This study aimed to develop a simple risk score to identify individuals at high risk for undiagnosed diabetes in the Kuwaiti adult population and to assess the performance of previously published diabetes risk scores. A cross-sectional survey with a sample of 562 Kuwaiti public sector employees was carried out in 2007. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and a blood glucose test. The overall prevalence of diabetes using American Diabetes Association 2003 criteria was 21.4% (4.1% newly detected). The proposed score had 87% sensitivity and 64% specificity in predicting undetected diabetes using only 4 questions (age, waist circumference, use of blood pressure medication and diabetes in a sibling). Most previously published risk scores were not applicable to this population.