A cross-sectional multistage stratified cluster survey of 1798 Kuwaiti male adults investigated the relationship between health locus of control (HLC) beliefs, health beliefs about smoking and smoking status. Non-smokers had stronger external HLC and better health beliefs about smoking than smokers. Thus the Kuwaiti men who used tobacco believed themselves to be more in control of their own lives than did non-users. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that low HLC, poor health beliefs about smoking, single marital status and low level of education were significant predictors of risk of smoking. Simple linear regression analysis showed a significant negative relationship between HLC and health beliefs about smoking among non-smokers and ex-smokers, but not among smokers.