Looking for reliable ATMs in Kuwait that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
During my Kuwait visit, I mainly withdrew cash from NBK ATMs, which were reliable and had high limits of 200 KWD. My Wise card worked flawlessly, and I only withdrew twice for my entire trip. Burgan Bank was another good option with no local fees. I noticed smaller banks didn’t always recognize my Monzo card. Honestly, Kuwait is extremely card-oriented, so you don’t need much cash. Still, having around 20-30 KWD in your pocket for taxis and local cafés is handy.
One thing that annoyed me in Kuwait was that not all ATMs liked my foreign card. My Chase debit was rejected at Boubyan Bank twice. When it worked at Gulf Bank, the withdrawal limit was capped at 500 KWD, which wasn’t great if you want to take out larger sums. Also, some ATMs automatically offered USD conversion - always select KWD to avoid losing money. NBK seemed the most reliable overall. Bring at least two cards just in case one doesn’t work.
Good thing is none of the bank ATMs in Kuwait charge any fees. I tried KFH, NBK, Al-Tijari (they are everywhere), Ahli United - all fee free for foreign cards. Only 500 dinar limit though.
I had a great time using ATMs in Kuwait. NBK machines at The Avenues Mall accepted my Monzo Mastercard without any charges from the Kuwaiti side. I withdrew 200 KWD in one transaction, which was plenty for taxis, meals, and shopping. Burgan Bank and Warba Bank also worked with my Revolut Visa, with a similar limit. I barely needed cash since most places accept cards, but it was nice to have dinars for tips and small shops. Compared to other Gulf countries, Kuwait ATMs felt very traveler-friendly.
Kuwait has a modern ATM network, and the best options for foreign cards are NBK (National Bank of Kuwait), Gulf Bank, and Burgan Bank. I used my HSBC Visa debit at NBK ATMs, and the limit was 500 KWD. The local ATM s didn’t charge me any fees, but my home bank added a small fee. Gulf Bank ATMs also worked fine with my Wise card, allowing 400-500 KWD withdrawals. ATMs are everywhere in malls, gas stations, and hotels, so finding one isn’t an issue.