Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Living in Kuwait, whether as an expatriate, student, or on a temporary assignment, doesn’t sever ties with loved ones. In a country where family is at the heart of society and technology is omnipresent, staying connected with family abroad is technically simpler… yet sometimes more complex emotionally, due to time differences, distances, and individual habits.
To stay in touch with your loved ones from Kuwait, several practical solutions exist: use local SIM cards, international calling apps, messaging services, and social networks. Also consider postal services for mail and packages. Managing time zones effectively and organizing your daily routine are key to maintaining a vibrant family connection.
A Hyper-Connected Country, A Constant Need for Connection
Kuwait is among the most connected countries in the world. Internet penetration is close to 99%, and mobile “broadband” connections (3G, 4G, 5G) account for over 99% of active mobile lines. The number of mobile connections far exceeds the population, a sign that many residents have multiple lines or SIM cards.
Expatriates in Kuwait heavily use the digital tools popular in the country (messaging apps, social networks, online video) to maintain regular contact with family back in their home country, turning these tools into an ideal way to manage distance.
Studies on social media usage in Kuwait show that over 80% of the population uses at least one social platform, with a strong presence on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook. The reasons cited by users align with the needs of expatriates: communicating, following news, entertainment, online shopping, learning.
In a society marked by strong family ties, geographical distance doesn’t erase the importance of connection. It reinforces it. Understanding how to leverage local infrastructure and digital tools to nurture this connection therefore becomes essential.
Understanding Mobile Networks in Kuwait
Staying reachable and being able to make calls or connect to the internet at any time starts with a simple choice: how to connect to the Kuwaiti mobile network.
Major Operators and Coverage
The Kuwaiti mobile market is highly competitive. Three major operators dominate:
– Zain, the oldest and largest, with over 3.5 million subscribers, often praised for its download speeds (around 45.5 Mbps on average).
– Ooredoo (formerly Wataniya Telecom), highlighted for its upload performance and for being distinguished as the country’s “Fastest Mobile Network” by third-party measurements.
– STC, a subsidiary of the Saudi Telecom Company group, recognized for its stable internet.
In addition to these players, there is a first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Virgin Mobile Kuwait, as well as other MVNOs like FRiENDi Mobile. Practically, 4G and 5G coverage is very extensive, both in the urban area of Kuwait City and in most inhabited areas, with regular investments in rural regions.
For an expatriate, the quality of the mobile network means you are rarely disconnected, except in extremely isolated areas like the desert. This constant connectivity is a valuable asset for video calls, instant messaging, photo sharing, and VoIP calls.
SIM Cards, eSIMs, and Mobile Plans
Operators offer two main types of plans: prepaid and postpaid.
A prepaid line works with rechargeable credit, no contract required. You can buy a SIM card for about 5 KWD, often with enough data and minutes for a month. For example, at Zain, an “eeZee” pack for 5 KWD includes 30 GB of data and 100 national minutes. Ooredoo offers comparable plans, like a 30 GB pack for 7 KWD valid for 30 days.
Postpaid plans, on the other hand, require a Civil ID and a contract. They are more suited for long-term residents who want large data volumes or specific options (roaming, additional services).
All major operators – Zain, Ooredoo, STC – also offer eSIMs, digital SIM cards that can be activated remotely on compatible devices (latest iPhones, some Samsung models, etc.). eSIMs are convenient if you want to keep your home country’s SIM card while adding a Kuwaiti line, without having to juggle physical cards.
Platforms like Airalo or eSIM.net offer travel eSIMs that use Kuwaiti networks but with a foreign number. They are ideal for primary data access (WhatsApp, VoIP calls, social networks) without needing a local number.
To stay connected with loved ones abroad from Kuwait, the essentials are to have:
– An unlocked phone, capable of accepting a local SIM or eSIM.
– A sufficient data plan for video calls and messaging.
– A solution to manage international calls at the best cost.
Buying and Activating a SIM in Kuwait
SIM cards are easy to find: you can buy them in phone shops, supermarkets, or online.
– at the international airport, in the arrivals hall;
– in official operator stores, shopping malls, kiosks;
– online, via operator websites, sometimes with home delivery.
Legislation requires presenting your passport to register a local SIM. For a postpaid subscription, a Civil ID is sufficient. Once the card is purchased, activation is quick, often immediate.
For those who choose an eSIM, activation is done by scanning a QR code provided by the operator or retailer, directly from the phone.
In all cases, using a local solution is almost always more economical than the international roaming from your home operator, which can charge very high rates for data and calls.
Choosing How to Call Family Abroad
Once connected to the Kuwaiti network, the key question arises: which channel to use to communicate with family back home? Several options coexist, each with its advantages.
Calls via Mobile Operators
Kuwaiti operators offer international roaming options and plans for calls abroad. But even though these services exist, they aren’t necessarily the most competitive for frequent calls to family.
Therefore, many expatriates prefer to turn to applications and services dedicated to international calls, which use the internet connection (VoIP) and significantly reduce the bill.
VoIP and International Calling Apps
Services based on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology convert voice into data sent over the internet. For the user, this translates into a wide choice of solutions, often without needing a SIM card to call, as long as the phone is connected to Wi-Fi or the mobile network.
There are two main cases:
– App-to-app: calls between users of the same app, usually free (WhatsApp, Viber, FaceTime, Skype, etc.).
– App-to-phone: calls to “regular” landline or mobile numbers, with per-minute pricing but often much lower than traditional operators (Talk360, mytello, Rebtel, Yolla, KeepCalling, etc.).
Services for Calling Regular Numbers
Several services are designed for those who want to call a loved one who may not have internet, a smartphone, or the specific app.
Number of local payment methods available to buy credit on Talk360
mytello works on a similar principle, with a stated commitment to transparency: no contract, no hidden fees, no base fees. From Kuwait, you can call a wide variety of countries at rates in Kuwaiti dinars. For example, calls to Poland are charged about 0.003 KWD per minute, to Angola 0.017 KWD, to Nigeria 0.04 KWD, or to more expensive destinations like Cuba (0.245 KWD) or Papua New Guinea (0.37 KWD). The app offers a free trial period, non-expiring credits, and a money-back guarantee.
The advantage of these services is twofold: the person you’re calling doesn’t need to install anything, and you can use a landline in Kuwait by dialing a local mytello number that then redirects abroad.
Discover the main features of the Yolla app for low-cost international communication.
Make calls displaying your usual phone number to the recipient, so your loved ones don’t hesitate to answer an unknown number.
Enjoy free, high-definition calls with other Yolla app users.
Call any landline or mobile number in over 190 countries, with rates varying by destination.
Send international SMS at a rate of about 0.15 USD per message.
Easily top up the mobile credit of your loved ones residing in one of the 148 countries supported by the service.
KeepCalling works with a credit system and offers a monthly “World Unlimited” plan around 10 USD covering over 50 countries. Depending on your country of residence, you can call using local access numbers (without internet) or via an app using data. Its features (contact synchronization, quick dial, auto-recharge) make it a practical solution for regular calls to multiple loved ones.
Other services like Rebtel, NobelApp, Ooma, Vonage, MobileVOIP, or Localphone also exist in the international calling market. They are distinguished by their country-specific rates, unlimited plans, and certain specific services (virtual numbers, integration with other tools, etc.).
“Mainstream” Apps for Daily Use
For the vast majority of families already equipped with smartphones, free messaging and calling apps remain the foundation of daily connection.
WhatsApp has nearly 3 billion users worldwide and is massively used in Kuwait. It allows:
– free audio and video calls between users;
– family groups to exchange photos, videos, voice messages;
– relative reliability on mobile and Wi-Fi networks.
FaceTime, integrated into Apple devices, is highly appreciated for its video quality but remains limited to the iOS/macOS ecosystem. Viber, WeChat, Telegram, Signal, Skype, Google Meet, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams can also be used for family calls, depending on individual habits.
A study conducted in Hong Kong on “family life information” shows that, despite the rise of digital tools, face-to-face interaction remains the primary way to share family-related topics (communication, emotions, stress management). But video calls appear as the digital channel associated with the strongest sense of family well-being, especially when they complement physical meetings. Transposed to the context of an expatriate in Kuwait, this conclusion highlights the benefit of prioritizing regular video calls, rather than limiting exchanges to written messages.
Dialing Numbers Correctly from Kuwait
Practically speaking, dialing a foreign number from Kuwait requires following the international format:
– Kuwait’s country code is +965 for incoming calls.
– To call abroad, use the international access code (often 00 on landlines), followed by the country code, then the local number without any initial zero.
For example, to call a mobile in the United States from Kuwait, you dial:
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
