Kuwait is divided into six governorates – Capital (Al Asimah), Hawally, Farwaniya, Ahmadi, Jahra and Mubarak Al-Kabeer – with roughly 120 residential and industrial areas, each split into numbered blocks (qita’a). The interactive map below lets you zoom into any area. Most expats live in Hawally governorate (Salmiya, Hawally, Jabriya), Farwaniya (Khaitan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Farwaniya) and on the Ahmadi coast (Mahboula, Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abu Halifa). Addresses are written area → block → street → building.
On this page
- How to read the map of Kuwait
- The six governorates of Kuwait and their areas
- Capital governorate (Al Asimah)
- Hawally governorate
- Farwaniya governorate
- Ahmadi governorate
- Jahra governorate
- Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate
- How Kuwait addresses work
- Where expats live: areas and typical rents
- Postal codes, landmarks and getting around
- Frequently asked questions
- Related guides
How to read the map of Kuwait
Use the map above to zoom into any area. Kuwait is shaped roughly like a triangle at the head of the Gulf, bordered by Iraq to the north and west and Saudi Arabia to the south. Almost all homes, offices and shops sit in a band along the coast, from Jahra at the western end of Kuwait Bay through Kuwait City and down the southern coast to Fahaheel, Mangaf and Khairan. Inland, most of the country is open desert with oil fields, farms and military areas.
- Coastal order from north to south: Capital → Hawally → Mubarak Al-Kabeer → Ahmadi.
- Inland around the airport: Farwaniya governorate.
- North and west: Jahra governorate, which covers most of the land area including Subiya and the Abdali border.
- Islands: Bubiyan (the largest, in the north-east), Failaka (off Kuwait City) and Warba.
The city is organised by ring roads that curve around Kuwait City – the First Ring Road near downtown out to the Seventh Ring Road – crossed by radial highways such as the Fahaheel Expressway, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Road and Jahra Road. Most people describe a location by its area and the nearest ring road, for example “Salmiya, near the Fourth Ring Road”.
The six governorates of Kuwait and their areas
| Governorate | Main areas | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Capital (Al Asimah) (العاصمة) | Kuwait City, Sharq, Mirqab, Dasman, Bneid Al Gar, Shuwaikh, Shamiya, Qadsiya, Kaifan, Dasma, Daiya, Mansouriya, Surra, Yarmouk, Khaldiya, Abdullah Al Salem, Nuzha, Faiha, Rawda, Adailiya, Jaber Al Ahmad, Doha, Sulaibikhat, Granada, Qairawan | Ministries, banks, Souk Mubarakiya, Kuwait Towers; expats in Bneid Al Gar and Sharq |
| Hawally (حولي) | Hawally, Salmiya, Jabriya, Bayan, Mishref, Salwa, Rumaithiya, Shaab, Maidan Hawally, Shuhada, Zahra, Siddiq, Hitteen, Salam, Mubarak Al-Abdullah, Nigra | Densest expat population; shops, restaurants, private hospitals, Marina and 360 malls |
| Farwaniya (الفروانية) | Farwaniya, Khaitan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Ardiya, Rabiya, Andalous, Firdous, Riggae, Omariya, Rai, Ishbiliya, Abraq Khaitan, Dhajeej, Abbasiya, Sabah Al Nasser, Airport | Most populous governorate; Kuwait International Airport, The Avenues, large South Asian communities |
| Ahmadi (الأحمدي) | Ahmadi, Fahaheel, Mangaf, Mahboula, Abu Halifa, Fintas, Egaila, Sabahiya, Riqqa, Hadiya, Jaber Al Ali, Wafra, Zour, Khairan, Sabah Al Ahmad Sea City, Ali Sabah Al Salem (Umm Al Haiman) | Oil sector (KOC), refineries, coastal expat suburbs, Khairan resorts |
| Jahra (الجهراء) | Jahra, Qasr, Naeem, Oyoun, Waha, Taima, Saad Al Abdullah, Nasseem, Sulaibiya, Amghara, Kabd, Abdali, Subiya | Largest by area; farms, Abdali border, Sabah Al Ahmad Nature Reserve, Mutla Ridge |
| Mubarak Al-Kabeer (مبارك الكبير) | Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Qurain, Qusour, Adan, Sabah Al Salem, Messila, Abu Fatira, Abu Al Hasaniya, Funaitees, Wista | Quiet residential areas, Messila beach villas, new private hospitals |
Each governorate has its own governor’s office and its own branches of the main ministries, so many in-person services – Ministry of Interior residency departments, traffic departments, PACI centres and health districts – are organised by governorate. Your PACI address decides which health centre you are registered with and which branches you use.
Capital governorate (Al Asimah)
The Capital governorate covers Kuwait City and the older residential suburbs inside and around the ring roads. Downtown (Sharq, Mirqab, Qibla and Dasman) is the business district with ministries, banks, the Kuwait Stock Exchange, Souk Mubarakiya and Kuwait Towers. Shuwaikh holds the port, the industrial area and many car showrooms. Most suburbs such as Kaifan, Yarmouk and Rawda are Kuwaiti family areas; expats renting in the Capital usually choose Sharq, Bneid Al Gar, Dasman or Mirqab flats close to their offices.
Hawally governorate
Hawally is a compact governorate but one of the busiest. Salmiya is the main expat district, with seafront apartments along the Gulf Road, Salem Al Mubarak Street shopping and many restaurants. Hawally town is known for electronics and phone shops on Tunis and Beirut Streets. Jabriya hosts large private and public hospitals, while Mishref, Bayan and Salwa are villa areas popular with families who want space and international schools nearby.
Farwaniya governorate
Farwaniya is the most populous governorate. It contains Kuwait International Airport, The Avenues mall in Al Rai and some of the most crowded expat districts: Khaitan, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Farwaniya town and Abbasiya. Rents here are the lowest in Kuwait and shops cater strongly to Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Egyptian and Filipino communities. Ardiya and Rai include industrial and storage zones, and Dhajeej is a commercial and warehouse area.
Ahmadi governorate
Ahmadi runs along the southern coast and inland to the oil fields. Ahmadi town was built for the Kuwait Oil Company, and the refineries at Mina Al Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah employ many expat engineers and technicians. Fahaheel, Mangaf, Mahboula and Abu Halifa form a continuous coastal strip of apartment blocks that is popular with oil-sector staff and families. Further south are Wafra’s farms, the Zour power area and the Khairan chalets and resorts.
Jahra governorate
Jahra is by far the largest governorate by area, covering more than 11,000 km² – most of the country. Jahra town is the main urban centre, with mainly Kuwaiti and Bedouin family areas and relatively few expat rentals. The governorate includes Subiya, Bubiyan Island and the Abdali farms and border crossing with Iraq, as well as the Sabah Al Ahmad Nature Reserve and the Mutla Ridge, the highest ground near Kuwait City.
Mubarak Al-Kabeer governorate
Mubarak Al-Kabeer, the newest governorate, sits between Hawally and Ahmadi. It is mostly residential: Qurain, Qusour, Adan and Sabah Al Salem are Kuwaiti family areas, while Messila has beach villas and chalets. Several new private hospitals and clinics have opened along the main roads, and expats here typically rent villa floors rather than apartments.
How Kuwait addresses work
- Governorate → Area → Block → Street → Building (→ Floor/Flat): for example, Hawally governorate, Salmiya, Block 10, Street 1, Building 5, Flat 12.
- Blocks are numbered within each area, and streets are usually numbered too, with some named roads such as Salem Al Mubarak Street in Salmiya or Tunis Street in Hawally.
- Avenues (jadda) are smaller numbered lanes inside a block in some areas, so an address may read “Block 3, Street 20, Avenue 4”.
- PACI address number: every unit has an automated address number held by PACI. It is used for your Civil ID, utilities and deliveries.
- Civil ID address: the address on your Civil ID must match where you live; update it in Sahel or on paci.gov.kw after you move.
For deliveries, taxis and ride-hailing, sharing a map pin or live location is more reliable than a written address. Keep a screenshot of your building’s location to send to drivers.
Where expats live: areas and typical rents
| Area group | Governorate | Typical flat rent (KD/month) | Who lives there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmiya, Hawally, Jabriya | Hawally | 250–500 | Western and Arab expats, Indian and Filipino communities |
| Mahboula, Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abu Halifa | Ahmadi | 180–350 | Oil-sector staff, Indian, Egyptian and Filipino families |
| Khaitan, Farwaniya, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Abbasiya | Farwaniya | 120–250 | Budget housing close to the airport, very crowded |
| Mishref, Salwa, Bayan, Surra | Hawally / Capital | Villas and floors | Families wanting space near international schools |
| Sharq, Bneid Al Gar, Dasman, Mirqab | Capital | Varies | Professionals working downtown |
Rents depend heavily on building age, sea view, parking and whether electricity and water are included. See our apartments for rent in Kuwait guide for contracts and listing sites, and the MEW bill guide for utility costs.
Postal codes, landmarks and getting around
Kuwait postal codes are five digits and are assigned per area or block. Few people use them day to day, but online forms, banks and international couriers may ask for one – our Kuwait postal code list has them by area. Locals navigate by landmarks: a co-op society (jamiya), a mosque, a mall or a ring-road junction. When giving directions, mention the area, block and the nearest co-op or mosque.
Getting around relies on cars and taxis; public buses serve the main corridors but are slow. If you do not drive yet, read our taxi guide, and if you are a visitor, see car rental in Kuwait.
Frequently asked questions
How many governorates does Kuwait have?
Six: Capital (Al Asimah), Hawally, Farwaniya, Ahmadi, Jahra and Mubarak Al-Kabeer.
What is the biggest governorate in Kuwait?
Jahra by area (over 11,000 km²); Farwaniya by population.
How many areas are there in Kuwait?
Roughly 120 residential, commercial and industrial areas, each divided into numbered blocks.
Which area in Kuwait has the most expats?
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, Khaitan, Salmiya, Hawally and Mahboula have the highest concentrations of expat residents.
Which governorate is Salmiya in?
Salmiya is in Hawally governorate.
Which governorate is Fahaheel or Mangaf in?
Both are in Ahmadi governorate, along the southern coast.
How do I write a Kuwait address?
Area, block, street, building and flat – for example: Salmiya, Block 10, Street 1, Building 5, Flat 12, Kuwait.
Does Kuwait have different time zones?
No. All of Kuwait is on GMT+3 all year, with no daylight saving.