Kuwait
country profile
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April 2025
Kuwait has emerged as a significant market for Azerbaijan's tourism sector, with a notable increase in visitors, overnight stays, and expenditures. In 2023, the peak periods for Kuwaiti tourists visiting Azerbaijan were February, June, July, and December, corresponding with national holidays, summer vacations, and winter breaks. Kuwaiti travelers are particularly attracted to Azerbaijan's stunning landscapes, warm hospitality, and vibrant culinary scene, all within a Muslim-friendly environment. The availability of direct flights from Kuwait City to Baku, operated by airlines such as Jazeera Airways, Azerbaijan Airlines, and Kuwait Airways, enhances accessibility and convenience for Kuwaiti tourists.
New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 January
The Prophet’s Ascension (Isra and Mi’raj): Monday, 27 January
National Day: Tuesday, 25 February
Liberation Day: Wednesday, 26 February
Eid al-Fitr: from Monday, 31 March to Wednesday, 2 April
Arafat Day: Thursday, 5 June
Eid al-Adha: from Saturday, 7 June to Monday, 9 June
Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year): Friday, 27 June
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (Mawlid al-Nabi): Friday, 5 September
The typical Kuwaiti traveller is between 25 and 50 years old, with family-oriented trips being particularly common due to larger household sizes-most Kuwaiti households consist of four or more members. Significant portions of Kuwaiti adults are married, reinforcing the preference for family-focused travel experiences. Group and family travel are prominent, reflecting Kuwait's cultural emphasis on shared leisure activities.
Luxury Travel: Premium resorts, five-star accommodations, and luxurious cruises. The preference for exclusive experiences, including private tours, fine dining, and high-end shopping.
Family Vacations: Destinations offering activities suitable for families, such as theme parks and all-inclusive resorts. Locations with emphasis on safety, hygiene, and child-friendly amenities.
Adventure and Outdoor Activities: Kuwaiti travelers are drawn to destinations with picturesque natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, lakes, and coastal areas. They appreciate tranquil environments, fresh air, and opportunities to enjoy scenic views, making nature-rich locations especially appealing.
Wellness and Relaxation: A preference for wellness-focused retreats, spa vacations, and destinations ideal for relaxation.
City Breaks: Interest in short stays in major cities, exploring landmarks, shopping areas, dining spots, and entertainment venues.
Muslim-majority Destinations: A preference for visiting Muslim-majority countries or locations with significant Muslim population, ensuring easy access to Halal food, prayer facilities, and cultural familiarity.
Luxury and Exclusivity: A preference for premium, high-end experiences, with a willingness to invest in exclusive services.
Shopping Experiences: Enjoy destinations that offer top-tier shopping experiences, featuring luxury brands and high-end products.
Family-friendly: Often travel with family and seek destinations and accommodations that are tailored to families with children.
Safety and Comfort: Value destinations that are recognized for their safety, comfort, and impeccable hygiene standards.
Weather Preferences: Kuwaiti tourists tend to favour cooler destinations to escape the extreme summer heat, often seeking places with moderate climates or winter activities like snow tourism. Azerbaijan's pleasant summers and mild winters align perfectly with these climate preferences.
Gourmet Dining: They enjoy fine dining experiences that include Halal food options as well as a variety of international cuisines.
In 2023, Kuwaiti citizens' travel and tourism expenditures reached approximately 4.39 billion Kuwaiti Dinars (KWD), reflecting a 9.2% increase from the previous year. This amount is approximately equivalent to US$14.3 billion.
During the summer months of June to August 2024, Kuwaiti travellers spent an average of US$571.48 (approximately KWD 174.60) per person, per month on flights and hotel accommodations.
Families with kids (4 to 10 people, including mates)
Solo Travellers
Couples
Friend groups
Social media (YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, 95.9 % of Kuwait’s population are active social media users)
Friends’ recommendations (Word of Mouth)
Online travel agencies (OTAs)
Travel agencies
Kuwaiti travellers typically book their trips around one month in advance, with data showing an average lead time of 33 days for major holiday weekends. Their research-to-purchase cycle is compressed compared to the global average, thanks to a strong mobile-first planning habit - over 40% of leisure, trips are arranged on smartphones. During peak periods like Eid and the summer breaks, booking windows may stretch to 4–6 weeks to secure the best fares.
• Online travel agencies (OTAs)
• Travel agencies (all-inclusive packages)
• Direct bookings with airlines (online)
• Face-to-face bookings through travel agencies
• Direct bookings with hotels (online)
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): Musafir, Wego, Almosafer, Rehlat, Agoda etc.
Specialized providers: Booking.com, Airbnb, Skyscanner, Kayak
Kuwaiti leisure travellers average about 4-5 days per outbound trip. Short regional getaways, e.g. to Dubai or Istanbul, typically last 3–5 days, fitting long-weekend windows. Standard holiday packages (family or multi-destination tours) usually span 7–10 days.
ITL World
Al Khaleej Travels
Barakat Travel & Tourism
Al Rashed International Travel
Badur Travel
Al Mulla Travels
Jumbo Travel
Al Kazemi Travel
Caesars International Travel Co.W.L.L
Kuwaiti arrivals to Azerbaijan declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a low of 2,289 visitors in 2021. Since then, the market has shown a steady recovery, supported by the restoration of air connectivity and growing demand for regional leisure travel. In 2024, Azerbaijan welcomed 31,373 visitors from Kuwait. In 2025, arrivals totalled 26,371 visitors, highlighting Kuwait's continued importance as a source market for Azerbaijan despite a moderation in visitor numbers compared to the previous year.
In 2025, Azerbaijan welcomed 26,371 visitors from Kuwait. Kuwaiti travellers continue to be attracted by Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage, scenic landscapes, shopping opportunities and family-friendly environment. The availability of direct flights between Kuwait and Azerbaijan, together with convenient travel procedures, has helped maintain Azerbaijan's appeal as a preferred short-haul leisure destination for Kuwaiti visitors.
In 2025, Kuwaiti visitors spent a total of 55,192 thousand AZN during their trips to Azerbaijan. Among the main expenditure categories, spending on transport amounted to approximately 27,614.9 thousand AZN, followed by accommodation at approximately 11,320.5 thousand AZN and food and beverages at approximately 8,701.5 thousand AZN.
In 2025, approximately 8,848 Kuwaiti visitors stayed in Azerbaijan for 1–3 nights, while around 9,944 visitors stayed for 4–7 nights. These figures indicate that short breaks and week-long holidays remain the most popular travel patterns among Kuwaiti visitors to Azerbaijan.
The most visited regions by Kuwaiti travellers in Azerbaijan are Baku, Gabala, Gusar, Guba, and Sheki. These destinations are particularly popular due to their combination of natural landscapes, family-friendly attractions, cultural heritage sites, and comfortable tourism infrastructure.
Kuwaiti travellers value Azerbaijan for its scenic nature, pleasant climate, hospitality, and diverse culinary offerings. The destination is particularly appealing for family holidays, short leisure breaks, and shopping trips. Kuwaiti visitors also appreciate Azerbaijan's cultural affinity with the Gulf region, availability of halal food, and safe and welcoming environment, making it a preferred destination for family-friendly and culturally compatible travel experiences.
Products of Azerbaijan that connect to the Kuwaiti market can be grouped into “Fits all” – products that all first-time visitors should see or experience, “Add-ons” – products that can be seen or experienced with longer or repeat visits, and “Tailored” – products that are considered of specific relevance to the market.
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Fits all |
Add-ons |
Tailored |
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Mountains & valleys |
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National parks & nature areas |
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Theme parks & entertainment centres |
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Shopping |
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Gastronomy |
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Festivals & events |
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Sports |
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Health and Wellness |
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Kuwait's outbound tourism sector is projected to experience significant growth in 2025. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry is expected to contribute approximately KWD 4.7 billion (USD 15.3 billion) to Kuwait's GDP in 2025, up from KWD 4.2 billion (USD 13.7 billion) in 2023. This growth is driven by rising travel spending, with reports indicating that Kuwaiti travellers increased their spending on flights and hotels by over 20% in 2024, averaging around USD 571.48 per month during peak travel periods. Favourable economic conditions, including a projected USD 167.76 billion national GDP, combined with expanding travel options and improved infrastructure, are making international travel increasingly accessible and attractive to Kuwaiti citizens. These trends suggest a strong outlook for Kuwait’s outbound tourism in 2025, with continued growth expected in both traveller numbers and total expenditure.
● Relationship-Driven Market: Long-term partnerships and personal trust are highly valued. Face-to-face interaction and consistent relationship management with key agency decision-makers, especially owners and senior managers, can significantly impact bookings and cooperation.
● Best Time for Sales Calls: Schedule sales calls and activations from February to May and again in September to November, aligning with peak travel planning before summer and winter holidays, as well as post-Hajj and Eid celebrations.
● Preferred Communication: While WhatsApp and phone calls are often used for quick coordination, email remains essential for formal communication and proposals. In-person meetings are preferred when possible, and business lunches or informal settings are effective for relationship-building.
● Key Market Centres to Visit: Focus efforts on Kuwait City, which houses nearly all major travel agencies, corporate offices, and outbound tourism players. Visiting high-traffic commercial areas can also help increase brand visibility.
Contact Person
Leyla Isayeva, Regional Manager for Middle East