Where to Buy Books in Kuwait

Kuwait has a good spread of bookshops once you know where to look: big chains for new releases, an independent publisher with its own shop, second-hand sellers for older and cheaper English books, and a book fair every November. This guide sorts them by what you are looking for. We run Qasr Al-Thaqafa, one of the shops below, and we have tried to describe the others fairly.

New books in Arabic and English

Jarir Bookstore is the chain most people in Kuwait already know. Its branches sell new books in Arabic and English alongside electronics, stationery and school supplies, and it also sells online at jarir.com.

That Al Salasil is one of Kuwait's largest bookshop chains, with Arabic and English titles, stationery and gifts. Its branch at The Avenues is the easiest to reach for most people.

Kuwaiti publishing and independent bookselling

Takween is a Kuwaiti publishing house and independent bookshop founded in 2016 by the novelist Bothayna Al-Essa. Its shop in Shuwaikh is the place to go for contemporary Arabic literature and a carefully chosen English selection.

Second-hand English books

Qasr Al-Thaqafa is our shop: an online bookshop based in Salmiya with about 86,000 used, vintage and out-of-print books in English. Most titles are single copies, each graded from Fine to Fair and described individually. Delivery anywhere in Kuwait costs 1.5 KWD, or nothing on orders of 20 KWD or more, and you pay cash on delivery. Start with used books in Kuwait, books under 3 KWD or vintage books printed before 1980.

Better Books is a second-hand bookshop in Salmiya with used books for adults and children, worth a visit if you like browsing shelves in person.

Buying from other readers

Classified sites such as OpenSooq and Dubizzle carry listings from people selling their own books, often in bundles. Prices can be low. Condition and delivery depend entirely on the seller, so ask for photographs before you pay.

Once a year: the Kuwait International Book Fair

The Kuwait International Book Fair, organised by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, fills the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref every November with hundreds of publishers from around the world. The 2026 fair runs from 18 to 28 November.

Which one should you choose?

For a new release, go to a chain. For Arabic literature, go to Takween. For older, cheaper or out-of-print English books, look second-hand, either online with us or on the shelves at Better Books. And if you can, spend an afternoon at the book fair.