Send business payments to Kuwait
Pay suppliers, staff and partners in Kuwait in KWD, from a balance you hold, by SWIFT. The fee and the rate are shown before you confirm.
Quick facts
- Local currency
- KWD · Kuwaiti Dinar
- Pay out in KWD?
- Yes — KWD can be held, converted and paid out
- Route
- KWD · SWIFT
- Typical timing
- SWIFT: typically 1 to 3 working days (typical, not guaranteed)
- Account details
- IBAN, 30 characters, starts KW · Format and example
- Banks closed
- Friday – Saturday · Payment calendar
- SWIFT codes
- 44 banks in our directory
Paying suppliers in Kuwait
The Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) is a currency you can hold, so payments to Kuwait can go out in dinars by SWIFT from a KWD balance. Unlike its Gulf neighbours, the dinar is not tied to the dollar alone: the Central Bank of Kuwait manages it against an undisclosed basket of currencies.
Kuwaiti accounts use a 30-character IBAN starting KW: a 4-letter bank code and a 22-character account number. Kuwaiti banks close on Friday and Saturday.
What you need from your supplier
The beneficiary’s full legal name
Exactly as their bank holds it: the company name for a business, not a trading name.
Their address
Street, town and country.
IBAN (30 characters, starting KW)
Check it with our IBAN checker before the first payment: the check digits catch almost every typo.
The bank’s SWIFT/BIC code
8 or 11 characters. Use the code the supplier gives you; the head-office code works if you only know the bank.
What the payment is for
An invoice number or a short description. Some payments need a supporting document such as the invoice.
How it works
- 01
Add your beneficiary in Kuwait
Enter the details above once and save them. Every later payment to the same supplier, employee or partner starts from the saved record.
- 02
Pay in KWD
Pay from a balance you hold, or convert as part of the payment. The fee, the rate and the amount the beneficiary receives are shown before you confirm.
- 03
Approve and send by SWIFT
A second approver can sign off if your policy requires it. You can download a confirmation of the payment to forward to the beneficiary.
Largest banks in Kuwait
Fees
- SWIFT payment out
- 0.25%, min €25.00
- Currency conversion
- 0.5%
Figures from the MENA plan. Every fee is shown before you confirm a payment, and banks in a SWIFT chain may deduct charges of their own. All plans and fees →
Sending money to Kuwait: questions
- How long does a business payment to Kuwait take?
- A SWIFT payment typically takes 1 to 3 working days, depending on the currency and the banks in the chain. Banks in Kuwait are closed Friday – Saturday. Payments instructed after the daily cut-off, at a weekend or on a holiday start on the next working day. Timings are typical, not guaranteed; the payment calendar shows value dates.
- How much does it cost to send money to Kuwait?
- On the MENA plan a SWIFT payment out costs 0.25%, min €25.00, and banks in the SWIFT chain may deduct charges of their own. Converting currency costs 0.5%. Every fee and the rate are shown before you confirm.
- Which currency should I pay a supplier in Kuwait in?
- Usually KWD, the currency the supplier’s account is held in, so their bank doesn’t convert it. KWD is a currency you can hold: pay from a KWD balance, or convert into it as part of the payment.
- What details do I need from the supplier?
- The beneficiary’s name and address, their IBAN (30 characters, starting KW) and their bank’s SWIFT/BIC code.
- Will I need to send documents?
- Sometimes. Depending on the destination and the amount, we may ask for an invoice or another supporting document before a payment is released, and the recipient’s bank may ask your supplier for the same. Keeping the invoice number in the payment reference helps both.
- Can a business based in Kuwait open an account?
- Yes, Kuwait is not on our list of markets we can’t serve, so a business based there can apply, subject to KYC/KYB review. Onboarding hasn’t opened yet: join the waiting list and we’ll contact you when it does.
Related
Other destinations in Middle East and North Africa
Paying suppliers in Kuwait?
Onboarding hasn’t opened yet. Join the waiting list and we’ll contact you when it does.