Security & Customs
Security & Customs
Whether you are departing, arriving, or transferring through Terminal 4, the following information will help make your journey safer, smoother, and more convenient.
Airport security and customs procedures are in place to protect passengers, aircraft, airport facilities, and the State of Kuwait. Please follow all instructions from airport security, customs officers, airline staff, and official authorities at all times.
Departures
Security Check
Before boarding your flight, you will need to pass through airport security screening. Your hand baggage will be screened, and you may be required to walk through a metal detector or undergo additional checks if requested by security staff.
At Terminal 4, passengers may go through security screening during the departure process, including baggage screening before or around check-in, screening after passport control, and screening for transit passengers where required.
The experience will be smoother if you:
Prepare your hand baggage before reaching the security checkpoint.
Place laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and large electronic devices in separate trays when requested by security staff.
Place small personal items such as phones, wallets, watches, keys, pens, coins, and belts inside your hand baggage or in the security tray before screening.
Remove items with metallic parts, such as belts or shoes, if instructed by security staff.
Avoid carrying sharp objects in hand baggage, including scissors, knives, blades, nail cutters, or similar items.
Make sure you are not carrying prohibited or restricted items.
Liquids, Aerosols & Gels
Liquids, aerosols, and gels carried onboard from Kuwait International Airport are subject to security restrictions. Kuwait Airways states that passengers departing from Kuwait International Airport may carry liquids, aerosols, and gels only in containers of 100 ml or less, placed in a resealable security bag with a maximum capacity of one liter, and each passenger is allowed only one such bag. Medicines, infant food, milk/formula, and special diet items may be exempted in reasonable quantities but remain subject to security assessment.
This includes items such as:
Water and drinks
Perfumes
Creams and lotions
Gels
Oils
Sprays and aerosols
Toothpaste and similar items
Liquids over the permitted limit should be packed in checked baggage unless they are officially exempted. Duty-free liquids may be allowed through transit checkpoints if sealed in the proper security tamper-evident bag with proof of purchase, subject to airport security rules.
Prohibited Items
Please ensure that you are not carrying prohibited or restricted items in your hand baggage or checked baggage. These items may be confiscated and may not be returned.
Common prohibited or restricted items include:
Weapons, firearms, ammunition, and explosives
Toy or replica weapons
Sharp items such as knives, blades, and scissors
Narcotic drugs and controlled substances
Alcoholic beverages
Pork products
Pornographic or obscene materials
Gambling machines or gambling-related materials
Fireworks, flammable materials, and dangerous goods
Restricted medicines or medical items without proper approval
Kuwait prohibits the importation of goods including pork, alcoholic beverages, gambling machines, pornographic materials, narcotics, used medical equipment, and some other restricted items. Firearms and explosives require special procedures and approval.
Arrivals
Arrival Security & Customs
After arriving at Kuwait International Airport and completing passport control, passengers collect their checked baggage and proceed through customs before exiting the airport.
Kuwait International Airport lists customs as part of the arrival procedures, and the airport customs operation is handled by the General Administration of Customs.
Customs officers may inspect baggage and request information about items you are carrying. Please cooperate with customs officers and declare any goods when required.
Customs Declaration
You may need to declare items depending on the type, quantity, value, or legal restrictions. If you are unsure whether an item must be declared, ask a customs officer before exiting the customs area.
Items that may require declaration or special attention include:
Large amounts of cash or valuables
Gold, jewelry, precious stones, or high-value items
Commercial goods or items not intended for personal use
Medicines or medical products
Food items
Animals, plants, or related products
Restricted or controlled items
Kuwait Customs introduced an e-service through the Sahel app allowing travelers to declare cash amounts exceeding KD 3,000 or the equivalent in foreign currency when arriving or departing through Kuwait customs ports and airports.
Items Not Allowed into Kuwait
Passengers should not bring prohibited items into Kuwait. These items may be confiscated and may result in fines, legal action, or travel delays.
Do not bring:
Alcoholic beverages
Narcotic drugs or controlled substances
Pork products
Pornographic or obscene materials
Gambling-related items
Weapons, firearms, ammunition, or explosives without official approval
Restricted medicines without proper documents
Possession or importation of alcohol, narcotic drugs, and marijuana is illegal in Kuwait, and drug-related convictions may lead to heavy fines, long imprisonment, or severe penalties.
Transfers
Transit Security Check
Transit passengers may be required to pass through security screening before entering the departure concourse or boarding their connecting flight.
To make the process smoother:
Keep your boarding pass and travel documents ready.
Follow the signs for your next flight or terminal.
Prepare your hand baggage for screening.
Place electronics and metallic items in security trays if requested.
Make sure liquids, aerosols, and gels follow the 100 ml rule.
Keep duty-free liquids sealed in the approved security tamper-evident bag with the purchase receipt.
If you are transferring between terminals, confirm your next terminal and allow enough time to reach your boarding gate. Kuwait International Airport’s transit guidance advises passengers to confirm which terminal their next flight departs from and to monitor flight information for updates or delays.
Important Security Guidelines
Please avoid the following:
Do not carry prohibited items in your hand baggage or checked baggage.
Do not use mobile phones, cameras, or recording devices in restricted security, passport control, immigration, or customs areas unless permitted by officials.
Do not leave your baggage unattended.
Do not accept bags, parcels, or items from other people.
Do not joke about security threats, weapons, explosives, or prohibited items.
Do not pack liquids over 100 ml in hand baggage unless officially exempted.
Do not bring alcohol, narcotics, pork products, or prohibited materials into Kuwait.