It is bounded on the N and NW by Iraq, on the E by the Persian Gulf, and on the S by Saudi Arabia. From August 1990 to February 1991, Iraq, in defiance of the UN Security Council, annexed and occupied Kuwait as Iraq's 19th province. Virtually the entire country of Kuwait is barren desert Virtually the entire country, except for some small coastal areas, is barren desert, with a flat to rolling terrain.
Soils are practically nonexistent.
The country obtains its water supply from the desalinization of seawater. Petroleum and natural gas are Kuwait's only natural resources. The native people are Arabs of Kuwaiti ancestry. Many minority groups are present, however, including Arabs from other countries, Indians, Pakistanis, and Iranians. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken.