Mondays with Matthew: A level playing field and an honest game

Hi Matthew,

It all depends really. Saudi takes up a lot of space – so if we are comparing Kuwait to saudi, we must seem like vegas. But Dubai, Bahrain and Oman are better places for expats (which of course, is the majority of the population here you must remember) if you are not looking at things from a purely financial perspective. There is a greater amount of equality (nowhere near perfect i’ll grant you) and mutual respect. You will find that in Kuwait – Kuwaitis, British, Americans and generally other Caucasian dominant country nationals tend to mix – whereas the other nationalities have to sort out deal with living in a secondary culture, outside of many of the privileges that are available to the first group. There is very little mixing between the cultures.

You have a point that Kuwait is probably better to Kuwaitis than any of those other places are to their nationals – I’m sure there are a number of reasons for that. One being that in those other places there is more equality across the board, hence nationals are not put on a pedestal and opportunities abound for everyone (all very general statements, but I’m speaking in relative terms). In Kuwait, locals take an inordinately large slice of the pie believing it to be rightfully theirs – which is of course maintained by allowing expat neighbourhoods to go into ruin and squalor, major corporations cheating and not paying wages, slave labour across the board in the construction, transport, housmaid sectors and a number of racist policies that keep the low income expat population in need even though they do most of the work.

if you are serious about seeing how others live – I recommend a trip to Jleeb al Shyouk into some of the rougher neighbourhoods – but only once and probably with someone that knows it well. You will be surprised at how one of the richest countrys in the world can allow their workers to live in such destroyed neighbourhoods.

Or visit the labour camps. Or Al Razi hospital where the epidemic of maid abuse, a truly cultural phenomenon can witnessed first hand in the wards.

In terms of Press Freedom, I believe there is an illusion that Kuwait is relatively free. But try and say something against the status quo – and that will soon turn ugly.

I understand as Ambassador, your role is primarily to represent the UK to Kuwait and its nationals – which makes sense of course. But when you consider Kuwaitis are less than 50 percent of the population, understanding Kuwaitis is only understanding less than 50 percent of Kuwait.

Hi Matthew,

It all depends really. Saudi takes up a lot of space – so if we are comparing Kuwait to saudi, we must seem like vegas. But Dubai, Bahrain and Oman are better places for expats (which of course, is the majority of the population here you must remember) if you are not looking at things from a purely financial perspective. There is a greater amount of equality (nowhere near perfect i’ll grant you) and mutual respect. You will find that in Kuwait – Kuwaitis, British, Americans and generally other Caucasian dominant country nationals tend to mix – whereas the other nationalities have to deal with living in a secondary culture, outside of many of the privileges that are available to the first group. There is very little mixing between the two sets of cultures.

You have a point that Kuwait is probably better to Kuwaitis than any of those other places are to their nationals – I’m sure there are a number of reasons for that. One being that in those other places there is more equality across the board, hence nationals are not put on a pedestal and opportunities abound for everyone (all very general statements, but I’m speaking in relative terms). In Kuwait, locals take an inordinately large slice of the pie believing it to be rightfully theirs – which is of course maintained by allowing expat neighbourhoods to go into ruin and squalor, major corporations cheating and not paying wages, slave labour across the board in the construction, transport, housmaid sectors and a number of racist policies that keep the low income expat population in need even though they do most of the work.

if you are serious about seeing how others live – I recommend a trip to Jleeb al Shyouk into some of the rougher neighbourhoods – but only once and probably with someone that knows it well. You will be surprised at how one of the richest countrys in the world can allow their workers to live in such destroyed neighbourhoods.

Or visit the labour camps. Or Al Razi hospital where the epidemic of maid abuse can witnessed first hand in the wards.

I’m sure even in your short time you have heard of wastha – which loosely translates to nepotism. In Kuwait, depending on who you know, you might be able to get away with ANYTHING … and many, many people have.

I understand as Ambassador, your role is primarily to represent the UK to Kuwait and its nationals – which makes sense of course. But when you consider Kuwaitis are less than 50 percent of the population, understanding Kuwaitis is only understanding less than 50 percent of Kuwait.