Social Relations
The Islamic religion is the major influence on local laws and customs in Kuwait. Islam prescribes the laws and regulations, behavior for individuals and society, family relations, business etiquette, dress, food, personal hygiene, in fact, an entire way of life.

Among the important values is a family-centered way of life, including a protected role for women and clear limits on their participation in public life. In traditional societies, Muslims believe that open social relations between the sexes results in the breakdown of family life. Contact between men and women, therefore, is rigidly controlled. Gestures of affection are never openly displayed in public.

Conservative Attire
Modesty is the key when it comes to attire in Kuwait. Hijab is a phrase used to describe clothing associated with the “modest” dress of Muslims. Non-Muslims are not required to wear the traditional clothing described below, but CSA, Ltd. employees are still required to dress conservatively out of respect for the local customs.

The majority of Kuwaiti men wear the traditional white or cream-colored caftan called a dishdasha, which is floor-length and long-sleeved. Men also usually wear a loose headscarf called a gutra. This is usually all white or red-and-white checked. The black head ropes used to secure the gutra are called agal and are said to have originated from the rope which Bedouins would use to hitch up their camels at night.

For women, the primary articles of “modest” clothing worn in public are the abaya, the hijab and the niqab. The abaya is a floor-length, cloak-like garment. The hijab, or Islamic headscarf, conceals the hair while leaving the face unveiled. Finally, the niqab is a face veil with an opening for the eyes worn by some Muslim women. None of these are required by the government and many Kuwaiti women choose to wear contemporary, yet still modest, fashions.

The burka is not worn in Kuwait. It is mentioned here to distinguish it from the abaya, with which westerners frequently confuse it. A long, pleated gown with a small crocheted grill over the eyes, the burka is made of many yards of light material pleated around a cap that fits over the top of the head. The burka is worn in Afghanistan and certain areas of Pakistan, with versions of it found in Kashmir.