Kuwaiti authorities say they have identified the suicide bomber of a Shia mosque as a Saudi citizen.

The suicide bomber, who led an attack on Imam Sadiq mosque in al-Sawaber neighbourhood that left 27 people dead, was identified as a Saudi citizen, Kuwait's interior ministry said on Sunday.

Fahed Suleiman Abdulmohsen al-Gabbaa entered Kuwait City on Friday morning, the same day of the attack, through Kuwait international airport.

Late on Sunday, Saudi's ministry of interior said a security background check showed that Gabbaa, who was born in 1992, had no prior links to terrorism.

Saudi authorities also confirmed that the bomber left on Thursday from Riyadh to Manama, Bahrain aboard Gulf Air Flight 170, adding that he had never flown before.

Authorities added that they are asking Bahrain for information regarding the transit period, including where Gabbaa stayed in the capital Manama.  

Authorities also arrested the owner of the house where the suicide bomber was staying, the ministry confirmed on Sunday.

The owner of the car that drove the bomber was also arrested and a search is under way for the driver, Kuwait's state news agency reported on Saturday.

Police said they were questioning a number of suspects with possible links to the bombing.

Quick identification

Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from Kuwait City, said authorities have been very quick to try to identify the people behind the attack and try to arrest them.

"The driver and the owner of the vehicle that had been used in that horrific mosque attack on Friday were arrested within hours of the bombing. Police have said that several suspects have also been detained and are being questioned," he said.

"This is clearly a push by the Kuwaiti authorities to let the region and the world know that they are trying to protect Kuwaitis.