3 days ago
Stamps, stories and the poles
Bader Alshuaib completes five-year global quest to visit every country, now sets sights on outer space
It started with a single stamp in Eritrea and ended with passports full of stamps from nearly every corner of the world. After five years, countless flights, remote border crossings and visits to both icy poles, Bader Alshuaib reached his final stop: North Korea. With that, he officially completed his journey to every country on Earth — 195 in total — and stood at both the North and South Poles.
Kuwait Times: What inspired you to begin this journey?
Bader Alshuaib: I had savings set aside before quitting my job, which gave me the financial freedom to begin. I also wasn't aware of a thriving travel community in Kuwait or the GCC, so I felt inspired to carve my own path as a world traveler. This journey actually began as a plan B. My original goal was to live and work in the US as a filmmaker — reflecting my deep passion for cinema and acting. When that didn't work out, I realized travel was my second passion and started shaping it into a lifestyle.
Bader Alshuaib
Bhutan
Brazil
Brazil
Ethiopia
France
India
KT: How did your goals evolve over five years of travel?
Alshuaib: My priorities shifted. With a limited budget and a massive goal, I had to balance between countries I wanted to explore in depth and others I visited more briefly. Sometimes, I traveled during the off-season just to check a country off the list — with the intention of returning later. Over time, I learned to travel smarter and more intentionally.
KT: Can you describe a moment that deeply moved you or changed your perspective?
Alshuaib: I was constantly moved by the kindness of strangers. Those moments reminded me not to rely on media narratives or secondhand opinions. Reality is far richer and more nuanced — and personal encounters often challenge what we think we know about a place.
KT: Which country surprised you the most?
Alshuaib: Many surprised me, but a few stand out. Venezuela's natural beauty was absolutely breathtaking. Mexico amazed me with its diversity. Yemen deeply moved me with its history, culture and warmhearted people. And Southeast Asia as a whole was incredible — budget-friendly and full of adventure.
Kilimanjaro
Libya
Myanmar
Myanmar
North Korea
KT: As the first known Arab to achieve this, how do you hope your journey influences others in the region?
Alshuaib: From day one, my goal was to inspire others to explore the world beyond luxury hotels, restaurants and shopping. Travelers from the GCC often have the means but tend to stick to the same familiar destinations. I managed to visit every country on a tight budget — imagine what others could do in just one country with a bit more flexibility!
KT: What role did your Kuwaiti identity play in shaping your interactions abroad?
Alshuaib: Being Kuwaiti often opened doors, especially in the Arab world. Kuwait has historically had a positive reputation across the region, and I felt that warmth and appreciation wherever I went. People were eager to help, invite me for meals or make my stay memorable.
KT: How has your understanding of the world changed?
Alshuaib: The most important lesson I've learned is that people are just people. Regardless of nationality, politics or media influence, we all share the same human core. It's individual actions and personalities that define us — not where we come from or what our governments do.
North Pole
Shark selfie - Bahamas
Turkmenistan
Venezuela
KT: What does 'home' mean to you now?
Alshuaib: When people ask where I live, I often joke, 'on the airplane' — ironically, the part of travel I dislike the most. But that's my reality. I sleep on planes, trains and buses to maximize time exploring. It's become my rhythm, even if it's far from conventional.
KT: What's next?
Alshuaib: Outer space! My childhood dream has always been to travel to the moon or experience space travel. Visiting every country and reaching both poles were recent goals — but space has always been the ultimate dream. Of course, space tourism is still inaccessible, and Kuwait doesn't have a space agency. But I'm open to training and studying for it if the opportunity arises.
No one in history has visited every country, stood at both poles and gone to space. If I can achieve that, it would be a groundbreaking milestone — not just personally, but for Arabs everywhere. Until then, I'll keep exploring new regions, remote territories and thousands of islands. I'm also planning to lead group trips to some of the amazing places I've discovered.
