Kuwait's Cycling Guide

Whether you are a local cyclist trying to find your cycling community or an avid cyclist moving to Kuwait for a new job, wondering, “Do they even ride there?” this guide is for you.

You see, I was living abroad for a while and still do, and I ride my bike daily, rain or shine, both as a commuter and as a long-distance rider. In 2018, I wanted to visit family here in Kuwait, but I didn’t want to bring my bike with me then and instead figured I could just rent one since I was there for a short time.

Although I did find a bike for rent, it was cost prohibitive, to say it nicely. Additionally, I was surprised that I had to bring my own pedals or buy new ones. “Alright, this is new…” confused by what happened since most shops in the US and Europe provide pedals; that’s common sense.

I didn’t get to ride during that trip, which was the longest period I went without riding my bike in over 3 years at that time.

Frustrated by this, I wanted to find out more about the cycling scene in Kuwait. But to my surprise, or lack thereof, I found very little information on the internet.

Fast-forward to late 2021, I found myself in Kuwait again, but I had my bike with me this time since I had plans to travel around for a bit. So, with lessons learned from last time, I messaged people and groups on social media to get a basic understanding of where to ride, given what I know about how dangerous roads in Kuwait can be.

I found nothing but messages left on read, and when I did get a reply, it was to inform me that “our group is closed, sorry.” That same feeling of confusion resurfaced yet again. I thought, “this surely can’t be personal; they don’t even know me or my riding history.” So I just let it go and went on to travel for over 9 months, working remotely.

Only when I got back, that occurred to me that there was a significant reason for that reply about the closed group. I didn’t know that the cycling community was mourning a loss. One of the up-and-coming local riders was killed in a hit-and-run. That shocked the community to its core, and it shook mine, too, after I heard the full story from someone who witnessed the whole thing with their own eyes.

This is not to scare you off the road or not to ride your bike. Quite the contrary, this guide is to help you reach the right people, ride safely and contribute to the community!

After learning the facts and facing the ambiguity of riding in Kuwait, I swore to change this forever. So, for over 2 months, I’ve been heads down collecting stories, interviewing local cyclists, documenting the blooming cycling scene in Kuwait, and sharing it with the world.

I’m doing this for many reasons:

First and foremost, to vindicate those who lost their lives practicing a sport that was more than a way of life; it was their life.
Secondly, to shine a light on the abundance of amazing talents found in this community.
Third, to raise awareness about this blossoming community and fulfill their basic needs, such as safety.
To provide local officials with facts, numbers, and stories to further aid our cause.
Network with global cycling brands and cycling advocacy groups to collaborate on making this community safer and better for everyone.
To help grow the community by providing an open-source guide for cycling in Kuwait.

This is a promise from me to you, my fellow rider: we will make cycling better and take it to the next level, one pedal stroke at a time.

With that, I present you with the first cycling guide for Kuwait.