Things to Do in Kuwait City in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
May Weather in Kuwait City
Is May Right for You?
Advantages
- Pre-summer shoulder season means hotel rates drop 20-30% compared to winter peak, with availability at properties that were fully booked December through March
- Early morning hours from 5:30am-9:00am offer surprisingly pleasant conditions around 28-32°C (82-90°F) for outdoor activities before the afternoon heat kicks in
- Ramadan typically falls outside May in 2026, meaning full restaurant operations, normal business hours, and easier logistics for first-time visitors navigating the city
- The souq district and traditional markets are noticeably less crowded than winter months, giving you actual space to browse and negotiate without shoulder-to-shoulder tourist crowds
Considerations
- Afternoon temperatures regularly push 38-42°C (100-108°F) between 12pm-5pm, making outdoor sightseeing genuinely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous without proper precautions
- The combination of 70% humidity and high heat creates that oppressive feeling where even standing still makes you sweat - air conditioning becomes non-negotiable rather than a luxury
- Dust storms locally called 'toz' become more frequent in late spring, occasionally reducing visibility and coating everything in fine sand particles that get into cameras, phones, and luggage
Best Activities in May
Kuwait Towers and Waterfront Exploration
The iconic Kuwait Towers offer climate-controlled viewing spheres and the surrounding Arabian Gulf waterfront becomes accessible in early morning hours before 9am when temperatures sit around 28°C (82°F). The sea breeze along the Gulf Road corniche provides maybe 2-3°C relief from inland temperatures. May actually works well for this because winter crowds have dispersed but the towers remain fully operational with shorter wait times for the rotating observation deck.
Grand Mosque Guided Tours
The Grand Mosque runs official guided tours and May's lower tourist volume means more intimate group sizes and better interaction with guides. The mosque's interior stays remarkably cool, and tours typically run 9am-11am, perfectly timed before peak heat. The architectural photography is actually better in May's harsher light compared to winter's haze, giving you those dramatic shadow contrasts across the courtyard's white marble.
Air-Conditioned Museum Circuit
May is actually ideal for Kuwait's excellent museum scene - the Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait National Museum, and Sadu House become afternoon refuges when outdoor exploration is impractical. These spaces see dramatically fewer visitors in May compared to the winter cultural tourism peak. You can actually spend time with exhibits without crowds, and the curators are often more available for conversation when foot traffic is lighter.
Souq Mubarakiya Early Morning Shopping
The traditional souq operates early, with many vendors setting up by 6:30am-7am to avoid afternoon heat. May mornings at the souq give you the authentic experience - locals doing actual shopping rather than tourist browsing, fresh dates and produce arriving, and the smell of frankincense before it gets overwhelmed by afternoon heat. The covered sections provide shade, but the open-air spice and textile areas are only genuinely comfortable before 10am.
Failaka Island Day Trips
The ferry to Failaka Island runs year-round, and May offers calm Gulf waters with minimal wind compared to winter's occasional chop. The island's archaeological sites and abandoned village are exposed with zero shade, so this is strictly an early departure activity - boats leave around 8am-9am, giving you 3-4 hours on the island before needing to retreat. The tourist numbers in May are maybe 30-40% of winter levels, meaning you might have entire sections of the Greek ruins to yourself.
Evening Desert Experiences
The desert outside Kuwait City becomes accessible again after 5pm when temperatures drop from unbearable to merely hot - around 35°C (95°F) by 6pm, cooling to 28-30°C (82-86°F) by 8pm. May evenings are actually longer than winter with sunset around 6:45pm, giving you more usable time. The spring wildflowers have mostly finished by May, but you avoid winter's weekend desert traffic when half of Kuwait City camps in the dunes.
May Events & Festivals
Hala February Festival Aftermath Sales
While the main Hala February shopping festival ends in early March, many Kuwait City malls extend clearance sales into May to move remaining inventory before summer. You will find legitimate discounts of 40-60% at major shopping centers like The Avenues and 360 Mall, particularly on winter clothing lines. Not a festival exactly, but the shopping deals in May are actually better than during the official festival when prices are somewhat inflated before discounting.