuwaiti driver’s license. What made you think he was constantly breaking the law?

Because.
What makes you think he wasn’t?

Why do you have this negative presumption of people? Haven’t you heard of the benefit of the doubt?

No but I’ve heard of assumption – is that what you mean?

There is no law in Kuwait which forbids someone who doesn’t have a driver’s license from owning a car.

He could have taken his daughter in a taxi, the way most of us earthlings have to make do, either a bus or a cab or a ride with a friend. He didn’t need to borrow a car and drive without a license.

Deportation is too steep for this particular incident. However, he broke the law.

Yes- I think had we seen this letter first we might have had a whole different viewpoint ?
Re trashing the country verbally – of course Mark everyone has a right to complain and nowhere is perfect, but you have to admit that there are people out there with a grudge who immediately jump on the ‘I hate Kuwait. It’s all Kuwaitis fault’ bandwagon at any possible opportunity. I don’t think any nation- UK, France, Kuwait, Lebanon, USA etc needs these people. Perhaps that’s the point us ‘kuwait defenders’ we’re trying to make. To pretend life is perfect here would be idiotic but here are no Utopias.
Could someone post an accurate translation ?

Well Said. I like to see a polite defense of Kuwait. I like to see the patriotism of the citizens. It also isn’t fair for all expats to spend all their time complaining. Most people are here because they are able to earn more than than they could in their home countries.

There are many opportunities for Kuwait to improve and over time I believe they will. I have yet to visit a perfect country. they all have their Pro’s and Con’s

you guys have no clue, ZERO clue about what its like for a low income expat in Kuwait. so by the same lack of knowledge you continue to defend Kuwait. There are MANY countries where people are happy to be, any statement to the contrary is just ignorant generalisation. People have died in this country. If we want to come out and say it, Kuwaitis have been killing expats for generations. THere are far more expats being killed, raped, tortured, forced into enslavement by Kuwaitis, than expats doing anything harmful to Kuwaitis. If it doesn’t look that way to you then don’t blame expats for your short sightedness. get out there and SEE whats happening in your country and what your people do – and then claim its better than the UK, France, Lebanon, USA etc.

Lebanon and slavery?

https://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/3/lebanons-maid-trade-is-modified-slavery.html

It’s not a perfect country. We are not saying that. While some people are sick and treat expats poorly the same cannot be said for the majority. I repeat this is not your country you are merely a guest. However long you stay you remain a guest. Act like it, respect the law respect the country. Heck, most crimes that are committed in this country are by expats. The police have been seeing tremendous progress from the deportation of many expats. That is why they still implement these laws and are strict. Kuwait is being better we are on an uphill trend. This country isn’t perfect. But your presence in it is preventing us from being perfect. We are fixing this country one step at a time. Starting with law breaking expats.

Actually I have to disagree with you. This is my country and I’m not a guest. You can disagree if you want but that won’t change that fact. You would think that after living in and serving a country for 36 years you can call it your home, but that means absolutely nothing to you obviously. Not only that but I have to get reminded every single day that I’m not wanted here. I’ve got the same rights and privileges as the next guy who flies into Kuwait today. Thankfully there aren’t that many people like you. Imagine if expats were treated like they were part of this society? Imagine how much more productive they would be and how much more they would invest in this place.

You came here for the oppurtunities that are not available in your country or you wouldn’t have come. And no you didn’t serve kuwait. You came for the benefit it gave you and your family. You called Kuwait your home because it welcomed you with open arms. No taxes and not many expenses and Ignore rules ans laws that can be bent easily with simple wastas. The expats here mainly the zalamat clan together. They dont welcome kuwaitis freely into their businesses or their lives. Why should we? They compete with kuwaitis on the business fronts and job fronts and many kuwaitis have had bad experiences in work and business with you so called expats. Yes we want to tighten the rules we have not changed out of the blue. It was bound to happen since you didn’t appreciate kuwait or its citizens. Complaining and whining about simple shit. This grew, this really grew. The country that once welcomed you people with open arms is now kicking you out. We don’t want you anymore. You people always highlight the negatives of life here and disregard the many positives.

What the fuck are you talking about? You clearly and obviously have no clue but you talk as if you do. Where do I begin?

First of all I didn’t come here for any opportunities, I was born here and I grew up here and I live here. I am in Kuwait by CHOICE. I am not forced to be here, I have enough money saved up to retire on a fucking island in the middle of nowhere if I want. I am choosing to be here because Kuwait is my home. Is that really hard for you to believe?

Second of all I’ve been running this blog for over 10 years now and if you don’t think this is a service to Kuwait and the local community you’re mistaken. Not only that but two months ago I also started working for your government and I now work to help attract foreign investors to Kuwait. What have you done for your country?

I call Kuwait my home not because it welcomed me, on the contrary I have to fight on daily basis with people that have the same mentality like you to stay here. I call Kuwait my home because this is where my heart is.

The “zalamat” clan together probably because they feel equal to each other. “Zalamat” don’t pretend to be of a superior race to one another.

Based on your comments here I clearly, CLEARLY appreciate Kuwait more than you. I want Kuwait to become the best it can become and I don’t care who helps make it better as long as we make it better. You on the other hand are so insecure that you resort to racism and discrimination. You belittle people because of their race and that mentality is going to hurt this country not do it good.

My advice is for you to keep your mouth shut, step back and watch us expats along with your other fellow countrymen make Kuwait a better place.

good one

Well said.

Future is bright with people thinking like you my friend. Good luck

You’re an embarrassment to the majority of decent Kuwaitis (like myself) who appreciate the contributions of all expats of all nationalities over the past 70 – yes you read that right SEVENTY! – years, doing jobs that you and your ilk can’t or won’t do, including teaching you English!!

As for not welcoming each other, people stick to their own cliques all over the world. Do yourself a favor and don’t read too much into it.

And FYI.. whatever expats have to say pales in comparison to what we Kuwaitis say on a daily basis in the press and online

I did not respond to the earlier post but this comment just irked me. Just having a passport does not make you any more Kuwaiti than the other expats here. When the country was deserted when attacked (I bet you ran!) it was the expats who though paid a pittance stayed back inhaling the junk in the air due to burning oil wells and helped bring this country back on its feet – not the passport holders. Somehow the equations started changing at that point. This lack of basic respect for humanity will bring people like you no good. Remember expats got you your freedom, expats run your medical facilities and ensure your good health, they clean your shit and maintain everything in your life. Luckily not all Kuwaitis are of your frame of mind otherwise this country would have gone to the dogs a long time back.

Btw. Mark – Brilliant post!

“This is not your country you are merely a guest.” What an absolutely ridiculous and bigoted statement to make. So please answer this auestion for me. What kind of a guest am I when I’m born in Kuwait with parents and grandparents who have been in Kuwait since the 1960’s? Again do you see the complete nonsense in your statement? If Kuwait would catch up with the rest of the world in terms of civil law and basic human decency then all us “expats” should have Kuwaiti citizenship by now. The fact ia most Kuwaitis are racist and suffsr from an extreme case of self entitlement where they think they (should) own everything and everyone. The sponsorship system in Kuwait is proof enough, where you are basically owned by your Kuwaiti sponsor. Racist and modern day slavery is what Kuwait runs on. And i don’t know what tremendous progress you’re talking about.

“You presence in it is preventing us from being perfect.”

Wow. Just wow at that statement. Perfect? Have you even lived in Kuwait? Again, that statement just reinforces the racist, ignorant and bigoted stigma surrounding Kuwaitis. But good job, keep cleaning out those expats and you’ll end up with the perfect Kuwait. After all the expats are gone then maybe the Kuwaitis would magically show up to work, government minitries will become efficient, and Kuwaiti drivers would have nobody to harass on the Gulf road in their moooostang.

AMEN

I am sorry, but he is right about being a “Guest”. My father was in Kuwait since 1952 (heck, he even had an old permit, albeit expired, for alcohol). Through hard work he was able to build a solid upper middle class family (sent me to USA for my education, etc) mostly through contracts with KOC and the Ahmadi Park and athletic fields.

I was in US studying when he passed away and since I was out of country longer than six month (recall in late 1980’s residents (eqamah) could not be out of country more than 6 month at a time), I had to find someone to sponsor me in order to return. To make matter worst, Iraq also invaded as we were handling the paper work, etc. Long story short, we had to leave the country since my father was dead and company was no longer there (well, he was not there). No father = no residency = GTFO. Heck in one of the ministries, someone actually told me to GTFO since my father was not here (3 to 4 weeks before invasion).

I don’t know if laws have changed, I hope so. Do I hold any grudges against Kuwait? I don’t. I have some fond memories of the country (especially the late 1970s). I was educated there and called it home for 18 years, most people we met were decent (my dad new few of the Daboos family, spelling?). We had Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti friends that visited us and we visited. But, the truth of the story is that the passport does matter and no matter how you see yourself, you will always be a guest.

I am in US now and hold an American passport and life cannot be any better. Periodically, I run into Kuwaiti students (I am a college professor) and I talk to them about good old days. In the end I wish Kuwait and everyone in it all the best as the country has great potential.

Kuwait may be a host to as many nationalities as it wants but at the end of the day there’s really nothing more than a humanitarian basis for anyone living there to expect a melting pot culture because it is not an immigrant nation nor has it ever appeared to try to be one. It’s just a place for foreign workers to temporarily live in while they work there, as long as they follow the local laws, whatever they are. It’s unfortunate that a second or third gen foreigner there may not find it easy to digest that fact.

I certainly didn’t fully understand it myself until I “went back” to my country of citizenship as a newly permanent resident for the first time when my dad retired. (The decision to stay on was the best one I ever made, btw, even though my country is far from being perfect). I never hated Kuwait while I grew up there as a 2nd gen temporary resident, and I still don’t. It was the country that gave my dad the opportunity to earn a decent living for his family, and in return he served his company very loyally for more than 30 years. We respected the laws and lived within them, but we were ultra sensitive and ultra defensive all the time, more so in the company of locals, because we never believed that the justice system would work for us if anything were to go wrong. This was simply because we saw a lot of arbitrariness, and not enough examples of the laws being applied impartially when it came to foreigners. We usually limited our social interaction to other foreigners and things were largely peaceful that way. Having said that, I was once molested, twice shot at, and a countless number of times jeered at by locals even when I just minded my own business, simply because of my nationality. But it was still the only home that I knew, and I had nothing better to like at the time.

I wouldn’t use the word “guest” to describe ourselves while we were there. Guests are people who are invited over, welcomed and treated with respect. We were reminded every day in many ways that while we’d be tolerated for the period of our mutually beneficial stay, we would never really be welcomed, and certainly never be respected as equals. Kuwait never said “come back soon!” when I left it for the last time in the mid 80s. With that hindsight I realised that while I was in Kuwait I was just a dependent of a person who had applied for permission to live in Kuwait and was granted it for as long as he had an employer. I grew up not knowing any other way of life, not knowing what it was like to live in a more egalitarian society in which I could assert more rights, and I didn’t even realise what I was missing until I experienced life in my actual native country and happily chose to continue to permanently live in it.

Kuwait has the sovereign right to make and enforce its own policies and laws no matter how peculiar or unfair they may seem to foreigners. Kuwait first began to allow expats in because it needed them to help develop and run the place, but then they could also afford to go beyond that and hire people even for jobs that they may have had the capacity to do themselves. The problem maybe is that it didn’t put in place enough checks and balances of many kinds at the right time to prevent all sorts of eventual negative side effects all around. First gen expats went there (and still go there) because they needed the job opportunities that were available. If they found mental peace and stability as well, that’s a plus. What happens to 2nd and 3rd gen expats may be something else, a situation not of their choosing, and it’s for each one of them to figure out and decide what they want to do for themselves. If they disagree with some of the country’s policies, but still want to stick around and try to make Kuwait change things, all the best to them. I hope Kuwait will allow them to pool in their views for consideration. If they choose to leave for a new beginning elsewhere, I’d cheer them on for taking a chance. It’s the ones who don’t like it, and who are also not in a position to influence change but have no other choice but to remain because of personal circumstances or because they are illegally prevented from leaving – I can feel bad for them, but I don’t see how hatred on either side helps lead to any reasonable solution.

And no, I don’t agree that everyone in Kuwait is on the same team. There are locals and then there are expats and they are all just playing in the same park. If Kuwaitis want to create a utopia for their future it’s their park, and it’s their right to define what utopia means and who can share in it. If they instead prefer to let their country eventually run itself into the ground that’ll be their choice too, including how they wish to do it. As for the expats, no matter how they perceive themselves, those without true permanent residency will always only be a member of the visiting team until Kuwait chooses to change the rules of its game.

I think oil is one of those absolute powers that can corrupt absolutely – but it’s still up to its owner to decide whether to be its master or its slave.

really? you think the rampant slave trade in Kuwait makes Kuwait ‘not perfect’? That my friend – is how people of a privileged class talk and think. I dont give a shit about your money, keep it. Im not jealous of kuwaitis or kuwaiti culture – but like many I am born and raised here and no I am not a guest.

In actual fact the sooner people like you are weeded out of the population, the better it will be for Kuwait as a whole.

Most expats commit crimes? well honestly there is no way to tell either way. SInce we are the majority of the population this MAY be true. But it is also equally true that kuwaitis BARELY get convicted of all the horrible offences going on here. Would it be easier to count how many companies keep passports, or how many companies do NOT keep passports? How about unpaid wages, trading in women, the illegal visa trade, or those things that are not ‘crimes’ but immoral like a woman who has been raped and escapes or jumps from a window being either taken to jail for her ‘crime’ or returned to her rapist employer? thats ‘your law’ and according to your law, maybe expats are bigger criminals. Nobody would have to resort to crime if they were being treated fairly and equally.

So actually you know what? no. Kuwaitis commit graver crimes than expats and most of them go unnoticed and unconvicted. Which is why even if every last one of us leaves, your country will still be imperfect because it will have people like you in it

the list goes on – crimes that are not as bad that only kuwaitis can commit – parking on a curb, speaking on a cellphone in the car, tinted windows …

the majority of ppl that can get away with this are who again?

*were *there ( damn autocorrect )

The 6 pack and wild boar BBQ would probably get you invited in!

No you aren’t on the same side. Actually i’m finally happy. This country has been gradually taken from us by you zalama scum. Egyptians, lebanese, syrians and the like. For a while i’ve been one of many people that was fed up with you guys complaining about this country. If you don’t like it leave. It is much better than the shithole you call home. The longer you stay here the more it will be like your original homes. I’m so happy to see you repost about this mark because finally you are the one who’s fed up and hopefully your time will come soon.

bloody hell, what a shit for brains!

Most of those zalama scum were in Kuwait when you still lived in your dad’s balls. Retardedness has no limits it’s you and your likes that make people hate Kuwait.

Hahahhahahahahha in ur dads balls

Most of those zalama scum were in Kuwait when you still lived in your dad’s balls. Retardedness has no limits it’s you and your likes that make people hate Kuwait. And before you you say anything more stupid shit like “if you don’t like it then leave” dont worry, because I already left

Wahab’s mentality is a symptom of a wider sickness in the Arab world characterized by ethnocentrism and historical amnesia.

Many of the people who were responsible for the ‘golden age’ of Kuwait, who played direct roles in taking Kuwait into the modern world, were those “zalama” he describe. Those people educated and cared for his parents and grandparents. Those people developed his private sector economy, his education system, his healthcare system, his cities. And today he calls them scum.

Yes, the quality of expats in Kuwait has dwindled since the invasion and I can understand how this would bother locals. But that is what this country attracts. The responsibility lies on the locals to build the country that will attract the type of people they want to see here. But if they want to pay the lowest salaries, they will get the lowest calibre of people. Today, Kuwait is a stepping stone for half-decent expats to get to Dubai or Qatar, and a home for those who can’t get any better.

Blame your system, not the expats.

I have to say this in Arabic: استح على ويهك يا قليل الحيا.

Who died and gave you the right to call an entire race “scum”? Who are you to make deportation threats to Mark?

If only people like you would stop attacking expatriates “just because they’re complaining w ma artha 3ala elkuwait”, and went and found out exactly WHY they’re complaining you’d actually be in shock. Keep in mind this: would you accept it if a foreign country’s government treated a Kuwaiti the way expatriates are treated here? I didn’t think so.

#teamkuwait

So I don’t get it. We will keep demonizing the guy, and to what end, exactly?

Thanks for the post Mark, people rush to argue, and don’t understand that discussion can actually be conducive to constructive change. It’s called public opinion, and this is not about demonizing a cop, or a teacher it is about addressing an inherent problem we all face, and that is HOW we address change. How we could effectively respect a country’s law, and how citizens WANT to work with government toward bettering the quality of the life in said country. End of.

Thanks Mark. Great Post.

I get frustrated with Kuwait at times because I can see amazing potential here being minimized by frustrating governmental decisions.

As many have already said, each country has the right to draft whatever law the lawmakers think is right and for the good of the country. Driving with an international license after gaining residency is not allowed in most countries. However, the deportation is just a severe punishment. They should have a system of giving them warnings against the civil ID number and if caught again then perhaps apply the deportation law.

The teacher mentions that he used his friend’s car to take his daughter to hospital because he was not able to think at that instant. This brings up other questions. Where is the daughter? is there a medical report or a hospital admittance paper that backs up his claim which he could attach to his plea? Some information is just missing. One can not help or sympathize without having the full documents and proofs available.

That being said, many countries clearly state that they have the right to send you back home even if you still have a valid visa without giving you any reason. One can read the teacher’s name (assuming it is Shbayyil and not Shbeel) and get an idea of his origin. The deportation can be for reasons other than driving with a non local license but that was the excuse given.

Kuzbara – thats not entirely true. Slavery in the US was perfectly legal at one point. Just because its law doesn’t mean its humane.

Some of Kuwait’s laws are tantamount to indentured servitude and slavery.

I wanted to make a comment last time but stopped myself. My statement has nothing to do with the deportation of the teacher. It has to do with the law. If I was a resident in the U.S. or the U.K. then I am obliged by law to get a local driving license. That is the issue at hand. This teacher broke the law by not having a license and has to pay the price. Our personal feelings on the harshness of the law is irrelevant. What is relevant is the law of the land.

Except Kuwait is a democratic country and we are able to voice our opinions (locals and expats). Just because this is the “law of the land” doesn’t mean it’s right and it also doesn’t mean it shouldn’t and won’t be changed.

Again just to be clear the issue here is the punishment for his crime and not whether or not he committed a crime which he clearly stated he has committed.

It’s also a very recent law

The penalty is recent- the law is not. It has always been against the law to drive with iqama on an international licence.

If Kuwait is indeed a “democratic country and we are able to voice our opinions” regarding legislation, I propose a test. With Ramadan approaching, how about a post regarding Ramadan legislation and whether or not those laws should exist? I won’t hold my breath.

Ramadan fasting legislation exists in all GCC countries not just Kuwait. Try the post, there’s nothing in the legal system that criminalizes opposing views of ramadan law.

The scholarly consensus among political scientists is that Kuwait is a semi-democracy with a hybrid political system.

Let’s see if he does it. I bet he won’t.

Editorials opposing Ramadan and Islamic legislation is very common in Kuwaiti Arabic newspapers. You must be confusing Kuwait with Saudi Arabia.

I have not seen any, but to be fair, I haven’t looked very hard. Can you provide a link or two?

Khaled,
You cannot compare the situation in countries like the US and the UK to Kuwait. They have no restrictions on the issue of driving licenses to foreigners. Kuwait has heavy restrictions on the issue of driving licenses to foreigners. Because of these restrictions, the issue at hand is far more complicated than simply saying he broke the law. Unfair restrictions combined with terrible public transport options practically force many foreigners to break the law. The authorities cannot remain blameless for this stare of affairs.
I challenge you to put yourself in their shoes for one week. Hide your car keys and try to get around by bus. I think you will quickly develop a much greater understanding of how unfair it is to restrict driving licenses.
As for your point regarding relevance of the law, unjust laws, regardless of where and when, must never be respected. They must be challenged, disobeyed, and ridiculed at every opportunity.

+100000

Exactly, finally someone said it. PUT YOURSELF in our shoes. They have no clue what it means to be without the freedom to drive, bc they got their license and a car by daddy at the age of 16. License that he properly didn’t do may test for me. His daddy Mandoub properly brought it to him. While us western expats spends month if not years obtaining our license. And drove an old broken car for decades before we could afford one.

I dare them to take the buss

I agree with you in principle that regardless of ones feelings towards these laws, one is obliged to follow them until they are changed BUT its pretty obvious that the stricter the laws are, especially when it comes to basic needs and rights, the more likely people are to break them. That goes for driving without a license, buying alcohol on the black market or making it at home, and many other things that are against the law here and in other Arab muslim countries. I mean, isnt that the reason porn websites get more visitors from the Middle East than anywhere else in the world?

Nice post Mark.
“and we all want to see it get better. We’re all on team Kuwait.” but unfortunately that’s not true, and those people should be deported.

So this guy lived in Kuwait for 12 years AND knows Arabic (so of course he has heard and understood the very harsh law), and still never bothered to get a license………………………….. Well I won’t say he deserves to get deported, but I will say that he was very stupid for not getting a Kuwaiti license during his stay in Kuwait.
And wtf with stating your religion in the beginning and going all Islamic #cheapshot

What if this was you? Do you think it would be acceptable to happen to you? I don’t think so.

Us foreigners say thank you for letting us into the country. We are here to do a job that cannot be filled by a Kuwaiti. And yes, we can leave whenever we want to, and don’t worry, it’s okay, a lot of us will.
But we see a problem. We can see it can be done better. We actually WANT to help. Help YOUR country to be better. Aren’t you lucky!

Once you’ve finished feeling offended, look at it again. Come on, it can be done better.

I think people are just offended, not by ‘foreigners’ criticizing the law ( laws ) but calling the people by expletives and inferring that every local is a lazy good for nothing expat beater. It’s those with the huge ‘oh no I’m a poor downtrodden expat and I’m going to call you names’ victim complex that offend.

Inkuwait – fair enough but if you visit al razi hospital ONCE to see the number of abused and beatena nd raped maids there, or happen to drop by the deportation centres, you might find out why we hold those complexes. In my view they are 100 percent justified – although to lump in ALL kuwaitis as lazy or anything else for that matter, as you said, is just bullshit.

Dear fellow humans who are not Kuwaiti citizens, and even if you are. Please observe the following among other things:

1. Do not attempt to operate a motor vehicle without proper authorization from the Ministry of Interior AKA MOI.

2. Do not attempt to barbecue anything on real estate that you do not own.

Thank you for your cooperation and support and have a pleasant stay.

The State of Kuwait

Dear Local,

Please don’t run me down on the street with you camerooooo
Please don’t think your entitled to my money just because I need a iqama
Please don’t beat me when I serve you wrong
Please don’t rape me because ur sexual frustrated
Please don’t take my passport
Please keep me safe at my working place, so I don’t loose my life working for you.

Thank you
#damnExpat

I lived in Denmark. Hated everything about it. Racist, xenophobic, cold, boring and this was before the cartoons. Guess what? I did pack up and leave. The issue here is the difference between being critical and general wining. A lot of expats just moan because it’s the thing to do. The same expats would live in a dirt poor country and find the mess charming because it’s authentic, part of the culture and at least they’re keeping it real. There’s something about the Gulf that rubs people the wrong way, it’s not modern enough but not poor enough. Yes there are many issues with slave labour here but the same moaning expats pay the same embarrassing wages as the locals. Some treat them better but some don’t. Depending on the nationality. Of course expat here is white westerner and everyone else is an immigrant or temporary worker!!! The truth is a lot of the moaning expats get defensive when the vitriol is directed at them. It’s human nature. Plus you would not keep going back to the same restaurant of it really sucked.

I totally agree that there is a huge difference between whining and constructive criticism from expats and locals and the media. The problem with these conversations and threads here, on fb, and in real life is that there is a large number of expats who just want to hijack the narrative and ‘kuwait bash’ without having anything intelligent to say, and I too think if they dont like it, nobody is forcing them to stay, and they should leave. On the other hand there is an equally large number of locals who simply dont understand the frustrations of expats who love this country, appreciate its many positive aspects, but are increasingly worried about where its heading for them. For some reason the government doesnt really differentiate between professional expats already here, and limiting the number of newcomers.Everyone, expats included, understands the problem of unemployment of locals and thinks more should be done to limit the number of new expat hires if there are qualified Kuwaitis who can be hired instead, but there is a huge difference between that, and a policy of trying to force out expats who are already here,by making their lives increasingly difficult. Thats the main reason why there has been so much frustration with some of the bizarre new laws and new new proposed laws….

buddy, although well intentioned, you can’t speak on behalf of all expats. I dont need to hijack any narrative cus i am part and parcel of it.

and saying people can just pick up and leave is far more unintelligent. As has been pointed out NUMEROUS times before – so much so that not acknowledging it is just plain wilful ignorance at this point – more companies confiscate passports than not, many companies intentionally work the law such that employees are in their debt, and for others, some of us have been here for three generations – there literally is nowhere to go that isn’t ridiculously foreign to us.

that is MOST of us and we don’t need to hijack anything. intelligence, including emotional intelligence needs to come from the other side.

not true. im an expat and i dont like kuwait. but i would never treat those under me in the same way and when the opportunity arises I AIM to give more than Kuwaitis do because the bar is set so low. On average, its not that difficult to be more generous and caringthan most kuwaitis. That doesn’t make me a good person, it just means i’m slightly less stingy.

Do you want some help carrying your outrageously huge head through the door?

Me name is Wahab and me is internet troll….arrrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Post. Kudos.

It seems we are all missing the point here.

The people that are making the changes in Kuwait are not qualified to do so, they are appointed and elected not based on how good they are in the respected field, but who they know and how popular they are. That means when you have someone that is making major decisions on the infrastructure of Kuwait for example, and they had graduated (if we are lucky) as a lawyer then it is most likely he/she will not know what he/she is doing in her appointed position. What makes this even more entertaining is that once he/she is elected they will not hire staff that are the best in that given field, nor even qualified at times but their friends.
This is the root problem in Kuwait and its evolution to become a better country, as all our new laws and major changes that are taking place in Kuwait are being decided by people that are unqualified or are just looking out for their own interest.

Now specifically about the deportation. This law was brought to effect due to something that is very how can I say dumb. There are two classes of expats in Kuwait the upper/middle class and the very low income class, do not try to deny this. So the people living in Kuwait (expats and Kuwaities) have been complaining about the congestion here for years, and the people in charge felt like they had to do something about it. A few years ago they they decided there was a lot of beatdown. secondhand, polluting, cant run cars on the road full of low income expats trying to make a living. First thing they did was enforce the import of old cars to Kuwait ban, which was not well thought through, then making it more difficult for only expats to get a drivers license, and last but not least deportation. These were all decided based on one issue traffic congestion “because of” low income expats that are just trying to make a living.

This is a ridiculous law and there is no denying that.

AMEN to that.
I think we all think the same thing.
On a different note.
What about all the 20+ floors buildings and huge hotels popping up every where, who are going to live in them? And who is going to afford the high rent, if they dont have a license or a car? It dont make sense.

I want to ask for a forum in parliament were we all can speak. There is many, including myself who loves this country. (Mostly for the warm weather… =)
We want to see it thrive and blossom.
#damnExpat

if a person wants to stay in a country he has to follow the law of that country. if u eat anything in public during ramadan u will get Punishment up to KD100 and/or jail for 1 month. Dont u think its extreme and wrong. I am non muslim expat. I always felt those who want to fast let them fast.Why it is imposed on others. in saudi if u steal anything ur hands will be chopped off. dont u think that is extreme. There is nothing wrong or right, just follow the law of the nation.

By that logic, people shouldn’t necessarily complain for getting whipped or their limbs chopped off for goofing up in a country which carries out those kind of punishments, correct?

Just because it is the law, does not mean it is alright, especially laws which are applied selectively, just to oppress a certain section of the society.

Funny, he sent me the same letter and email, I asked him to translate it and he didn’t so I forgot about it. Just an email about him being British and he went to jail and is sad now he can’t feed his family. This is surely a subject that results in an endless debate and in the end nothing changes, if you don’t follow the daily changing rules then accept the problems that come along with being caught.

Yes, the jails here are horrible no matter what passport you hold. Maybe a field trip to view the conditions would give people something to think about before breaking the law. There was an American guy who disappeared when he was arrested for accidentally killing an Egyptian guy who ran out in front of him, he went to the central prison and was not heard from for years. Random people had brought him clothing and food until he was released.

When he was released he was caught for selling drugs and arrested once more, no one knows what happened to him. This British guy broke the law, he was deported, the end. There are other GCC countries he can go to, it’s not the end of the world for him.

How can you not afford to feed your family yet you can send an e-mail? Might as well cancel the monthly/yearly plan he has with his ISP and instead use that money to feed his family?

CIK you posted about the balidia and immigration checking visas? Those schools today advised all staff to come from 1-4pm to avoid being ‘caught’. Working hours in four schools changed today.

Does anyone remember how dirty the the beach walks were?and how people would barbecue and dump the charcoal on to the ground and walk away? As a child i was playing (like a normal child should rather than stare mindlessly at screen) and stepped barefoot on a piece of charcoal… the bloody pain, just because people can’t move their asses and pick up their own litter. Also for deportation for no licence i wish it would go for Kuwaitis too if you see kids 16 and 15 driving a land cruiser (bu shanab) going over the side walk to cut a corner with no concept of a brake or indicators, crossing the red light which usually causes a crash and come out of their cars to have a fight. I really see this new regime as good but i really wish is would be set to both expat and Kuwaitis because it just doesn’t seem fair.

Very positive message. It’s unfortunate thought that some do actually hate Kuwait, Kuwaitis and everything Kuwaiti about Kuwait. No society is perfect, we have our faults and flaws and those don’t represent everyone. One thing though, if someone fits that category – hating everything to do with Kuwait – then why continue living in the country?

It’s the expats in schools that are creating problems for many.

Traffic getting too much?
-Build new roads. Oh fuck no. Just stop giving licenses.
Population growing?
-New homes and improved economy. Oh fuck no. Deport them.
Lot of expats love Kuwait?
-Give them a PR, Oh fuck no. They’re here until we need them and then cancel their visas.

Can somebody please post a literal translation of the arabic letter for us folks who can’t read arabic. I’d really love to know what was in the letter.

Dear Minister of Interior,
Name: Shubair AlAmeen AlSaeed
Nationality: British
Religion: Muslim

I am a teacher in the Gulf English school for two years. I broke the traffic law by borrowing my friend’s car to take my daughter to the hospital late at night. I thought I can use the international license in Kuwait. I came to Kuwait not only for work, but because I want to live in an Islamic country, and teach knowledge to Kuwaitis. This is the first time I break the law, I don’t have a car registered in my name. Because I came to teach Kuwaitis, I apologise for my misunderstanding, but my daughter was sick and I did not use my mind. I repeat my apologies, and hope for good relations between the embassy of Kuwait and the Embassy of the United Kingdom.

Teach knowledge of what to Kuwaitis?

He didn’t specify

Thanks a ton Sami ! The arabic letter is kinder and it hoped for a consideration for his circumstances and a second chance. I think the English version would have been written in a different state of mind

“If people accepted everything that was given to them then there wouldn’t be any progress or improvement.”

That’s what the typical Kuwaiti wants. Everything should be handed to them. And why think/innovate/work at all when everything runs fine as it is?

Hope you realized that you have just stated a non-spoken fact about most of the locals.

This morning FOUR schools (two in the Hawalli governate and two in the Ahmadi government) have told all western staff to come to school from 1pm to 4pm to avoid the authorities.
Welcome to Kuwait.
Who created this rule regarding timings? A foreigner, not a Kuwaiti.

Governate*

Who created that rule? A Kuwaiti owner to avoid the law and further expenses.

I’m an Indian who was born in Kuwait and lived there for 33 years until recently left to UAE for better opportunities. I love Kuwait from the bottom of my heart. One thing i had to live through my entire time in Kuwait was that one way or the other I’m constantly reminded that I’m an expat and that i don’t belong here. Either it is through the newspaper about the govt’s plan to reduce the number of expats or the way I am looked down upon while applying for a visit visa for a friend or by some arrogant local kid who scratches my car with nails just for fun. However, in my few months of stay in UAE I’ve noticed that almost all the expats here consider this country as their own. Yes, they do complain about the cost of living, the fines etc, but they all feel very welcomed here. It feels as if UAE and its local people realise that the country needs its expats and vice versa. I know extremities exists everywhere, but all I’m saying is Kuwait has very rarely shown its gratitude to it’s expats nor acknowledged the fact that the economy needs these people. Yes, there are illegal expats doing illegal activities like in any other country in the world but that’s just a very small percentage of them and it’s sad to judge the entire expat population based on the actions of the minorities.

Love to read all comments 🙂 Nice post Mark

I don’t understand why all you expats feel the need to write comments expressing your love for Kuwait. It’s pathetic. I also don’t understand why you stay there. Actually I do (MONEY), but is the salary difference worth all the hassle you have to go through? Perhaps it is for people from poorer countries, but if you’re from a wealthier country, surely a salary drop in exchange for peace of mind and civil rights is worth it?

I was born and raised in Kuwait, but I couldn’t tolerate it there so I just left. Simple. I earn less here (in Europe), but I can take the prime minister to jail if he lays a finger on me.

Asians deported for fighting over a car parking spot

Fun fact:

Did you know that Kuwait’s government discovered, a few years ago, that most migrant workers they received from Bangladesh were ex-convicts?

Bangladesh’s government tried to hide this important bit of information about the workers they sent to Kuwait, and the only we way we found out about it was through the help of neighboring countries.

Did you know that many Western expats in Kuwait are possibly criminals?

This teacher is now Deputy Head of primary at Cambridge English School in Hawalli:

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/pontefract-headteacher-suspended-1-2234578

anyone else wondering – yknow …

Kuwait is fucked up. Kuwait is brilliant. Both make it what it is. Miss the place…

121 replies on “We’re all on the same side here”

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