Kuwait - Transportation

Kuwait has a modern network of roads, with all-weather highways running north to Iraq and south to Sa'udi Arabia. Roadways extended 4,450 km (2,777 mi) in 2002, including 3,590 km (2,230 mi) of paved roads. In 2000 there were some 552,400 passenger cars, and 167,800 commercial taxis, trucks, and buses in use. Land transport accounts for a significant share of Kuwait's imports and exports. There are no railways.

Kuwait has five ports, including a cargo port at Ash-Shuwaykh, on Kuwait Bay, and an oil port at Mina' al-Ahmadi that is equipped with a huge pier at which eight large tankers can be loaded simultaneously. In 2002, Kuwait had 38 merchant ships in service with a capacity of 2,274,515 GRT. Kuwait has regular calls from ocean shipping, and local sailing craft carry goods between Kuwait and the neighboring sheikhdoms, Iraq, and Sa'udi Arabia. Sea transport accounts for most of Kuwait's foreign trade.

In 2001, there were 7 airports, 3 of which had paved runways. The principal airport, Kuwait International Airport, is located south of the city of Kuwait. Air transportation is highly advanced, with Kuwait Airways providing service to and from the major Middle Eastern and European cities. In 2001, the airline carried 2,084,600 passengers on domestic and international flights.