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Kuwait
The Green Island one of the ideal places for relaxation.Kuwait
is a country in the Middle East. It is located at the head
of the Persian Gulf, with Iraq to the north and west, and
Saudi Arabia to the southwest.
The Kuwaitis trace their roots to the Al-Anisa and the Al-Utub
tribe from the Najd province, in modern Saudi Arabia. They
moved to Qatar and then to Al-Qurain (derived from Koot, the
Arabic word for fortress), which is in modern day Kuwait bay
around 1710. By 1752, the long term residents of Al-Qurain
decided that the instability of the region, caused by warring
tribes, called for the establishment of a stable government.
The Al-Sabah
tribe was chosen to rule, and the first Sheikh was Sabah ibn
Jaber, who ruled as Sabah I, from 1752 to 1756. The Sabah’s
were skillful diplomats, and weathered out religious and tribal
strifes successfully. They dealt with the Ottomans, the Egyptians
and the Europeans. Mubarak I signed an agreement with the
British making Kuwait a British Protectorate in 1899.
The British were in Kuwait for quite a while by then, and
as early as the 1770’s Abdullah I had a contract with the
British to deliver mail for them up to Allepo in Syria. The
agreement gave the British control of the Kuwaiti foreign
policy in exchange for military protection. In the 20’s and
the 30’s, the chief source of revenue was pearls. But around
that time the Japanese started flooding the international
market with cultured pearls and this source of income was
on the decline.
In 1938, oil was first struck at the Burgan oil field in Kuwait,
and by 1946, they started exporting it. In 1961, Kuwait nullified
the treaty of 1899, and became an independent nation. Kuwait
was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following
several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition
began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely
liberated Kuwait in four days.Febuary 26 is celebrated as
Liberation Day. Kuwait spent more than$5 billion to repair
oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91. It is currently
ruled by Sheik Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah after the
demise of Sheikh Jaber al Ahmed al Jaber al Sabah in January
2006.
Climate
Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters. Natural
hazards : sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April;
they bring heavy rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms
and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common
between March and August.
Many Kuwaitis are distrusting and suspicious of foreigners,
so you will have to work to gain their trust. Try to avoid
getting in an argument with a Kuwaiti citizen, and let them
win if reasonable. If you get in trouble with the police,
the best option is to comply, as it will be mostly the native
Kuwaiti’s word against yours.
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf, between Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
Total: 17,820 sq km
Land: 17,820 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
Total: 462 km
border countries:
Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:
499 km
Climate:
Dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:
Flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources:
Petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Geography :
Strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
Population:
2,418,393
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Nationality:
Kuwaiti(s)
Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other
7%
Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi’a 30%), other (includes Christian,
Hindu, Parsi) 15%
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Country name:
Conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Conventional short form: Kuwait
Local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Local short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:
Constitutional hereditary emirate
Capital:
Kuwait
Independence:
19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)
Currency :
Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005),
0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002)
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