While other foreign nationals were eligible for Kuwait’s visa-on-arrival facility and could leave the airport, Indian passengers faced additional challenges. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, taking place in Kuwait at the time, meant the airport hotel was unavailable. The Indian embassy in Kuwait assisted the stranded passengers, arranging for them to be accommodated in airport lounges.
However, many passengers claimed they were treated unfairly compared to those holding passports from the European Union, the UK, and the US, who were provided with accommodation. Arzoo Singh, one of the stranded passengers, while talking to NDTV said that airport authorities told them they could only be provided with accommodation if they were eligible for a transit visa, a privilege not extended to passengers holding passports from South Asian countries.
The Indian embassy in Kuwait confirmed that its team had been at the airport to help passengers and coordinate with the airline. They also explained that Indian nationals do not qualify for Kuwait’s visa-on-arrival facility. Due to the ongoing GCC summit, government offices, including the airport hotel, were closed, further complicating the situation.
Gulf Air has not yet commented on the incident.