Comments on: Renewing the Driving License http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/ Mark and Nat, a married couple who are living in Kuwait. Both are designers, Mark works in advertising while Nat runs her own design studio called Push+Pull. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:36:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: docxray http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-62047 docxray Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:48:50 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-62047 When I lived in Kuwait and went through the licensing nonsense, I kept a daily log of the process. Over a two week period, I was required to visit 13 different offices in various part of Kuwait. Two of the offices were nothing more than "paper shuffle and restaple" points. When I finally reached the twelfth office, I was first rudely told to leave and when I protested that I had been told to come to the office, the high-ranking officer in the huge office in back of the desk where I stood overheard and asked me to come in. He then looked at my papers and said that the first paper I had clearly stated that I was a "Special Guest" of the government and should be granted a license immediately without any furthe procedures. Everyone prior to this individual had ignored that instruction. The officer stamped that first document, personally walked me to the final (13th) office, said something to the clerk, shook my hand, welcomed me to Kuwait and my license was issued immediately. There must have been a special code on my license, as every time afterwards when I was stopped at police roadblock/checkstop, the police would step back, salute and wave me through. Bizarre, isn't it? When I lived in Kuwait and went through the licensing nonsense, I kept a daily log of the process. Over a two week period, I was required to visit 13 different offices in various part of Kuwait. Two of the offices were nothing more than “paper shuffle and restaple” points. When I finally reached the twelfth office, I was first rudely told to leave and when I protested that I had been told to come to the office, the high-ranking officer in the huge office in back of the desk where I stood overheard and asked me to come in. He then looked at my papers and said that the first paper I had clearly stated that I was a “Special Guest” of the government and should be granted a license immediately without any furthe procedures. Everyone prior to this individual had ignored that instruction. The officer stamped that first document, personally walked me to the final (13th) office, said something to the clerk, shook my hand, welcomed me to Kuwait and my license was issued immediately. There must have been a special code on my license, as every time afterwards when I was stopped at police roadblock/checkstop, the police would step back, salute and wave me through. Bizarre, isn’t it?

]]> By: Marzouq http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61968 Marzouq Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:08:46 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61968 Did you go back yet? I know you want them to fix their attitude.. but these guys just dont give a damn! Its annoying as hell! Did you go back yet? I know you want them to fix their attitude.. but these guys just dont give a damn! Its annoying as hell!

]]> By: CyberRowdy http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61922 CyberRowdy Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:49:21 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61922 <b>Since my papers say I am Canadian...</b> yeah, but thats only on papers and that matters...the treatment is good for the real canadians not for people like us immigrating to canada and get the citizenship...and for us its better to be with the original nationality...in your case, Lebaneese... but still dont know, why the treat people like this... they always have something or the other as excuse... Since my papers say I am Canadian… yeah, but thats only on papers and that matters…the treatment is good for the real canadians not for people like us immigrating to canada and get the citizenship…and for us its better to be with the original nationality…in your case, Lebaneese…

but still dont know, why the treat people like this… they always have something or the other as excuse…

]]> By: Cajie http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61860 Cajie Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:24:43 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61860 I renewed my licence 2 months back (can't f****** believe I have been living & driving in q8 for 10 years without any accident - touch wood). Just went to Hawally traffic dept. one evening, all finished in 15 minutes. Went the next week and picked up my new licence. I was actually impressed by the whole process. My secret: speak to them in a low respectful voice, and keep saying sir...and nod/agree to everything they say. :) I renewed my licence 2 months back (can’t f****** believe I have been living & driving in q8 for 10 years without any accident – touch wood). Just went to Hawally traffic dept. one evening, all finished in 15 minutes. Went the next week and picked up my new licence. I was actually impressed by the whole process.

My secret: speak to them in a low respectful voice, and keep saying sir…and nod/agree to everything they say. :)

]]> By: fractal00 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61842 fractal00 Wed, 20 Sep 2006 06:43:44 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61842 Yes Mark last time you were with Nat hehehe... I havn't gotten my License yet, you renewing your license are facing so much trouble, i kind of wonder how much prob i will be facing first time around Yes Mark last time you were with Nat hehehe…

I havn’t gotten my License yet, you renewing your license are facing so much trouble, i kind of wonder how much prob i will be facing first time around

]]> By: Matt http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61824 Matt Wed, 20 Sep 2006 06:01:01 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61824 Mark this has always been a problem in Kuwait, I like your blog coz you expose all the day to day stuff real deep and have good readers responding for it. Yes most of the things are being run on attitude in Kuwait (like the cell phone shop, traffic department, driving). All I can tell you is Hard luck and wish you a better luck next time. Mark this has always been a problem in Kuwait, I like your blog coz you expose all the day to day stuff real deep and have good readers responding for it. Yes most of the things are being run on attitude in Kuwait (like the cell phone shop, traffic department, driving). All I can tell you is Hard luck and wish you a better luck next time.

]]> By: mocman http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61813 mocman Wed, 20 Sep 2006 05:42:29 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61813 cant you do it at the maidan hawally branch?? or better yet mark go to the liberation tower... jus as you enter on ur left is the MO interior. they will renew ur papers there it self... cant you do it at the maidan hawally branch?? or better yet mark go to the liberation tower… jus as you enter on ur left is the MO interior. they will renew ur papers there it self…

]]> By: RO http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61791 RO Wed, 20 Sep 2006 05:01:52 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61791 Do yourself a favor this time......TAKE NATS with you. Although it may seem like they cant delay it any longer and they'll have to give it to you this time round, they can probably find a million reasons to ask you to come back tomorrow. These guys are pros when it comes to excusues.... computer is not working.....nobody is here to staple your papers....I didnt get laid last night. Trust me on this, go with what works...take Nats! Do yourself a favor this time……TAKE NATS with you. Although it may seem like they cant delay it any longer and they’ll have to give it to you this time round, they can probably find a million reasons to ask you to come back tomorrow. These guys are pros when it comes to excusues…. computer is not working…..nobody is here to staple your papers….I didnt get laid last night. Trust me on this, go with what works…take Nats!

]]> By: 3baid http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61745 3baid Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:29:52 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61745 "This guy was like super friendly to us last time and he was kidding around with Nat" Last time, you were <b>with Nat</b>. “This guy was like super friendly to us last time and he was kidding around with Nat”

Last time, you were with Nat.

]]> By: Les http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61743 Les Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:23:30 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61743 Take care man. The last time I was there, an Egyptian guy who was upset about coming back repeatedly argued with the guy in the fines section and the fines guy came out from behind his desk and started hitting the Egyptian guy! All hell broke loose. When I was leaving I saw the manager of the place shouting at the Egyptian guy telling him that he would not finish his paperwork unless his sponsor came personally and requested it. Take care man. The last time I was there, an Egyptian guy who was upset about coming back repeatedly argued with the guy in the fines section and the fines guy came out from behind his desk and started hitting the Egyptian guy! All hell broke loose.

When I was leaving I saw the manager of the place shouting at the Egyptian guy telling him that he would not finish his paperwork unless his sponsor came personally and requested it.

]]> By: jajajaja http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61641 jajajaja Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:52:12 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61641 anything related to hawalli and non-kuwaitis usually ends up not very nice. You should try Kuwait City with a little wasta too. anything related to hawalli and non-kuwaitis usually ends up not very nice. You should try Kuwait City with a little wasta too.

]]> By: KtheKuwaiti http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61594 KtheKuwaiti Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:38:43 +0000 http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/renewing-the-driving-license/#comment-61594 I drive with my US license .. I have no idea where my Kuwaiti on is; I think it was suspended or something. I drive with my US license .. I have no idea where my Kuwaiti on is; I think it was suspended or something.

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