Things to Do in Kuwait City in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Kuwait City
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Lowest hotel rates of the year - you'll find 5-star properties at 40-50% off peak season pricing, with many offering aggressive summer packages that include breakfast and airport transfers
- Empty attractions and zero queues - Kuwait Towers, Grand Mosque, and Souq Al-Mubarakiya are practically deserted between 10am-5pm, giving you the rare experience of having major sites nearly to yourself
- Peak indoor entertainment season - August is when Kuwait's massive mall culture truly shines, with extended hours, special summer festivals, and air-conditioned comfort that locals have perfected into an art form
- Authentic local experience - tourists are scarce in August, so you'll interact with actual residents going about their daily lives rather than navigating crowds of visitors, and service staff have more time to chat and share recommendations
Considerations
- Dangerously extreme heat that genuinely limits outdoor activities - between 10am and 6pm, the combination of 46°C (115°F) temperatures and 70% humidity creates conditions where even walking 200 m (650 ft) from your car to a building entrance feels punishing
- Many expat-run businesses and restaurants close for the entire month as staff return to home countries for summer holidays, which can limit dining options in certain neighborhoods and means some recommended spots might be temporarily shuttered
- Sandstorms occur periodically throughout August, reducing visibility to under 500 m (1,640 ft), grounding flights, and making even indoor activities less pleasant as fine dust penetrates buildings and irritates eyes and throats
Best Activities in August
Early Morning Souq Al-Mubarakiya Exploration
The historic souq becomes magical between 5:30am and 8:30am in August before the heat becomes unbearable. You'll find the spice market at its most active, with vendors setting up and locals doing their shopping before work. The traditional breakfast spots serve fresh karak tea and balaleet (sweet vermicelli with eggs) to early risers. This is genuinely the only comfortable window for experiencing Kuwait's most authentic market atmosphere in August. By 9am, the temperature has already climbed enough that you'll want to retreat indoors.
Premium Mall Cultural Tours
August is actually the ideal time to understand Kuwait's sophisticated mall culture, which goes far beyond shopping. The Avenues Mall (one of the largest in the Middle East) and 360 Mall become climate-controlled entertainment destinations where families spend entire days. You'll find art installations, indoor gardens, premium cinema experiences with reclining seats, and food courts featuring everything from traditional Kuwaiti cuisine to international chains. This isn't a fallback activity - it's genuinely how modern Kuwaiti life operates during summer months, and experiencing it provides real cultural insight.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre Performances
This architectural masterpiece (opened 2016) programs its most ambitious performances during summer months when the international arts season peaks. August typically features orchestral concerts, Arabic theatre, and contemporary dance in world-class acoustically-designed halls. The building itself is worth visiting - it's the largest cultural center in the Middle East with stunning Islamic-inspired geometric design. Evening performances let you experience Kuwaiti cultural sophistication while completely avoiding outdoor heat.
Late Evening Corniche and Marina Walks
After 8pm in August, the temperature drops to a barely tolerable 35-38°C (95-100°F), and the waterfront along Arabian Gulf Street comes alive with local families, joggers, and outdoor cafes. The Scientific Center's aquarium stays open until 8pm (last entry 7pm) and provides excellent air-conditioned marine education. The nearby Marina Crescent and Marina Mall area becomes the social hub of the city after dark, with outdoor seating finally viable and a genuine buzz of activity. This is when you'll see actual Kuwaiti social life rather than just surviving the heat.
Indoor Museum Circuit
August is perfect for Kuwait's excellent but often-overlooked museum scene. The Tareq Rajab Museum houses one of the world's finest Islamic art collections in a beautifully air-conditioned space. The Kuwait National Museum (partially rebuilt after Gulf War damage) offers essential historical context. The Amricani Cultural Centre in the old American Mission Hospital building provides fascinating insight into Kuwait's modernization. These aren't backup activities - they're genuinely world-class collections that deserve 2-3 hours each and happen to be perfectly suited to August's climate.
Traditional Kuwaiti Dining Experiences
August is when you'll find the most authentic Kuwaiti restaurants operating, as they cater primarily to locals rather than tourists. Seek out traditional dishes like machboos (spiced rice with meat), mutabbaq samak (fish with rice), and harees (wheat and meat porridge). Many traditional restaurants operate majlis-style seating with floor cushions in air-conditioned comfort. The Friday brunch tradition (actually served after Friday prayers around 1-2pm) is a major social event where extended families gather, and some restaurants welcome visitors to experience this cultural institution.
August Events & Festivals
Kuwait Summer Festival
This month-long shopping and entertainment festival runs throughout August across major malls and venues. You'll find significant retail discounts (20-70% off), nightly entertainment including Arabic pop concerts and children's performances, and prize draws with substantial giveaways including cars and gold. It's essentially a government-backed initiative to keep residents entertained during the brutal summer months. The festival provides a genuine window into how Kuwaitis cope with August heat - by creating elaborate indoor entertainment ecosystems.