Taxis in Kuwait 2026: Uber & Careem, Call-Taxi Numbers, Airport Fares and Rules

On this page

1. Taxi options in Kuwait compared
2. Uber and Careem in Kuwait
3. Licensed call-taxi companies and phone numbers
4. Taxi Jahra and taxis in outer areas
5. Kuwait Airport taxi fares
6. Typical fares around Kuwait
7. Rules that protect passengers
8. How to give your address to a taxi driver
9. Common mistakes to avoid
10. Safety and complaints
11. Frequently asked questions
12. Related guides

Taxi options in Kuwait compared

Kuwait has no metro and limited buses, so most residents without a car rely on taxis. Each type has its own price logic and rules, and choosing the right one for the trip saves real money over a month.

Type	How to get one	Typical fare	Best for
Careem / Uber	App; card or cash	Salmiya ↔ Kuwait City KD 3–5; Salmiya ↔ Fahaheel KD 7–10	Price shown before booking, trip tracking; surge in rain and rush hour
Call taxi (phone / WhatsApp)	Call a licensed company; car arrives in 10–20 min	KD 2–3 within an area; KD 5–8 cross-city	Regular commutes, school runs, cheapest repeat trips
Airport taxi (orange)	Rank outside arrivals, 24 hours, official fare board	KD 7 Hawally; KD 8 Kuwait City, Salmiya, Fahaheel	Leaving the terminal immediately with luggage
Street (roaming) taxi	Hail an orange taxi on main roads	Meter or agreed, usually KD 1–3 for short hops	Quick trips in Salmiya, Hawally, Kuwait City
Hourly private driver	Instagram and WhatsApp adverts	KD 5–8 per hour	Families doing many stops; check the car is licensed

Uber and Careem in Kuwait

Careem has operated in Kuwait for years, and Uber launched on 15 September 2026 with Taxi, Comfort, Black and Lux tiers. Both apps show the price before you confirm, let you share your trip with family and keep a record of the driver and plate number. That record is the main reason many women and first-time visitors prefer app rides.

• Prices rise during surges: weekday rush hours (roughly 6:30–8:30 AM and 1:00–3:30 PM), heavy rain, and late on Thursday and Friday nights.
• At Kuwait International Airport, app cars cannot wait at the terminal kerb. You walk to the car park pick-up point shown in the app.
• Pay by card in the app if you can; drivers often lack change for a KD 10 or 20 note.
• If a driver asks you to cancel and pay cash off the app, decline – you lose the trip record and any complaint route.

Licensed call-taxi companies and phone numbers

These numbers come from the Kuwait Government Online directory of taxi companies. Most companies run 24 hours. You give your area, block, street and house number, or send a location pin on WhatsApp, and a car with the company sticker is sent to you.

Company	Phone
Basha Taxi	1808055
Al-Areej Taxi	1808022
Talia Taxi (app)	22070220
Al-Wahda Taxi	25528400 / 25528500
Middle East Taxi	25513333 / 25526644
Al-Qimma Taxi	25622110 / 50540730
Taxi Al-Alfin	25613100 / 24810630
Taxi Al-Aman	23711115 / 23721112
Special Taxi (Fahaheel)	23921700 / 23921800
Taxi Al-Risala	25730398 / 22453666
Taxi Jahra	96630262
Mishwar Taxi	24718890
Taxi Kuwait 24-Hour	98040807
Roxy Taxi	55711722
Taxi 24 Kuwait	69662187
Online Taxi	55644750

Taxi Jahra and taxis in outer areas

Jahra, Sulaibiya, Saad Al-Abdullah and the northern areas are far from the central taxi ranks, and app cars can take longer to arrive there, especially at night. Residents usually save one or two local numbers:

• Taxi Jahra: 96630262 – based in Jahra and the quickest option for trips within the governorate and to Kuwait City.
• Taxi Al-Alfin: 25613100 / 24810630 – also covers Jahra and western areas.
• Fahaheel, Mangaf, Ahmadi and Mahboula: Special Taxi (23921700) and Taxi Al-Aman (23711115) are the usual choices in the south.
• Long trips to Wafra, Khiran or Abdali: agree the full round-trip price, including waiting time, before you leave.

Kuwait Airport taxi fares

The orange airport taxis work from the rank directly outside arrivals at all terminals. A fare board at the desk lists the fixed price by zone, so you do not need to negotiate. Typical fares are shown below; check the board as zones and prices can be revised.

Destination from the airport	Airport rank taxi	App ride (typical)
Hawally	About KD 7	KD 3–5
Salmiya	About KD 8	KD 4–6
Kuwait City	About KD 8	KD 4–6
Fahaheel	About KD 8	KD 4–6
Farwaniya / Khaitan	Ask at the desk (short distance)	KD 2–4

The app ride is cheaper but you walk to the car park and may wait during peak arrival times. With children, heavy bags or a late-night flight, many people decide the rank taxi is worth the extra few dinars.

Typical fares around Kuwait

Trip	Call taxi	App ride
Within Salmiya or Hawally	KD 1.5–3	KD 1.5–3
Salmiya ↔ Kuwait City	KD 3–5	KD 3–5
Farwaniya ↔ Kuwait City	KD 3–5	KD 3–5
Salmiya ↔ Fahaheel	KD 5–8	KD 7–10
Jahra ↔ Kuwait City	KD 5–8	varies with demand

These are ranges reported by riders in 2026, not official tariffs. Fares depend on traffic, the time of day and the company. Always confirm the price on the phone or in the app.

Rules that protect passengers

• Licensed taxis carry a permit sticker on both rear sides with the company name and driver phone. A car without one is unlicensed and passengers are not insured.
• The meter is mandatory in licensed taxis. Refusing to use it or overcharging can be reported to the Traffic Department on 112 or through the MOI app, and the car can be impounded.
• Call taxis may not pick up from the street or the airport; roaming taxis may not stop on highways.
• There is no official women-only taxi service in 2026. Women travelling alone usually choose app rides for driver identity and trip tracking.
• Tipping is not expected; rounding up to the next half-dinar is common.

How to give your address to a taxi driver

Kuwaiti addresses use area, block (qitaa), street and house or building number, and many drivers are new to the city. A clear address saves time and arguments about the route:

1. Start with the area and block, for example “Salmiya, Block 10, Street 4, Building 21”.
2. Add a landmark the driver will know: a co-op society, mosque, school, mall or petrol station.
3. Send a live location pin on WhatsApp – most call-taxi drivers prefer it to a written address.
4. For pick-ups in large complexes, say which gate or tower entrance you will wait at.
5. Keep your phone on: drivers usually call when they are a few minutes away.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Getting into a car without a taxi sticker because the driver offers a lower price.
• Not agreeing a price for a long trip, then arguing at the destination.
• Leaving belongings behind with no company name or plate number to call. Note the company or take a photo of the sticker.
• Booking an app ride from the airport and waiting at the kerb instead of the car park.
• Paying a hourly “private driver” from social media in advance. Pay at the end of the trip.

Safety and complaints

If something goes wrong, record the taxi company, the plate number and the time. For a complaint about overcharging or dangerous driving, call 112 or use the MOI app. For app rides, report the trip in the app first – both Careem and Uber can refund or ban a driver. In an emergency, call 112. Our list of important phone numbers in Kuwait has other useful hotlines.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides