Kuwait

Kuwait,officially theState of Kuwait,is a country inWest Asiaand the geopolitical region known as theMiddle East. It is situated in the northern edge of theArabian Peninsulaat the head of thePersian Gulf, borderingIraqtothe northandSaudi Arabiatothe south.With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), Kuwait also shares amaritime borderwithIran, across the Persian Gulf.Most of the country's population reside in theurban agglomerationofKuwait City, the capital and largest city.As of 2024, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million, of which 1.53 million areKuwaiti citizenswhile the remaining 3.29 million areforeign nationalsfrom over 100 countries.Kuwait has the thirdlargest foreign-born population in the world.
Before thediscovery of oil reservesin 1938, the country was a regional trade port;from 1946 to 1982, the country underwent large-scale modernization, largely based on income fromoil production. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following thestock market crash. In 1990, Kuwait wasinvadedand subsequentlyannexedbyIraqunder the leadership ofSaddam Husseinfollowing disputes over oil production.TheIraqi occupation of Kuwaitended on 26 February 1991, after anAmerican-ledinternational coalitionexpelled Iraqi forces from the country during theGulf War.
Like most otherArab states of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait is anemirate; theemiris the head of state and the rulingAl Sabahfamily dominates the country's political system. Kuwait's official state religion is Islam, specifically theMaliki schoolof Sunni Islam. Kuwait is ahigh-income economy, backed by the world'ssixth largest oil reserves.
Kuwait is considered to be a pioneer in the region when it comes to the arts and popular culture, often called the "Hollywood of the Gulf"; the nation started the oldest modern arts movement in the Arabian Peninsula and is known to have created among the leading artists in the region.Kuwaiti popular culture, in the form of theatre, radio, music, and television soap opera, is exported to neighboringGulf Cooperation Council(GCC) states.Kuwait is a founding member of the GCC and is also a member of theUnited Nations, theArab League, andOPEC.
The name "Kuwait" is from theKuwaiti Arabicdiminutive form ofكوت(KutorKout), meaning "fortress built near water".The country's official name has been the "State of Kuwait" since 1961.
Following the post-glacial flooding of thePersian Gulf basin, debris from theTigris–Euphrates riverformed a substantial delta, creating most of the land in present-day Kuwait and establishing the present coastlines.One of the earliest evidence of human habitation in Kuwait dates back to theMesolithicera (c. 8000 BC).Historically, most of present-day Kuwait was part of ancientMesopotamia.
During theUbaid period(c. 5500–3700 BC), Kuwait was the central site of interaction between the peoples ofMesopotamiaand NeolithicEastern Arabia,includingBahra 1andsite H3inSubiya.The Neolithic inhabitants of Kuwait were among the world's earliest maritime traders.One of the world's earliestreed boatswas discovered atsite H3dating back to the Ubaid period.Other Neolithic sites in Kuwait are located in Khiran andSulaibikhat.
Mesopotamiansfirst settled in the Kuwaiti island ofFailakain 2000 BC.Traders from theSumeriancity ofUrinhabited Failaka and ran a mercantile business.The island had many Mesopotamian-style buildings typical of those found inIraqdating from around 2000 BC.In 4000 BC until 2000 BC, Kuwait was home to theDilmun civilization.Dilmun included Al-Shadadiya,Akkaz,Umm an Namil,andFailaka.At its peak in 2000 BC, Dilmun controlled thePersian Gulftrading routes.
During the Dilmun era (from ca. 3000 BC), Failaka was known as "Agarum", the land ofEnzak, a great god in the Dilmun civilization according to Sumerian cuneiform texts found on the island.As part of Dilmun, Failaka became a hub for the civilization from the end of the 3rd to the middle of the 1st millennium BC.After the Dilmun civilization, Failaka was inhabited by theKassitesofMesopotamia,and was formally under the control of theKassite dynasty of Babylon.Studies indicate traces of human settlement can be found on Failaka dating back to as early as the end of the 3rd millennium BC, and extending until the 20th century AD.Many of the artifacts found in Falaika are linked to Mesopotamian civilizations and seem to show that Failaka was gradually drawn toward the civilization based inAntioch.
UnderNebuchadnezzar II, the bay of Kuwait was underBabyloniancontrol.Cuneiform documents found in Failaka indicate the presence of Babylonians in the island's population.Babylonian Kingswere present in Failaka during theNeo-Babylonian Empireperiod,Nabonidushad a governor in Failaka and Nebuchadnezzar II had a palace and temple in Falaika.Failaka also contained temples dedicated to the worship ofShamash, the Mesopotamian sun god in the Babylonian pantheon.
Following theFall of Babylon, the bay of Kuwait came under the control of theAchaemenid Empire(c. 550‒330 BC) as the bay was repopulated after seven centuries of abandonment.Failaka was under the control of the Achaemenid Empire as evidenced by the archaeological discovery of Achaemenid strata.There areAramaicinscriptions that testify Achaemenid presence.
In fourth century BC, theancient Greekscolonized the bay of Kuwait underAlexander the Great. The ancient Greeks named mainland KuwaitLarissaand Failaka was namedIkaros.The bay of Kuwait was namedHieros Kolpos.According toStraboandArrian, Alexander the Great named FailakaIkarosbecause it resembled theAegean Islandof that name in size and shape. Elements ofGreek mythologywere mixed with the local cults."Ikaros" was also the name of a prominent city situated in Failaka.LargeHellenisticfortsandGreek templeswere uncovered.Archaeological remains of Greek colonization were also discovered in Akkaz, Umm an Namil, and Subiya.
At the time of Alexander the Great, the mouth of theEuphrates Riverwas located in northern Kuwait.The Euphrates river flowed directly into the Persian Gulf via KhorSubiyawhich was a river channel at the time.Failaka was located 15 kilometers from the mouth of the Euphrates river.By the first century BC, the Khor Subiya river channel dried out completely.
In 127 BC, Kuwait was part of theParthian Empireand the kingdom ofCharacenewas established aroundTeredonin present-day Kuwait.Characene was centered in the region encompassing southern Mesopotamia,Characene coins were discovered in Akkaz, Umm an Namil, and Failaka.A busy Parthian commercial station was situated in Kuwait.
In 224 AD, Kuwait became part of theSassanid Empire. At the time of the Sassanid Empire, Kuwait was known asMeshan,which was an alternative name of the kingdom of Characene.Akkaz was aPartho-Sassaniansite;theSassanid religion'stower of silencewas discovered in northern Akkaz.Late Sassanian settlements were discovered in Failaka.InBubiyan, there is archaeological evidence of Sassanian to early Islamic periods of human presence as evidenced by the recent discovery of torpedo-jar pottery shards on several prominent beach ridges.
In 636 AD, theBattle of Chainsbetween the Sassanid Empire andRashidun Caliphatewas fought in Kuwait.As a result of Rashidun victory in 636 AD, the bay of Kuwait was home to the city ofKazma(also known as "Kadhima" or "Kāzimah") in the early Islamic era.
In the early to mid 1700s,Kuwait Citywas a smallfishing village. Administratively, it was a sheikhdom, ruled by localsheikhsfromBani Khalidclan.Sometime in the mid 1700s, theBani Utbahsettled in Kuwait City.Sometime after the death of the Bani Khalid's leader Barak bin Abdul Mohsen and the fall of theBani Khalid Emirate, the Utub were able to wrest control of Kuwait as a result of successivematrimonial alliances.
In the latter half of the eighteenth century, Kuwait began establishing itself as a maritimeportand gradually became a principal commercial center for the transit of goods betweenBaghdad, India, Persia,Muscat, and theArabian Peninsula.By the late-1700s, Kuwait had established itself as a trading route from the Persian Gulf toAleppo.During thePersian siege of Basra in 1775–79, Iraqi merchants took refuge in Kuwait and were partly instrumental in the expansion of Kuwait's boat-building and trading activities.As a result, Kuwait's maritime commerce boomed,as the Indian trade routes with Baghdad, Aleppo,SmyrnaandConstantinoplewere diverted to Kuwait during this time.TheEast India Companywas diverted to Kuwait in 1792.The East India Company secured the sea routes between Kuwait, India and the east coasts of Africa.After the Persians withdrew fromBasrain 1779, Kuwait continued to attract trade away from Basra.The flight of many of Basra's leading merchants to Kuwait continued to play a significant role in Basra's commercial stagnation well into the 1850s.
The instability in Basra helped foster economic prosperity in Kuwait.In the late 18th century, Kuwait was a haven for Basra merchants fleeingOttomanpersecution.Kuwait was the center ofboat buildingin the Persian Gulf,its ships renowned throughout theIndian Ocean.Its sailors developed a positive reputation in the Persian Gulf.In the 19th century, Kuwait became significant in thehorse trade,with regular shipments in sailing vessels.In the mid 19th century, it was estimated that Kuwait exported an average of 800 horses to India annually.
In 1899, ruler SheikhMubarak Al Sabahsigned an agreement with theBritish government in India(subsequently known as theAnglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899) making Kuwait aBritish protectorate. This gave Britain exclusive access and trade with Kuwait, while denying Ottoman and Germany provinces to the north a port on the Persian Gulf. TheSheikhdom of Kuwaitremained a British protectorate until 1961.
After theAnglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913, Kuwait was established as an autonomouskaza,or district, of the Ottoman Empire and ade factoprotectorate ofGreat Britain.
DuringWorld War I, theBritish Empireimposed a trade blockade against Kuwait because Kuwait's ruler at the time,Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, supported theOttoman Empire.The British economic blockade heavily damaged Kuwait's economy.
In 1919, SheikhSalim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabahintended to build a commercial city in the south of Kuwait. This caused a diplomatic crisis with Najd, but Britain intervened, discouraging Sheikh Salim. In 1920, an attempt by theIkhwanto build a stronghold in southern Kuwait led to theBattle of Hamdh. The Battle of Hamdh involved 2,000Ikhwanfighters against 100 Kuwaiticavalrymenand 200 Kuwaitiinfantrymen. The battle lasted for six days and resulted in heavy but unknown casualties on both sides resulting in the victory of the Ikhwan forces and leading to the battle of Jahra around the Kuwait Red Fort. TheBattle of Jahrahappened as the result of theBattle of Hamdh. A force of three to four thousandIkhwan, led byFaisal Al-Dawish, attacked theRed Fortat Al-Jahra, defended by fifteen hundred men. The fort was besieged and the Kuwaiti position precariousThe Ikhwan attack repulsed for the while, negotiations began between Salim and Al-Dawish; the latter threatened another attack if the Kuwaiti forces did not surrender. The local merchant class convinced Salim to call in help from British troops, who showed up with airplanes and three warships, ending the attacks.After the Battle of Jahra, Ibn Saud's warriors, theIkhwan, demanded that Kuwait follows five rules: evict all theShias, adopt theIkhwan doctrine, label the Turks "heretics", abolish smoking,munkarand prostitution, and destroy the American missionary hospital.
TheKuwait–Najd Warof 1919–20 erupted in theaftermath of World War I. The war occurred becauseIbn Saudof Najd wanted to annex Kuwait.The sharpened conflict between Kuwait and Najd led to the death of hundreds of Kuwaitis. The war resulted in sporadic border clashes throughout 1919–1920.
WhenPercy Coxwas informed of the border clashes in Kuwait, he sent a letter to theRuler of ArabistanSheikhKhazʽal Ibn Jabiroffering the Kuwaiti throne to either him or one of his heirs. Khaz'al refused.He then asked:
Following the Kuwait–Najd War in 1919–20, Ibn Saud imposed a trade blockade against Kuwait from the years 1923 until 1937.The goal of the Saudi economic and military attacks on Kuwait was to annex as much of Kuwait's territory as possible. At theUqair conferencein 1922, the boundaries of Kuwait and Najd were set; as a result of British interference, Kuwait had no representative at the Uqair conference. After the Uqair conference, Kuwait was still subjected to a Saudi economic blockade and intermittent Saudiraiding.
Kuwait immensely declined in regional economic importance,due to the trade blockades and the world economic depression.BeforeMary Bruins Allisonvisited Kuwait in 1934, Kuwait had already lost its prominence in long-distance trade.
TheGreat Depressionharmed Kuwait's economy, starting in the late 1920s.International trading was one of Kuwait's main sources of income before oil.Kuwait's merchants were mostly intermediary merchants.As a result of the decline of European demand for goods from India and Africa, Kuwait's economy suffered. The decline in international trade resulted in an increase in gold smuggling by Kuwait's ships to India.Some local merchant families became rich from this smuggling.Kuwait'spearlindustry also collapsed as a result of the worldwide economic depression.At its height, Kuwait's pearl industry had led the world's luxury market, regularly sending out between 750 and 800 ships to meet the European elite's desire for pearls.During the economic depression, luxuries like pearls were in little demand.The Japanese invention ofcultured pearlsalso contributed to the collapse of Kuwait's pearl industry.
Freya Starkwrote about the extent of poverty in Kuwait at the time:
On 22 February 1938,oilwas first discovered in theBurgan field.
Between 1946 and 1980, Kuwait experienced a period of prosperity driven by oil and its liberal cultural atmosphere; this period is called the "golden era of Kuwait".In 1946, crude oil was exported for the first time. In 1950, a major public-work programme began to enable Kuwaiti citizens to enjoy a luxurious standard of living.
By 1952, the country became the largest oil exporter in the Persian Gulf region. This massive growth attracted many foreign workers, especially from Palestine, Iran, India, and Egypt – with the latter being particularly political within the context of theArab Cold War.It was also in 1952 that the first masterplan of Kuwait was designed by the British planning firm ofMinoprio,Spenceley, and Macfarlane. In 1958,Al-Arabimagazine was first published.Many foreign writers moved to Kuwait because they enjoyed greaterfreedom of expressionthan elsewhere in the Middle East.Kuwait's press was described as one of thefreest in the world.Kuwait was the pioneer in the literary renaissance in the Middle East.
In June 1961, Kuwait became independent with the end of theBritish protectorateand the SheikhAbdullah Al-Salim Al-SabahbecameEmir of Kuwait. Kuwait'snational day, however, is celebrated on 25 February, the anniversary of the coronation of Sheikh Abdullah (it was originally celebrated on 19 June, the date of independence, but concerns over the summer heat caused the government to move it).
At the time, Kuwait was considered the most developed country in the region.Kuwait was the pioneer in the Middle East in diversifying its earnings away from oil exports.TheKuwait Investment Authorityis the world's first sovereign wealth fund.
Kuwaiti society embraced liberal and non-traditional attitudes throughout the 1960s and 1970s.For example, most Kuwaiti women did not wear thehijabin the 1960s and 70s.
Although Kuwait formally gained independence in 1961, Iraq initially refused to recognize the country's independence by maintaining that Kuwait is part of Iraq, albeit Iraq later briefly backed down following a show of force by Britain andArab Leaguesupport of Kuwait's independence.
The short-livedOperation Vantagecrisis evolved in July 1961, as the Iraqi government threatened to invade Kuwait and the invasion was finally averted following plans by the Arab League to form an international Arab force against the potential Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.As a result of Operation Vantage, the Arab League took over the border security of Kuwait and the British had withdrawn their forces by 19 October.Iraqi prime ministerAbd al-Karim Qasimwas killed in a coup in 1963 but, although Iraq recognised Kuwaiti independence and the military threat was perceived to be reduced, Britain continued to monitor the situation and kept forces available to protect Kuwait until 1971. There had been no Iraqi military action against Kuwait at the time: this was attributed to the political and military situation within Iraq which continued to be unstable.
A treaty of friendship between Iraq and Kuwait was signed in 1963 by which Iraq recognised the 1932 border of Kuwait.Under the terms of the newly draftedConstitution, Kuwait held its firstparliamentary elections in 1963.
Kuwait Universitywas established in 1966.Kuwait'stheatre industrybecame well known throughout the region.After the 1967Six Day War, Kuwait along with other Arabic speaking countries voted the three no's of theKhartoum Resolution: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with Israel. From the 1970s onward, Kuwait scored highest of all Arab countries on theHuman Development Index.The Iraqi poetAhmed Matarleft Iraq in the 1970s to take refuge in the more liberal environment of Kuwait. Kuwait is the 25th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024Global Peace Index.
TheKuwait-Iraq 1973 Samita border skirmishevolved on 20 March 1973, when Iraqi army units occupied El-Samitah near the Kuwaiti border, which evoked an international crisis.
On 6 February 1974,Palestinian militants occupied the Japanese embassy in Kuwait, taking the ambassador and ten others hostage. The militants' motive was to support theJapanese Red Armymembers and Palestinian militants who were holding hostages on a Singaporean ferry in what is known as theLajuincident. Ultimately, the hostages were released, and the guerrillas allowed to fly toAden. This was the first time Palestinian guerrillas struck in Kuwait as the Al Sabah ruling family, headed by Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, funded the Palestinian resistance movement. Kuwait had been a regular endpoint for Palestinianplane hijackingin the past and had considered itself safe.
Kuwait International Airportwas opened in 1979 by the Al Hani Construction with a joint venture ofBallast Nedam.
The Al Sabah strongly advocatedIslamismthroughout the 1980s.At that time, the most serious threat to the continuity of Al Sabah came from home-grown democrats,who were protesting the1976 suspension of the parliament.The Al Sabah were attracted to Islamists preaching the virtues of ahierarchicalorder that included loyalty to the Kuwaiti monarchy.In 1981, the Kuwaiti governmentgerrymanderedelectoral districts in favour of the Islamists.Islamists were the government's main allies, hence Islamists were able to dominate state agencies, such as thegovernment ministries.
During theIran–Iraq War, Kuwait ardently supported Iraq. As a result, there werevarious pro-Iran terror attacksacross Kuwait, including the 1983 bombings, the attempted assassination ofEmir Jaberin May 1985, the1985 Kuwait City bombings, and the hijacking of several Kuwait Airways planes. Kuwait's economy and scientific research sector significantly suffered due to the pro-Iran terror attacks.
Simultaneously, Kuwait experienced a majoreconomic crisisafter theSouk Al-Manakh stock market crashanddecrease in oil price.
After the Iran–Iraq War ended, Kuwait declined an Iraqi request to forgive its US$65 billion debt.An economic rivalry between the two countries ensued after Kuwait increased its oil production by 40 percent.Tensions between the two countries increased further in July 1990, after Iraq complained toOPECclaiming that Kuwait was stealing its oil from a field near the border byslant drillingof theRumaila field.
In August 1990, Iraqi forcesinvaded and annexedKuwait without any warning. After a series of failed diplomatic negotiations, the United States led a coalition to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait, in what became known as theGulf War. On 26 February 1991, in phase of code-namedOperation Desert Storm, the coalition succeeded in driving out the Iraqi forces. As they retreated, Iraqi forces carried out ascorched earthpolicy by setting oil wells on fire.
During the Iraqi occupation, nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in Kuwait. In addition, 600 people went missing during Iraq's occupation;remains of approximately 375 were found in mass graves in Iraq. Kuwait celebrates 26 February asLiberation Day.
In the early 1990s, Kuwaitdeportednearly 400,000 Palestinians.Kuwait's policy was a response to alignment of thePLOwith Saddam Hussein. It was a form ofcollective punishment. Kuwait also deported thousands of Iraqis and Yemenis after the Gulf War.
In addition, hundreds of thousands ofstateless Bedoonwere expelled from Kuwait in the early-to-mid 1990s.At theHouse of Commons of the United Kingdomin 1995, it was revealed that the Al Sabah ruling family deported 150,000 stateless Bedoon to refugee camps in the Kuwaiti desert near the Iraqi border with minimal water, insufficient food, and no basic shelter.Many of the stateless Bedoon fled to Iraq where they still remain stateless people even today.
In March 2003, Kuwait became the springboard for the US-ledinvasion of Iraq. In 2005, women won the right to vote and run in elections. Upon the death of the Emir Jaber in January 2006, SheikhSaad Al-Sabahsucceeded him but was removed nine days later due to his failing health. As a result, SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahwas sworn in as Emir. From that point onwards, Kuwait suffered from chronic political deadlock between the government and parliament which resulted in multiple cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions.This significantly hampered investment and economic reforms in Kuwait, making the country's economy much more dependent on oil.
Despite the political instability, Kuwait had the highestHuman Development Indexranking in the Arab world from 2006 to 2009.China awarded Kuwait Investment Authority an additional $700 million quota on top of $300 million awarded in March 2012.The quota is the highest to be granted by China to foreign investment entities.
In March 2014,David S. Cohen, who was then the United StatesSecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, accused Kuwait of funding terrorism.Accusations ofKuwait funding terrorismhad been very common and come from a wide variety of sources including intelligence reports, Western government officials, scholarly research, and renowned journalists.In 2014 and 2015, Kuwait was frequently described as the world'sbiggest source of terrorism funding, particularly forISISandAl-Qaeda.
On 26 June 2015, asuicide bombing took placeat a Shia Muslim mosque in Kuwait. TheIslamic State of Iraq and the Levantclaimed responsibility for the attack. Twenty-seven people were killed and 227 people were wounded. It was the largest terror attack in Kuwait's history. In the aftermath, a lawsuit was filed accusing the Kuwaiti government of negligence and direct responsibility for the terror attack.
Due todeclining oil pricesin the mid-to-late 2010s, Kuwait faced one of the worst economic crunches in its history.Sabah Al Ahmad Sea Citywas inaugurated in mid-2016.Simultaneously, Kuwait invested significantly in its economic relations withChina.China has been Kuwait's largest trade partner since 2016.
Under theBelt and Road Initiative, Kuwait and China have various cooperation projects includingSouth al-Mutlaawhich is currently under construction in northern Kuwait.TheSheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causewayis part of the first phase of theSilk Cityproject.The causeway was inaugurated in May 2019 as part of Kuwait Vision 2035,it connects Kuwait City to northern Kuwait.
TheCOVID-19 pandemicexacerbated Kuwait's economic crisis.Kuwait's economy faced a budget deficit of $46 billion in 2020.It was Kuwait's first fiscal deficit since 1995.In September 2020, Kuwait's Crown Prince SheikhNawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahbecame the 16th Emir of Kuwait and the successor to Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who died at the age of 91.In October 2020, SheikhMishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahwas appointed as the Crown Prince.In December 2023, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah died and was replaced by Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Kuwait currently has the largest US military presence in the entire Middle East region.There are over 14,000 US military personnel stationed in the country.Camp Arifjanis the largest US military base in Kuwait. The US uses bases in Kuwait as staging hubs, training ranges, and logistical support for its Middle East operations.
In recent years, Kuwait's infrastructure projects market has regularly underperformed due to political deadlock between the executive and legislative branches.Kuwait is now the region's most oil-dependent country with the lowest share of economic diversification.According to the World Economic Forum, Kuwait has the weakest infrastructure quality in the GCC region.
Since March 2024, Emir Mishal has beenrevoking the citizenshipof thousands of citizens (by decree).The most high-profile revocation was that of singerNawaland actor Dawood Hussain in early December 2024.According toCarnegie Endowment, Kuwait has weaponized citizenship revocation as a tool for political control.
Located at the head of thePersian Gulfin the north-east corner of theArabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. Kuwait lies between latitudes28°and31° N, and longitudes46°and49° E. Kuwait is generally low-lying, with the highest point being 306 m (1,004 ft)above sea level.Mutla Ridgeis the highest point in Kuwait.
Kuwait hasten islands.With an area of 860 km(330 sq mi), theBubiyanis the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a 2,380-metre-long (7,808 ft) bridge.0.6% of Kuwaiti land area is considered arablewith sparse vegetation found along its 499-kilometre-long (310 mi) coastline.Kuwait Cityis located onKuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbor.
Kuwait'sBurgan fieldhas a total capacity of approximately 70 billion barrels (11 billion cubic metres) of proven oil reserves. During the 1991Kuwaiti oil fires, more than 500 oil lakes were created covering a combined surface area of about35.7 km(13+3⁄4sq mi).The resultingsoil contaminationdue to oil and soot accumulation had made eastern and south-eastern parts of Kuwait uninhabitable. Sand and oil residue had reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces.The oil spills during theGulf Waralso drastically affected Kuwait's marine resources.
Due to Kuwait's proximity to Iraq and Iran, the winter season in Kuwait is colder than other coastal countries in the region (especially UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain).Kuwait is also less humid than other coastal countries in the region. The spring season in March is warm with occasional thunderstorms. The frequent winds from the northwest are cold in winter and hot in summer. Southeasterly damp winds spring up between July and October. Hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer. The shamal, a northwesterly wind common during June and July, causes dramatic sandstorms.Summers in Kuwait are some of the hottest on earth. The highest recorded temperature was 54.0 °C (129.2 °F) atMitribahon 21 July 2016, which is the highest temperature recorded in Asia.
Kuwaitemits a lot of carbon dioxide per personcompared to most other countries.In recent years, Kuwait has been regularly ranked among the world's highest countries in term of CO2per capita emissions.
At present, there are fiveprotected areasin Kuwait recognized by theIUCN. In response to Kuwait becoming the169th signatoryof theRamsar Convention,Bubiyan Island's Mubarak al-Kabeer reserve was designated as the country's first Wetland of International Importance.The 50,948 ha reserve consists of small lagoons and shallowsalt marshesand is important as a stop-over for migrating birds on two migration routes.The reserve is home to the world's largest breeding colony ofcrab-plover.
Currently,444 species of birdshave been recorded in Kuwait, 18 species of which breed in the country.The arfaj is the national flower of Kuwait.Due to its location at the head of the Persian Gulf near the mouth of theTigris–Euphrates river, Kuwait is situated at the crossroads of many major bird migration routes and between two and three million birds pass each year.Kuwait's marine and littoral ecosystems contain the bulk of the country's biodiversity heritage.The marshes in northern Kuwait and Jahra have become increasingly important as a refuge for passage migrants.
Twenty eight species of mammal are found in Kuwait; animals such as gerboa, desert rabbits andhedgehogsare common in the desert.Large carnivores, such as thewolf,caracalandjackal, are no longer present.Among the endangered mammalian species are thered foxandwild cat.Forty reptile species have been recorded although none are endemic to Kuwait.
Kuwait, Oman and Yemen are the only locations where the endangeredsmoothtooth blacktip sharkis confirmed as occurring.
Kuwaiti islands are important breeding areas for four species ofternand thesocotra cormorant.Kubbar Islandhas been recognised anImportant Bird Area(IBA) byBirdLife Internationalbecause it supports abreeding colonyofwhite-cheeked terns.
Kuwait is part of theTigris–Euphrates river systembasin.Several Tigris–Euphratesconfluencesform parts of the Kuwait–Iraq border.Bubiyan Islandis part of theShatt al-Arabdelta.Kuwait is partially part of theMesopotamian Marshes.Kuwait does not currently have any permanent rivers within its territory. However, Kuwait does have severalwadis, the most notable of which isWadi al-Batinwhich forms the border between Kuwait and Iraq.Kuwait also has several river-like marine channels around Bubiyan Island, most notablyKhawr Abd Allahwhich is now anestuary, but once was the point where theShatt al-Arabemptied into the Persian Gulf. Khawr Abd Allah is located in southern Iraq and northern Kuwait, theIraq-Kuwait borderdivides the lower portion of the estuary, but adjacent to the port ofUmm Qasrthe estuary becomes wholly Iraqi. It forms the northeast coastline of Bubiyan Island and the north coastline ofWarbah Island.
Kuwait relies on waterdesalinationas a primary source of fresh water for drinking and domestic purposes.There are currently more than six desalination plants.Kuwait was the first country in the world to use desalination to supply water for large-scale domestic use. The history of desalination in Kuwait dates back to 1951 when the first distillation plant was commissioned.
In 1965, the Kuwaiti government commissioned the Swedish engineering company of VBB (Sweco) to develop and implement a plan for a modernwater-supply systemfor Kuwait City. The company builtfive groups of water towers, thirty-one towers total, designed by its chief architectSune Lindström, called "the mushroom towers". For a sixth site, the Emir of Kuwait, SheikhJaber Al-Ahmed, wanted a more spectacular design. This last group, known asKuwait Towers, consists of three towers, two of which also serve as water towers.Water from the desalination facility is pumped up to the tower. The thirty-three towers have a standard capacity of 102,000 cubic meters of water. "The Water Towers" (Kuwait Tower and the Kuwait Water Towers) were awarded theAga Khan Award for Architecture(1980 Cycle).
Kuwait's fresh water resources are limited to groundwater, desalinated seawater, and treated wastewater effluents.There are three major municipal wastewater treatment plants.Most water demand is currently satisfied through seawater desalination plants.Sewage disposal is handled by a national sewage network that covers 98% of facilities in the country.
Kuwait is anemirate.TheEmiris the head of state, he belongs to theAl Sabahruling family. The political system consists of anappointed governmentandjudiciary. ThePolity data seriesandEconomistDemocracy Indexboth categorize Kuwait as anautocracy(dictatorship). Kuwait was previously described as "anocratic".Freedom Housepreviously rated the country as "partly free" in theFreedom in the Worldsurvey.
Executive power is exercised by the government. The Emir appoints the prime minister, who in turn chooses thecabinet of ministerscomprising the government. In recent decades, numerous policies of the Kuwaiti government have been characterized as "demographic engineering",especially in relation to Kuwait'sstateless Bedoon crisisand thehistory of naturalizationin Kuwait.
The Emir appoints the judges. TheConstitution of Kuwaitwas promulgated in 1962.The Constitutional Court is charged with ruling on the conformity of laws and decrees with the constitution.
Legislative power is exercised by the Emir. It was formerly exercised by theNational Assembly. As per article 107 of theKuwait constitution, the Emir has the power to dissolve the assembly and elections for a new assembly should be held within two months.The Emir has suspended various articles of the constitution thrice: 29 August 1976 underSheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, 3 July 1986 underSheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and 10 May 2024 underSheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Kuwait's political instability has significantly hampered the country's economic development and infrastructure.Kuwait is regularly characterized as being a "rentier state" in which the ruling family uses oil revenues to buy the political acquiescence of the citizenry; more than 70% of government spending consists of public sector salaries and subsidies.Kuwait has the highest public sector wage bill in the GCC region as public sector wages account for 12.4% of GDP.
Kuwaiti women are considered among the most emancipated women in the Middle East. In 2014 and 2015, Kuwait was ranked first among Arab countries in theGlobal Gender Gap Report.In 2013, 53% of Kuwaiti women participated in the labor force,where they outnumber working Kuwaiti men,giving Kuwait the highest female citizen participation in the workforce of any GCC country.According to theSocial Progress Index, Kuwait ranks first insocial progressin the Arab world and Muslim world and second highest in the Middle East after Israel.However, women's political participation in Kuwait has been limited.Despite multiple prior attempts at grantingKuwaiti women suffrage, they were not permanently enfranchised until 2005.
Kuwait ranks among the world's top countries bylife expectancy,women's workforce participation,global food security,andschool order and safety.Kuwait previously had apublic sphereandcivil societywith political and social organizations.Professional groups like theChamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of Kuwaiti businesses and industries, still exist.
The Al Sabah ruling family adhere to theMaliki schoolof Sunni Islam. Article 4 of theKuwait constitutionstipulates that Kuwait is a hereditary emirate whose emir must be an heir ofMubarak Al-Sabah.Mubarak had four sons, but an informal pattern of alternation between the descendants of his sonsJabirandSalememerged since his death in 1915.This pattern of succession had one exception before 2006, when SheikhSabah Al-Salim, a son of Salem, was named crown prince to succeed his half-brother SheikhAbdullah Al-Salemas a consequence of infighting and lack of consensus within the ruling family council.The alternating system was resumed when Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim named SheikhJaber Al-Ahmedof the Jabir branch as his crown prince, eventually ruling as Emir for 29 years from 1977 to 2006.On 15 January 2006, Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed died and his crown prince, SheikhSaad Al-Abdullahof the Salem branch was named Emir.On 23 January 2006, the National Assembly unanimously voted in favor of Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah abdicating in favor of SheikhSabah Al-Ahmed, citing his illness with a form of dementia.Instead of naming a successor from the Salem branch as per convention, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed named his half-brother SheikhNawaf Al-Ahmedas crown prince and his nephew SheikhNasser Al-Mohammedas prime minister.On 16 December 2023, SheikhNawaf Al-AhmedPassed away, And SheikhMishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaberwould be the successor.
Theoretically, Article 4 of the constitution stipulates that the incoming Emir's choice of crown prince needs to be approved by an absolute majority of theNational Assembly.If this approval is not achieved, the emir is constitutionally required to submit three alternative candidates for crown prince to the National Assembly.This process previously caused contenders for power to engage in alliance-building in the political scene, which had taken historically private feuding within the ruling family to the "public arena and the political realm".
The foreign affairs of Kuwait are handled at the level of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs. The first foreign affairs department bureau was established in 1961. Kuwait became the 111th member state of theUnited Nationsin May 1963. It is a long-standing member of theArab LeagueandGulf Cooperation Council.
Before theGulf War, Kuwait was the only "pro-Soviet" state in the Persian Gulf region.Kuwait acted as a conduit for the Soviets to the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and Kuwait was used to demonstrate the benefits of a pro-Soviet stance.In July 1987, Kuwait refused to allow U.S. military bases in its territory.As a result of theGulf War, Kuwait's relations with the U.S. have improved (major non-NATO ally). Kuwait is also a major ally ofASEANand enjoys a close economic relationship with China while working to establish a model of cooperation in numerous fields.
Kuwait is amajor non-NATO allyto the United States and currently has the largest US military presence in the entire Middle East region.The United States government utilizes Kuwait-based military bases as staging hubs, training ranges, and logistical support for regional and international military operations.The bases include Camp Arifjan, Camp Buehring, Ali Al Salem Air Field, and the naval base Camp Patriot.Kuwait also has strong economic ties to China andASEAN.
Under theBelt and Road Initiative,Kuwait and China have many important cooperation projects includingSouth al-MutlaaandMubarak Al Kabeer Port.
The Kuwaiti armed forces consist of theLand Forces, theAir Force(including the Air Defense Force), theNavy(including the Coast Guard), theNational Guard, and the Emiri Guard, with a total of 17,500 active personnel and 23,700 reservists. The Emiri Guard is tasked with the protection of the Emir of Kuwait. The National Guard remains independent of the regular armed forces command structure, subordinated directly to the Emir and the prime minister, and is involved in both internal security and external defense. The Coast Guard is part of theMinistry of Interiorwhile all of the other branches are part of theMinistry of Defense, and the National Guard provides assistance to both agencies. Since 1991 the United States has been the country's main security partner, carrying out training exercises with its military, and Kuwait is also a participant in the Gulf Cooperation Council'sPeninsula Shield Force. The Kuwaiti military uses American, Russian, and western European equipment.
In 2017 Kuwait reintroduced mandatory military service for its male citizens, consisting of four months of training and eight months of service. Conscription was previously in effect from 1961 to 2001, though it was not fully enforced at that time.Kuwait was the only Gulf country to have had military conscription until 2014, when Qatar also implemented the policy.
When Saudi Arabia began itsintervention in the Yemeni civil warin early 2015, Kuwait joined the Saudi-led coalition. Kuwaiti forces provided an artillery battalion and 15 fighter jets, though their contribution to the operations in Yemen was limited.
Kuwait follows thecivil law systemmodeled after the French legal system;Kuwait's legal system is largely secular.Sharialaw governs onlyfamily lawfor Muslim residents,while non-Muslims in Kuwait have a secular family law. For the application offamily law, there are three separate court sections:Sunni(Maliki),Shia, andnon-Muslim. According to theUnited Nations, Kuwait's legal system is a mix ofEnglish common law,French civil law,Egyptian civil lawand Islamic law.
Thecourt systemin Kuwait is secular.Unlike otherArab states of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait does not have Sharia courts.Sections of the civil court system administer family law.Kuwait has the most secularcommercial lawin thePersian Gulf region.The parliament criminalized alcohol consumption in 1983.Kuwait'sCode of Personal Statuswas promulgated in 1984.
Kuwait is divided intosix governorates:Al Asimah Governorate(or Capital Governorate);Hawalli Governorate;Farwaniya Governorate;Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate;Ahmadi Governorate; andJahra Governorate.  The governorates are furthersubdivided into areas.
Human rights in Kuwaithas been the subject of significant criticism, particularly regarding theBedoon(stateless people).The Kuwaiti government's handling of the stateless Bedoon crisis has come under criticism from many human rights organisations and even theUnited Nations.According toHuman Rights Watchin 1995, Kuwait has produced 300,000 stateless Bedoon.Kuwait has the largest number of stateless people in the entire region.Since 1986, the Kuwaiti government has refused to grant any form of documentation to the Bedoon including birth certificates, death certificates, identity cards, marriage certificates, and driving licences.The Kuwaiti Bedoon crisis resembles theRohingyacrisis inMyanmar(Burma).According to several human rights organizations, Kuwait is committingethnic cleansingandgenocideagainst the stateless Bedoon.Additionally,LGBT peoplein Kuwait have few legal protections.
On the other hand, human rights organizations have criticized Kuwait for the human rights abuses toward foreign nationals. Foreign nationals account for 70% of Kuwait's total population. Thekafala systemleaves foreign nationals prone to exploitation. Administrative deportation is very common in Kuwait for minor offenses, including minor traffic violations. Kuwait is one of the world's worst offenders inhuman trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are subjected to numerous human rights abuses including involuntary servitude. They are subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, poor work conditions, threats, confinement to the home, and withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement.Since the start of theCOVID-19 pandemic vaccination rollout, Kuwait has been regularly accused of implementing a xenophobic vaccine policy toward foreign nationals.
Kuwait's mistreatment of foreign workers has resulted in various high-profile diplomatic crises. In 2018, there was adiplomatic crisis between Kuwait and the Philippinesdue to the mistreatment of Filipino workers in Kuwait. Approximately 60% of Filipinos in Kuwait are employed as domestic workers. In July 2018, Kuwaiti fashionistaSondos Alqattanreleased a controversial video criticizing domestic workers from the Philippines.In 2020, there was a diplomatic crisis between Kuwait and Egypt due to the mistreatment of Egyptian workers in Kuwait.
Various Kuwaitis have been jailed after they criticized the Al Sabah ruling family.In 2010, theU.S. State Departmentsaid it had concerns about the case of Kuwaiti blogger and journalist Mohammad Abdul-Kader al-Jassem who was on trial for allegedly criticizing the ruling al-Sabah family, and faced up to 18 years in prison if convicted.He was detained after a complaint against him was issued by the office of Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Extensive corruption among Kuwait's high-level government officials is a serious problem resulting in tensions between the government and the public.In theCorruption Perceptions Index2007, Kuwait was ranked 60th out of 179 countries for corruption (least corrupt countries are at the top of the list). On a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 the most corrupt and 10 the most transparent,Transparency Internationalrated Kuwait 4.3.
In 2009, 20% of the youth in juvenile centres had dyslexia, as compared to the 6% of the general population.Data from a 1993 study found that there is a higher rate of psychiatric morbidity in Kuwaiti prisons than in the general population.
Kuwait has a wealthypetroleum-based economy.Its official currency is theKuwaiti dinar. By various per-capita measures of economic output, Kuwait is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
In 2021, Kuwait was considered to be the GCC region's most oil-dependent country with the weakest infrastructure and lowest share of economic diversification.
In 2019, Iraq was Kuwait's leading export market and food/agricultural products accounted for 94.2% of total export commodities.Globally, Kuwait's main export products were mineral fuels including oil (89.1% of total exports), aircraft and spacecraft (4.3%), organic chemicals (3.2%), plastics (1.2%), iron and steel (0.2%), gems and precious metals (0.1%), machinery including computers (0.1%), aluminum (0.1%), copper (0.1%), and salt, sulphur, stone and cement (0.1%).Kuwait was the world's biggest exporter of sulfonated, nitrated and nitrosated hydrocarbons in 2019.Kuwait was ranked 63rd out of 157 countries in the 2019Economic Complexity Index(ECI).
In recent decades, Kuwait has enacted certain measures to regulate foreign labor due to security concerns. For instance, workers fromGeorgiaare subject to heightened scrutiny when applying for entry visas, and an outright ban was imposed on the entry of domestic workers fromGuinea-BissauandVietnam.Workers fromBangladeshare also banned.In April 2019, Kuwait added Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the list of banned countries bringing the total to 20. According to Migrant Rights, the bans are put in place mainly due to the fact that these countries lack embassies and labour corporations in Kuwait.
Despite its relatively small territory, Kuwait has proven crudeoil reservesof 104 billion barrels, estimated to be 10% of the world's reserves. Kuwait also has substantialnatural gas reserves. All natural resources in the country are state property.
As part of Kuwait Vision 2035, Kuwait aims to position itself as a global hub for the petrochemical industry.Al Zour Refineryis the largest refinery in the Middle East.It is Kuwait's largest environmentally friendly oil refinery,where this refers to the effect on the local environment as opposed to the global environmental impact of burning the resulting oil. This Al Zour Refinery is a Kuwait-China cooperation project under theBelt and Road Initiative.Al Zour LNG Terminal is the Middle East's largest import terminal forliquefied natural gas.It is the world's largest capacity LNG storage and regasification green field project.The project has attracted investments worth US$3 billion.Other megaprojects include biofuel and clean fuels.On January 20, 2025, theKuwait Oil Companyannounced a major hydrocarbon discovery at the Al Jlaiaa offshore field, which it sees as a significant milestone in the nation's energy sector. The development aligns with Kuwait's strategic plans to enhance its offshore exploration and production capabilities.
The biggest non-oil industry is steel manufacturing.United Steel Industrial Company (KWT Steel) is Kuwait's main steel manufacturing company, which caters to all of Kuwait's domestic market demands (particularly construction).Kuwait is self-sufficient in steel.
In 2016, Kuwait's food self-sufficiency ratio was 49.5% in vegetables, 38.7% in meat, 12.4% in dairy, 24.9% in fruits, and 0.4% in cereals.8.5% of Kuwait's entire territory consists of agricultural land, although arable land constitutes 0.6% of Kuwait's entire territory.Historically, Jahra was a predominantly agricultural area. There are currently various farms in Jahra.
TheKuwait Investment Authority(KIA) is Kuwait's largestsovereign wealth fundspecializing in foreign investment. The KIA is the world's oldest sovereign wealth fund. Since 1953, the Kuwaiti government has directed investments into Europe, United States andAsia Pacific. In 2021, the holdings were valued at around $700 billion in assets.It is the3rd largestsovereign wealth fund in the world.
Kuwait has a leading position in the financial industry in the GCC.The Emir has promoted the idea that Kuwait should focus its energies, in terms of economic development, on the financial industry.The historical preeminence of Kuwait (among the GCC monarchies) in finance dates back to the founding of theNational Bank of Kuwaitin 1952.The bank was the first local publicly traded corporation in the GCC region.In the late 1970s and early 1980s, an alternative stock market, trading in shares of GCC companies, emerged in Kuwait, theSouk Al-Manakh.At its peak, its market capitalization was the third highest in the world, behind only the United States and Japan, and ahead of the United Kingdom and France.
Kuwait has a large wealth-management industry.Kuwaiti investment companies administer more assets than those of any other GCC country, save the much larger Saudi Arabia.The Kuwait Financial Centre, in a rough calculation, estimated that Kuwaiti firms accounted for over one-third of the total assets under management in the GCC.
The relative strength of Kuwait in the financial industry extends to its stock market.For many years, the total valuation ofall companieslisted on theKuwait Stock Exchangefar exceeded the value of those on any other GCC bourse, except Saudi Arabia.In 2011, financial and banking companies made up more than half of the market capitalization of the Kuwaiti bourse; among all the GCC states, the market capitalization of Kuwaiti financial-sector firms was, in total, behind only that of Saudi Arabia.In recent years, Kuwaiti investment companies have invested large percentages of their assets abroad, and their foreign assets have become substantially larger than their domestic assets.
Kuwait is a major source of foreign economic assistance to other states through theKuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, an autonomous state institution created in 1961 on the pattern of international development agencies. In 1974, the fund's lending mandate was expanded to include alldeveloping countriesin the world.
In the past five years, there has been a rise inentrepreneurshipand small business start-ups in Kuwait.Theinformal sectoris also on the rise,mainly due to the popularity of Instagram businesses.In 2020, Kuwait ranked fourth in the MENA region in startup funding after the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait has a state-funded healthcare system, which provides treatment without charge to Kuwaiti nationals. There are outpatient clinics in every residential area in Kuwait. A public insurance scheme exists to provide reduced cost healthcare to expatriates. Private healthcare providers also run medical facilities in the country, available to members of their insurance schemes. As part of Kuwait Vision 2035, many new hospitals recently opened.In the years leading up to theCOVID-19pandemic, Kuwait invested in its health care system at a rate that was proportionally higher than most other GCC countries.Under the Kuwait Vision 2035 healthcare strategy, the public hospital sector significantly increased its capacity.Many new hospitals recently opened, Kuwait currently has 20 public hospitals.The new Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital is the largest hospital in the Middle East.Kuwait also has 16 private hospitals.
Private sector hospitals in Kuwait offer multiple specialities. This trend is likely to grow further, especially in tapping opportunities to reduce treatments performed overseas and develop inbound medical tourism market by developing high end speciality hospitals.
Kuwait was ranked 71st in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024.According to theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office, Kuwait registered 448patentsas of 31 December 2015.In the early to mid 2010s, Kuwait produced the largest number of scientific publications and patents per capita in the region and registered the highest growth regionally.
Kuwait was the first country in the region to implement5Gtechnology.Kuwait is among the world's leading markets in 5G penetration.
Kuwait has an emerging space industry which is largely driven by private sector initiatives.Seven years after the launch of the world's first communications satellite,Telstar 1, Kuwait in October 1969 inaugurated the first satellite ground station in the Middle East, "Um Alaish".The Um Alaish satellite station complex housed several satellite ground stations including Um Alaish 1 (1969), Um Alaish 2 (1977), and Um Alaish 3 (1981). It provided satellite communication services in Kuwait until 1990 when it was destroyed by the Iraqi armed forces during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.In 2019, Kuwait's Orbital Space established an amateur satellite ground station to provide free access to signals from satellites in orbit passing over Kuwait. The station was named Um Alaish 4 to continue the legacy of "Um Alaish" satellite station.Um Alaish 4 is a member of FUNcube distributedground stationnetworkand the Satellite Networked Open Ground Station project (SatNOGS).
Kuwait's Orbital Space in collaboration with the Space Challenges ProgramandEnduroSatintroduced an international initiative called "Code in Space". The initiative allows students from around the world to send and execute their own code in space.The code is transmitted from a satellite ground station to acubesat(nanosatellite) orbiting earth 500 km (310 mi) above sea level. The code is then executed by the satellite's onboard computer and tested under real space environment conditions. The nanosatellite is called "QMR-KWT" (Arabic: قمر الكويت) which means "Moon of Kuwait", translated from Arabic.QMR-KWT launched to space on 30 June 2021onSpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5rocket and was part of the payload of a satellite carrier called ION SCV Dauntless David by D-Orbit.It was deployed into its final orbit (Sun-synchronous orbit) on 16 July 2021.QMR-KWT is Kuwait's first satellite.
TheKuwait Space Rocket(KSR) is a Kuwaiti project to build and launch the firstsuborbitalliquid bi-propellant rocketinArabia.The project is divided into two phases with two separate vehicles: an initial testing phase with KSR-1 as atest vehiclecapable of reaching an altitude of 8 km (5.0 mi) and a more expansive suborbital test phase with the KSR-2 planned to fly to an altitude of 100 km (62 mi).
Kuwait's Orbital Space in collaboration with theKuwait Scientific Center(TSCK) introduced for the first time in Kuwait the opportunity for students to send a science experiment to space. The objectives of this initiative was to allow students to learn about (a) how science space missions are done; (b)microgravity(weightlessness) environment; (c) how to do science like a real scientist. This opportunity was made possible through Orbital Space agreement withDreamUpPBC andNanoracksLLC, which are collaborating withNASAunder a Space Act Agreement.The students' experiment was named "Kuwait's Experiment: E.coli Consuming Carbon Dioxide to Combat Climate Change".The experiment was launched onSpaceX CRS-21(SpX-21) spaceflight to theInternational Space Station(ISS) on 6 December 2020. AstronautShannon Walker(member of the ISSExpedition 64) conducted the experiment on behalf of the students. In July 2021, Kuwait University announced that it is launching a national satellite project as part of state-led efforts to pioneer the country's sustainable space sector.
Kuwait had the highestliteracy ratein the Arab world in 2010.The general education system consists of four levels:kindergarten(lasting for 2 years),primary(lasting for 5 years),intermediate(lasting for 4 years) andsecondary(lasting for 3 years).Schooling at primary and intermediate level is compulsory for all students aged 6 – 14. All the levels of state education, including higher education, are free.The public education system is undergoing a revamp due to a project in conjunction with theWorld Bank.There are two public universities and 14 private universities.
Tourism in Kuwait still remains very limited due to poor infrastructure and the alcohol ban. The annual "Hala Febrayer" festival somewhat attracts tourists from neighboring GCC countries,and includes a variety of events including music concerts, parades, and carnivals.The festival is a month-long commemoration of theliberation of Kuwait, and runs from 1 to 28 February.Liberation Dayitself is celebrated on 26 February.
In 2020, Kuwait's domestic travel and tourism spending was $6.1 billion.TheWTTCnamed Kuwait as one of the world's fastest-growing countries in travel and tourismGDPin 2019, with 11.6% year-on-year growth.In 2016, the tourism industry generated nearly $500 million in revenue.In 2015, tourism accounted for 1.5 percent of the GDP.Sabah Al Ahmad Sea Cityis one of Kuwait's biggest attractions.
TheAmiri Diwanrecently inaugurated the newKuwait National Cultural District(KNCD), which comprisesSheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre,Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre,Al Shaheed Park, andAl Salam Palace.With a capital cost of more than US$1 billion, the project is one of the largest cultural investments in the world.The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of theGlobal Cultural Districts Network.Al Shaheed Park is the largest green roof project ever undertaken in the Arab world.
Kuwait has a modern network of highways.Roadwaysextended 5,749 km (3,572 mi), of which 4,887 km (3,037 mi) is paved. There are more than two million passenger cars, and 500,000 commercial taxis, buses, and trucks in use. On major highways the maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph). Since there is no railway system in the country, most people travel by automobiles.
The country's public transportation network consists almost entirely of bus routes. The state owned Kuwait Public Transportation Company was established in 1962. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait as well as longer distance services to otherGulf states. The main private bus company is CityBus, which operates about 20 routes across the country. Another private bus company, Kuwait Gulf Link Public Transport Services, was started in 2006. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait and longer distance services to neighbouring Arab countries.
There are two airports in Kuwait.Kuwait International Airportserves as the principal hub for international air travel. State-ownedKuwait Airwaysis the largest airline in the country. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of theKuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air Force Museum. In 2004, the first private airline of Kuwait,Jazeera Airways, was launched. In 2005, the second private airline,Wataniya Airwayswas founded.
Kuwait has one of the largest shipping industries in the region. The Kuwait Ports Public Authority manages and operates ports across Kuwait. The country's principal commercial seaports areShuwaikhand Shuaiba, which handled combined cargo of 753,334 TEU in 2006.Mina Al-Ahmadi is the largest port in the country.Mubarak Al Kabeer PortinBubiyan Islandis currently under construction. The port is expected to handle 2 millionTEUwhen operations start.
Kuwait's 2023 population was 4.82 million people, of which 1.53 million were Kuwaitis and 3.29 million expatriates.
Expatriates in Kuwaitaccount for around 60% of Kuwait's total population. At the end of December 2018, 57.65% of Kuwait's total population wereArabs(including Arab expats).IndiansandEgyptiansare the largest expat communities respectively.
Kuwait's official state religion isMalikiSunni Islam. TheAl Sabahruling family adhere to theMaliki schoolof Sunni Islam. Most Kuwaiti citizens are Muslim; there is no official national census but it is estimated that 60%–70% are Sunni and 30%–40% are Shia.Kuwait also has a large community of expatriateChristians,Hindus,Buddhists, andSikhs.As of 2020, there are an estimated 837,585 Christians, comprising 17.93% of the population — the second largest religious group.Most Christians in Kuwait are fromKeralain India, namelyMalankara Orthodox,Mar Thoma, andRoman Catholic. The first Malankara Orthodox parish was St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Pazhayapally Ahmadi, established in 1934.Kuwait includes anative Christiancommunity, estimated to be composed of between 259 and 400 Kuwaiti citizens.Kuwait is the onlyGCC countrybesides Bahrain to have a local Christian population who hold citizenship. A small number of Kuwaiti citizens follow theBaháʼí Faith.
Kuwait's official language isModern Standard Arabic, but its everyday usage is limited to journalism and education.Kuwaiti Arabicis the variant of Arabic used in everyday life.English is widely understood and often used as a business language. Besides English, French is taught as a third language for the students of thehumanitiesat schools, but for two years only. Kuwaiti Arabic is a variant ofGulf Arabic, sharing similarities with the dialects of neighboring coastal areas in Eastern Arabia.Due to immigration during its pre-oil history as well as trade, Kuwaiti Arabic borrowed a lot of words fromPersian,Indian languages,Balochi language, Turkish, English and Italian.
Due to historical immigration,Kuwaiti Persianis used amongAjam Kuwaitis.TheIraniansub-dialects ofLarestani, Khonji, Bastaki and Gerashi also influenced the vocabulary of Kuwaiti Arabic.Most Shia Kuwaiti citizens are of Iranian ancestry.
Kuwaitipopular culture, in the form of theatre, radio, music, and television soap opera, flourishes and is even exported to neighboring states.Within theArab states of the Persian Gulf, the culture of Kuwait is the closest to the culture ofBahrain; this is evident in the close association between the two states in theatrical productions and soap operas.
Kuwait has the oldestperforming artsindustry in the Arabian Peninsula.Kuwait's television drama industry is the largest and most active Gulf Arab drama industry and annually produces a minimum of fifteen serials.Kuwait is the main production center of the Gulf television drama and comedy scene.Most Gulf television drama and comedy productions are filmed in Kuwait.Kuwaiti soap operas are the most-watched soap operas from the Gulf region.Soap operas are most popular during the time ofRamadan, when families gather to break their fast.Although usually performed in theKuwaiti dialect, they have been shown with success as far away asTunisia.Kuwait is frequently dubbed the "Hollywoodof the Gulf" due to the popularity of its television soap operas and theatre.
Kuwait is the main centre ofscenographicandperforming arts educationin the GCC region.Many famous Middle Eastern actors and singers attribute their success to training in Kuwait.The Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts (HIDA) provideshigher educationin theatrical arts.The institute has several divisions and attracts theatrical students from all over the GCC region. Many actors have graduated from the institute, such asSouad Abdullah, Mohammed Khalifa,Mansour Al-Mansour, along with a number of prominent critics such asIsmail Fahd Ismail.
Kuwait is known for its home-grown tradition oftheatre.Kuwait is the only country in the Gulf Arab region with a theatrical tradition.The theatrical movement in Kuwait constitutes a major part of the country's cultural life.Theatrical activities in Kuwait date back to the 1920s when the first spoken dramas were released.Theatre activities are still popular today.
Theatre in Kuwait issubsidizedby the government, previously by the Ministry of Social Affairs and now by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL).Every urban district has a public theatre.The public theatre inSalmiyais named after actorAbdulhussain Abdulredha. The annual Kuwait Theater Festival is the largest theatrical arts festival in Kuwait.
Kuwait is the birthplace of various popular musical genres, such assawtandfijiri.Traditional Kuwaiti music is a reflection of the country's seafaring heritage,which was influenced by many diverse cultures.Kuwait is widely considered the centre oftraditional musicin the GCC region.Kuwaiti music has considerably influenced the music culture in other GCC countries.Kuwait pioneeredcontemporary Khaliji music.Kuwaitis were the first commercial recording artists in the Gulf region.The first known Kuwaiti recordings were made between 1912 and 1915.Saleh and Daoud Al-Kuwaitypioneered the Kuwaiti sawt music genre and wrote over 650 songs, many of which are considered traditional and still played daily on radio stations both in Kuwait and the rest of the Arab world.
Kuwait is home to variousmusic festivals, including the International Music Festival hosted by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL).TheSheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centrecontains the largest opera house in the Middle East.Kuwait has several academic institutions specializing in university-levelmusic education.The Higher Institute of Musical Arts was established by the government to providebachelor's degreesin music.In addition, the College of Basic Education offers bachelor's degrees in music education.The Institute of Musical Studies offers music education qualifications equivalent tosecondary school.
Kuwait has a reputation for being the central music influence of the GCC countries.Over the last decade of satellite television stations, many Kuwaiti musicians have become household names in other Arab countries. For example,Bashar Al Shattybecame famous due toStar Academy. Contemporary Kuwaiti music is popular throughout the Arab world.Nawal El Kuwaiti, Nabeel Shoail andAbdallah Al Rowaishedare the most popular contemporary performers.
Kuwait has the oldestmodern artsmovement in the Arabian Peninsula.Beginning in 1936, Kuwait was the first Gulf Arab country to grant scholarships in the arts.The Kuwaiti artistMojeb al-Dousariwas the earliest recognizedvisual artistin the Gulf Arab region.He is regarded as the founder ofportraitart in the region.The Sultan Gallery was the first professional Arab art gallery in the Gulf.
Kuwait is home to more than30 art galleries.In recent years, Kuwait's contemporary art scene has boomed.Khalifa Al-Qattanwas the first artist to hold asolo exhibitionin Kuwait. He founded a new art theory in the early 1960s known as "circulism".Other notable Kuwaiti artists includeSami Mohammad,Thuraya Al-BaqsamiandSuzan Bushnaq.
The government organizes variousarts festivals, including theAl Qurain Cultural Festivaland Formative Arts Festival.The Kuwait International Biennial was inaugurated in 1967,more than 20 Arab and foreign countries have participated in the biennial.Prominent participants includeLayla Al-Attar. In 2004, the Al Kharafi Biennial for Contemporary Arab Art was inaugurated.
Kuwaiti cuisine is a fusion ofArabian,Iranian, andMesopotamiancuisines. Kuwaiti cuisine is part of theEastern Arabian cuisine. A prominent dish in Kuwaiti cuisine ismachboos, a rice-based dish usually prepared withbasmatirice seasoned with spices, and chicken or mutton.
Seafoodis a  significant part of the Kuwaiti diet, especiallyfish.Mutabbaq samakis a national dish in Kuwait. Other local favourites arehamour(grouper), which is typically served grilled, fried, or withbiryanirice because of its texture and taste;safi(rabbitfish);maid(mulletfish); andsobaity(sea bream).
Kuwait's traditionalflatbreadis called Iraniankhubz. It is a large flatbread baked in a special oven and it is often topped with sesame seeds. Numerous local bakeries dot the country; the bakers are mainly Iranians (hence the name of the bread, "Iraniankhubuz"). Bread is often served withmahyawafish sauce.
The newKuwait National Cultural District(KNCD) consists of various cultural venues includingSheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre,Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre,Al Shaheed Park, andAl Salam Palace.With a capital cost of more than US$1 billion, it is one of the largest cultural districts in the world.The Abdullah Salem Cultural Centre is the largest museum complex in the Middle East.The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of theGlobal Cultural Districts Network.
Sadu Houseis among Kuwait's most important cultural institutions.Bait Al-Othmanis the largest museum specializing in Kuwait's history.The Scientific Centeris one of the largest science museums in the Middle East. TheMuseum of Modern Artshowcases the history of modern art in Kuwait and the region.The Kuwait Maritime Museum presents the country's maritime heritage in the pre-oil era. Several traditional Kuwaiti dhow ships are open to the public, such asFateh Al-KhayrandAl-Hashemi-IIwhich entered theGuinness Book of World Recordsas the largest wooden dhow ever built.TheHistorical, Vintage, and Classical Cars Museumdisplays vintage cars from Kuwait's motoring heritage. TheNational Museum, established in 1983, has been described as "underused and overlooked".
Several Kuwaiti museums are devoted toIslamic art, most notably theTareq Rajab MuseumsandDar al Athar al Islamiyyahcultural centres.The Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah cultural centres include education wings, conservation labs, and research libraries.There are severalart librariesin Kuwait.Khalifa Al-Qattan's Mirror House is the most popular art museum in Kuwait.Many museums in Kuwait are private enterprises.In contrast to the top-down approach in other Gulf states, museum development in Kuwait reflects a greater sense of civic identity and demonstrates the strength of civil society in Kuwait, which has produced many independent cultural enterprises.
Urban Kuwaiti society is moreopenthan other Gulf Arab societies.Kuwaiti citizens are ethnically diverse, consisting of both Arabs andPersians (Ajam).Kuwait stands out in the region as the most liberal in empowering women in the public sphere.Kuwaiti womenoutnumber men in the workforce.Kuwaiti political scientist Ghanim Alnajjar sees these qualities as a manifestation of Kuwaiti society as a whole, whereby in the Gulf Arab region it is "the least strict about traditions".
Kuwait produces morenewspapers and magazinesper capita than its neighbors.The state-ownedKuwait News Agency(KUNA) is the largest media house in the country. The Ministry of Information regulates the media industry in Kuwait. Kuwait's media is annually classified as partly free in theFreedom of Presssurvey by Freedom House.Since 2005,Kuwait has frequently earned the highest ranking of all Arab countries in the annualPress Freedom Indexby Reporters Without Borders.In 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014, Kuwait surpassed Israel as the country with the greatest press freedom in the Middle East.Kuwait is also frequently ranked as the Arab country with the greatest press freedom in Freedom House's annual Freedom of Press survey.
Kuwait has 15 satellite television channels, of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-ownedKuwait Television(KTV) offered first colored broadcast in 1974 and operated five television channels. Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in several languages includingArabic,Persian,Urdu, and English on theAMandSW.
Kuwait has in recent years produced several prominent contemporary writers such asIsmail Fahd Ismail, author of over twenty novels and numerous short story collections. There is also evidence that Kuwaiti literature has long been interactive withEnglishandFrench literature.
Footballis the most popular sport in Kuwait. TheKuwait Football Association(KFA) is the governing body of football in Kuwait. The KFA organizes themen's,women's, andfutsalnational teams. TheKuwaiti Premier Leagueis the top league of Kuwaiti football, featuring eighteen teams. TheKuwait national football teamhave been the champions of the1980 AFC Asian Cup, runners-up of the1976 AFC Asian Cup, and have taken third place of the1984 AFC Asian Cup. Kuwait has also been to one FIFA World Cup, in1982; they drew 1–1 withCzechoslovakiabefore losing toFranceandEngland, failing to advance from the first round. Kuwait is home to many football clubs includingAl-Arabi,Al-Fahaheel,Al-Jahra,Al-Kuwait,Al-Naser,Al-Salmiya,Al-Shabab,Al Qadsia,Al-Yarmouk,Kazma,Khaitan,Sulaibikhat,Sahel, andTadamon. The biggest football rivalry in Kuwait is betweenAl-ArabiandAl Qadsia.
Basketball is one of the country's most popular sports. TheKuwait national basketball teamis governed by the Kuwait Basketball Association (KBA). Kuwait made its international debut in 1959. The national team has been to theFIBA Asian Championshipin basketball eleven times. TheKuwaiti Division I Basketball Leagueis the highest professional basketball league in Kuwait.Cricket in Kuwaitis governed by theKuwait Cricket Association. Other growing sports includerugby union.Handballis widely considered to be the national icon of Kuwait, although football is more popular among the overall population.
Ice hockey in Kuwaitis governed by theKuwait Ice Hockey Association. Kuwait first joined theInternational Ice Hockey Federationin 1985, but was expelled in 1992 due to a lack of ice hockey activity.Kuwait was re-admitted into the IIHF in May 2009.In 2015, Kuwait won theIIHF Challenge Cup of Asia.
In February 2020, Kuwait held for the first time a leg of theUIM Aquabike World Championshipin front of Marina Beach City.
In May 2022, Kuwait hosted the Third Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Games at the 360 Marina. The event featured 16 different sports, including volleyball, basketball, swimming, athletics, karate and judo and attracted over 1,700 male and female players.
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