Kuwait accounted for 5,205 commercial vessels, 114,930 aircraft arrivals and departures in 2024
. . . records strong trade and transport growth
- 15.27 million passengers traveled through the airport
- 163,620 tons of air freight imports
- 2,908 ships received by Shuaiba Port
- 38.06 million tons of goods, livestock, and containers exported through the ports
Kuwaiti sea and air ports recorded active trade activity last year compared to the period from 2020 to 2023.
Kuwait’s sea and air ports witnessed a notable surge in trade and transport activity last year, marking a significant improvement compared to the 2020–2023 period, according to a recent report issued by the Central Statistical Bureau.
The report showed that Kuwaiti seaports received 5,205 commercial vessels in 2024, up slightly from 5,180 vessels in 2023, representing a 0.4% increase. Shuaiba Port handled the largest share, receiving 2,908 ships, bringing its five-year total to 13,279 vessels. Shuwaikh Port followed with 1,419 ships last year, and a cumulative 5,770 ship movements recorded from 2020 to 2024. Meanwhile, Doha Port received 878 vessels, the lowest among Kuwait’s ports due to its focus on smaller ships.
In terms of goods movement, Kuwait imported 38.06 million tons of cargo in 2024, including general goods, bulk materials, live animals, and containers. Exports through the same ports reached 4.08 million tons, reflecting active trade flows across the maritime sector.
Air traffic also recorded significant activity, with 114,930 flights in total — split evenly between 57,400 arrivals and 57,400 departures. Passenger numbers reached 15.27 million, including 7.62 million departures, 7.65 million arrivals, and 1.53 million transit passengers. On non-scheduled flights, 1,287 arrivals carried 54,120 passengers, while 1,263 departures carried 54,220 passengers.
Cargo operations at Kuwait International Airport remained robust, with 163,620 tons of imports and 33,920 tons of exports on regular flights.
Additional cargo on non-scheduled flights totaled 25,900 tons of imports and 3,680 tons of exports, bringing total air freight to 197,290 tons. The airport also recorded 8,427 non-commercial aircraft movements, including military, training, private, royal, and VIP flights.
The report further highlighted a surge in public transport usage, with bus subscriptions increasing by 122.6% in 2024 to reach 73,430 subscriptions, up by 32,990 compared to 2023. This sharp rise reflects growing reliance on public transport compared to the 2020–2022 period, when subscriptions ranged between 2,370 and 12,646.
In private transport, passenger numbers rose to 48,490, an increase of 2,194 over the previous year, underscoring expanding demand for both public and private mobility options in Kuwait.
