The 221-kilometer border between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia is a constant conduit of movement between two closely allied Gulf nations. This flat desert frontier is less a barrier and more a busy interchange for citizens, residents, and a huge volume of commercial goods. Your crossing experience here will be one of modern infrastructure and high traffic volume.
There are two primary border crossings for your use. The Nuwaiseeb-Khafji crossing is located on the main coastal highway, serving as the most direct route and handling the majority of traffic. Further to the west lies the Salmi-Raqi crossing, which is a key route for commercial trucking and those traveling from more western parts of the countries.
For citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the crossing is typically a swift formality. For other nationalities, it is a standard immigration and customs procedure at a modern, multi-lane facility. You should anticipate significant queues, especially during weekends and public holidays when travel between the two countries peaks.
The drive on either side of the border is through a featureless, arid landscape, but the roads are well-maintained. The border is a clear indicator of the deep economic and social integration between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, functioning as an essential artery that fuels their interconnected economies.