Has anyone ever detected the beachs in Kuwait City?

[augusthog]

I'll be over there probably in a couple weeks, maybe for up to a year. I know they have Beach's there, and I'm wondering about the local laws. I sent an email to the U S Embassy there, but they haven't answered back yet and I'm impatient.
So how bout it, anyone know more than me?

 

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[crazyjarhead]

No, but I enjoyed a McDonalds hamburger there after the first war

 

[augusthog]

I was a civilian contractor in the MRAP Program in Iraq 9-08 to 10-09 and spent a couple days in Kuwait City. There's so much money there is makes you wanna barf! I saw more Lamburginis, Bentlys, RR's and other high dollar cars on 1 stretch of road in 3 hours than I had seen in my whole life! All this was before I got into detecting.
I will eather be working right in the city, or Afghanistan. But you always have to go through Kuwait and the poop hole of them all-Ali Al Salem. (shudders) That place sucks.........

 

[Tom_in_CA]

As for sending an inquiry to a US embassy there, just be aware, you may get a "no", because they're couching it in terms of antiquities, shipwreck salvor stuff, etc.... I mean, so too might a foreigner get a "no" when coming to the USA, and inquiring ahead of time to a border bureaucrat here: "can I detect beaches, sandboxes, etc... in the USA?" Because the bureaucrat may be thinking of Shiloh, Bodie, mel fisher legal hassles, arpa, etc...

There's been a lot of people getting ready to travel, who did what you did. They get a "no", so they leave the machine at home. Then they arrive, and see other guys detecting, w/o a care in the world. So .... it depends on how you couch your question, because "no" is always the easy answer. (the: "sometimes no one cares, till you ask" type-psychology)

Try this: see if there's any dealers there, or even in the next neighboring country. If the dealer can tell you of locals there that detect, and you can talk to them, often-time you'll get the real skinny of if any actually cares or not.

 

[Monty]

Put on an old pair of military surplus fatigues and if anyone asks tell them you are looking for mines. And you might find some ! Monty

 

[augusthog]

As for sending an inquiry to a US embassy there, just be aware, you may get a "no", because they're couching it in terms of antiquities, shipwreck salvor stuff, etc.... I mean, so too might a foreigner get a "no" when coming to the USA, and inquiring ahead of time to a border bureaucrat here: "can I detect beaches, sandboxes, etc... in the USA?" Because the bureaucrat may be thinking of Shiloh, Bodie, mel fisher legal hassles, arpa, etc...

There's been a lot of people getting ready to travel, who did what you did. They get a "no", so they leave the machine at home. Then they arrive, and see other guys detecting, w/o a care in the world. So .... it depends on how you couch your question, because "no" is always the easy answer. (the: "sometimes no one cares, till you ask" type-psychology)

Try this: see if there's any dealers there, or even in the next neighboring country. If the dealer can tell you of locals there that detect, and you can talk to them, often-time you'll get the real skinny of if any actually cares or not.

Thanks Tom. I'll just bring it with me anyhow.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Naturally, just as here, use due discretion. You know the drill: detectors (even here) draw the stares of curious onlookers (like "wow, what is that man with the geiger-counter-thingy doing anyhow?"). So just like here, you don't go during crowds, stepping over beach-blankets, waltzing into obvious historic monuments, intruding into archie conventions, etc.... The less busy-bodies, the better, no matter where you're at.

And afterall, you're looking for the boyscout ring you lost there on that beach last year when you were there, right?

 

[DoubleUgly]

I'm curious to the final answer, if they do answer you.

My brother got his first duty assignment in Kuwait City, and he ships out in Feb.

 

[MonDak]

I was a civilian contractor in the MRAP Program in Iraq 9-08 to 10-09 and spent a couple days in Kuwait City. There's so much money there is makes you wanna barf! I saw more Lamburginis, Bentlys, RR's and other high dollar cars on 1 stretch of road in 3 hours than I had seen in my whole life! All this was before I got into detecting.
I will eather be working right in the city, or Afghanistan. But you always have to go through Kuwait and the poop hole of them all-Ali Al Salem. (shudders) That place sucks.........

Was there many years ago, it sure changes when you drive across the border to Basrah. High
dollar cars to antique junk. This was in 1976, maybe different today.

 

[augusthog]

Well, I got a reply:

Dear Mr. Hog,



Thank you for your e-mail. Please do not bring your metal detector to Kuwait. For additional information regarding Kuwait, please view Department of State, Kuwait Country Specific Information sheet through the link below:



http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_944.html





Sincerely,

Consular Section, ACS Unit

U.S. Embassy Kuwait

Maybe I'll still bring it. I would rather have it with me should the chance arise than not have it.

 

[DoubleUgly]

I'd say bring it, cause it doesn't say anywhere that it's illegal. The only thing I found that comes close is "Photographing government and public buildings, military installations, and economic infrastructure, particularly that related to the oil industry, is against the law and can result in arrest, investigation, and prosecution." Doesn't say anything about metal detectors.

Seems like they're more strict about alcohol, porn, and bacon!

 

[U.K. Brian]

You don't ask your own people, they would tell you you can't detect in the U.S. Ask the Kuwait Embassy as its handy to have official permission. Even without there should not be a problem and there's a couple of detector shops one of which is in the Al-Ragum Center on Beirut Street.

Always best to check though. Lots will want you to test the water and things can change in a matter of weeks.

Anywhere in the Middle East you can get in real trouble if you pay to much attention to the ladies even if they are on a public beach.

There's no beach detecting in Britain without a permit. Thats the rules. Few bother because the funding was never put in place to enforce the law. On the other hand they have just come up with the idea of a twenty thousand pound ($30,000) fine for gold panning on the rivers in North Wales.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

august hog, I read the bureaucrat's reply ("no"), and the link he provided to back it up. I read the link all the way through, and even did key-word searches, to make sure I wasn't missing anything that could pertain to metal detecting the beaches. Like key words "metal", "detectors", "cultural", "historical", etc..... I find absolutely nothing saying you can't detect.

Here is an excellent example, of getting a "no", simply because you asked, and it's the easiest answer to give. Ie.: "sometimes no one cares UNTIL you ask" type mentality.

So on the contrary, I would print that out, and go detecting. If someone says something, you checked, and found no prohibitions.

In the future, let this be a lesson for others, that instead of thinking we need to go seek permission for public areas, instead, approach it from the different way: Go see FOR YOURSELF if there is anything prohibiting your activity. It's as simple as looking it up, in this marvelous day & age when all rules, laws, are inevitably up on the web somewhere. Simply amazing.

I have read that some people, seeking to avoid this "because I said so" mentality, have gone up to desk-bound bureaucrats (like when going into a city hall somewhere, etc...) and specifically phrasing it this way: "Is there anything that prohibits metal detecting in the park (school, curb-strips, beach, or whatever)?". Now you might THINK this puts the burden of proof, on the desk-bound person, to produce such an actual rule, that specifically says "no such & such allowed", right? But even that has back-fired, and I have read accounts of where the answer given to the inquirer was "we would prefer you didn't" (as if the inquirer had been asking "mother may I?"). And when the person objected "but where is that written", they got the silliest things morphed to apply to them (that in all likelihood, no one would ever have given the matter a second thought to). Ie.: because you might dig up PG&E lines, or because you might disturb the spotted owls, or other such silly things no one really thinks of or cares about.

The "no" answer you received, is one that persons getting ready to travel to Mexico, have also gotten, when they ask enough ivory tower travel consulate lawyer types. And the answer is usually because of some sort of mental image an ivory tower bureaucrat has, because perhaps he is thinking in terms of federal antiquities (ie.: Bodie, Shiloh, Ghettysburb, arpa, the pyramids, gold bars, shipwreck salvor stuff, etc...). Imagine the travelors surprise when he shows up at Cozomul, only to see others having utterly no problem, and no one cares.

 

[augusthog]

Thanks everybody for your input and opinions! I will take it with me and use it when/if I can. Tom in Ca, thanks for the tip about printing the gov. travel link. That might carry some weight if needed.
FWIW, I turned down a job in Kuwait today, but others (that pay more) will come.
Thanks again all!
Augie

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Be careful out there.

good Luck sir

 

[gsxraddict]

I lived in Kuwait near Salmiya

I never metal detected there, I was pretty worried about the police; they are pretty corrupt. Laws on the books are more like suggestions sometimes.

It just wasn't worth it to me, I just spent a lot of time walking around the malls and shops, I hate shopping and you'd never catch me in a mall here in the US; but it was very interesting more people watching a different culture.

 

[Nickleanddime]

Not a good idea. This area has been inhabited for thousands of years. Major biblical and historical events happened in this region. The Middle eastern people are very respectful of their heritage and where they come from. And to have a American no less come in and pillage their beach, lol it be like the Christians during the crusades to then. You may pick up a flat piece of copper that's a 600 year old coin. Then you will be stealing historic artifacts. That's a good way to rot in a Kuwait prision till your bones turn to dust. You want a good book to read about middle eastern treasure hunting and how strict the region is on historic artifact collection read, the gold of exodus. It's about searching for mount Sonia in Saudi arabi and even searching for a pile of rocks almost got these guys imprisioned forever. So what do you think will happen stumbling upon a gold ring of some prince? You get caught with a royal stamped piece of jewelry your done. Think of it this way. How would you feel if a Muslim came here and metal detected Gettysburg or the trade tower site? That's what it's like to them o have a westerner search for their historic artifacts. Anyways, I figured your a adult you'll make your own decision.

 

[Nickleanddime]

In that state department link the most valuable part is the part about, any citizen of kuwait can detain anyone for any reason, and they will be detained and travel privligaes revoked till the matter is cleared up. That means it doesnt even take a cop to get you in trouble anyone that you may offend or make mad by metal detecting those beaches can cause you months or years of trouble, imprisonment, or fines.I hate the way our goverment is ran but on foreign matters they more then likely are the people you need to listen to.

 

[Charlesp54]

The thread is from 2011. Talk about raising the dead.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Not a good idea. This area has been inhabited for thousands of years. Major biblical and historical events happened in this region. The Middle eastern people are very respectful of their heritage and where they come from. And to have a American no less come in and pillage their beach, lol it be like the Christians during the crusades to then. You may pick up a flat piece of copper that's a 600 year old coin. Then you will be stealing historic artifacts. That's a good way to rot in a Kuwait prision till your bones turn to dust. You want a good book to read about middle eastern treasure hunting and how strict the region is on historic artifact collection read, the gold of exodus. It's about searching for mount Sonia in Saudi arabi and even searching for a pile of rocks almost got these guys imprisioned forever. So what do you think will happen stumbling upon a gold ring of some prince? You get caught with a royal stamped piece of jewelry your done. Think of it this way. How would you feel if a Muslim came here and metal detected Gettysburg or the trade tower site? That's what it's like to them o have a westerner search for their historic artifacts. Anyways, I figured your a adult you'll make your own decision.

nickle&dime, all such things you're saying (about rich history that far exceeds that of the USA in age) can apply to ANY European country. Not just those in the middle east. Even England where metal detecting is common-place (and, gasp, they find coins back to the BC era). So the mere fact of historical things being found, doesn't therefore, ergo, by necessity mean that: "therefore you shouldn't or can't detect". I mean, if THAT were true, then heck, we have ARPA here in the USA. And silly things like "50 yrs. old get floated here". Yes I realize you'll probably say: "but that arpa only applies to certain types land, blah blah blah". Ok, sure. BUT THAT'S JUST THE POINT: you and I would be making that observation (about how scary laws need not stop us from detecting here), because we know and understand the law. So why can't it be the same way for other countries? Detecting is going on in scores of european countries (not just england) where they're finding old coins. I mean, why ELSE does someone detect?

Sounds like you too read the bureaucrat's answer, and you too see it has nothing there that say's no in the laws. So instead you rely on the stuff about how you can be detained for any reason, blah blah. Ok, sure. But I'm betting that so too is there stuff like that in USA law, or Mexico, or ...... wherever. I mean, if you read deeply enough, and long enough, and worry hard enough, you can preclude yourself from going or travelling or doing ANYTHING.

Yes, of course use common sense. Don't tromp on historic monuments, etc... But aside from that, I think that md'rs make way too many un-founded conclusions that every single country except the USA and Britain has or allows md'ing.