Kuwait{{about|the country of Kuwait|the capital city with the same name|Kuwait City}} The '''State of Kuwait''' is a small oil-rich monarchy on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed by Saudi Arabia in the south and Iraq in the north. Kuwait is located in the Middle East. {| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+<big><big>'''دولة الكويت (Dawlat al Kuwayt)'''</big></big> |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2 | {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | align="center" width="140px" | Image:Kuwait flag large.png|125px| | align="center" width="140px" rowspan="2" | Image:KUW-coat.gif |- | align="center" width="140px" | (Flag of Kuwait|In Detail) |} |- | align="center" colspan=2 | ''National motto: For Kuwait'' |- | align=center colspan=2 style="background: #ffffff;" | image:LocationKuwait.png |- | '''Official language''' | Arabic language|Arabic |- | '''Capital''' | Kuwait City|Kuwait |- | '''List of emirs of Kuwait|Emir''' | Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah|Jabir Al Sabah |- | '''Crown Prince''' | Saad al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah|Saad Al Sabah |- | '''Prime minister''' | Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah |- | '''Area'''  - Total  - % water | List of countries by area|Ranked 152nd 17,818 square kilometre|km² Negligible |- | '''Population'''  - Total (2001)  - Density | List of countries by population|Ranked 141st 2,041,961 115/km² |- | '''Independence''' | June 19, 1961 from the United Kingdom |- | '''Currency''' | Kuwaiti dinar|Dinar |- | '''Time zone''' | UTC +3 |- | '''National anthem''' | Al-Nasheed Al-Watani |- | '''National Flower''' | Rhanterium epapposum Locally called ''Arfaj'' |- | '''Top-level domain|Internet TLD''' | .kw |- | '''List of country calling codes|Calling Code''' | 965 |} Image:KuwaitOilWells.jpg|thumb|right|During the first Gulf War, most of Kuwait's oil wells were set on fire by retreating Iraqi forces. It took several months before the fire could be controlled. == History == ''Main article: History of Kuwait'' Kuwait was established in the 16th century when several clans from the Al Aniza tribe migrated to the northern shore of the Persian Gulf from the Najd, their famine-stricken homeland in central Arabia. They settled in what is now known as Qatar for more than sixty years before migrating over sea to settle in the Isle De Chader, where they built a small fort, or “kut”. Kuwait was never a part of the Abbasid empire (8th century) since it didn’t exist at that time. Kuwait was incorporated within the Ottoman Empire, evidenced by Sheik Mubarak's flying the Ottoman flag over his palace and fully realizing Ottoman authority over his lands. The current rulers of the country are descended from Sabah I, who was chosen by the community, which was composed mainly of traders. They were tasked with administering the affairs of the State, including foreign affairs and taxation/duties. This is unlike most other Arab emirates of the Persian Gulf where the rulers seized and maintained authority by force. The 17th century saw the Arabian Peninsula in tumultuous times. The area that is now Kuwait was occupied by tribes and used for spice trading from India. By the 18th century, most of the local people made a living selling pearls. However, as pearl farming developed in Japan during the 1930s, Kuwait became impoverished. In 1899, growing United Kingdom|British influence led to Kuwait becoming a British protectorate. Oil transformed Kuwait into one of the richest countries in the Arab peninsula; in 1953 the country became the largest exporter of oil in the Persian Gulf. This massive growth attracted many immigrant laborers who were rarely granted citizenship. Kuwait, having amassed great wealth, was the first of the Persian Gulf-Arab states to declare independence on June 19 1961. This declaration was challenged by Iraq until 1963. After being allied with Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War (largely due to the desire for Iraqi protection from Shiite Iran), Kuwait was invaded and annexed by Iraq (under Saddam Hussein) in August 1990. Hussein's primary justifications included a charge that Kuwaiti territory was in fact an Iraqi province, and that annexation was retaliation for "economic warfare" Kuwait had waged through slant drilling into Iraq's oil supplies. The monarchy was deposed after annexation, and an Iraqi governor installed. Though initially ambiguous toward a potential annexation of Kuwait by Iraq, US President George H. W. Bush ultimately condemned Hussein's actions, and moved to drive out Iraqi forces. Authorized by the UN Security Council, an United States|American-led coalition of 34 nations fought the Persian Gulf War to reinstate the Kuwaiti Emir. After six weeks of fighting in the early 1990, Iraq was forced to withdraw its troops from Kuwait; during retreat, the Iraqi Armed Forces practiced a scorched earth policy by Kuwaiti_oil_fires|setting fire to Kuwaiti oil wells, fires which were once the subject of a now-disproven ecological doomsday scenario advocated by Carl Sagan. The fires took over nine months to fully extinguish, and the cost of repairs to oil infrastructure exceeded 5 billion US $. Certain buildings and infrastructural facilities (including Kuwait International Airport) were also severly damaged during the war . Kuwait now remains under the governance of the Emir (see Amir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah) as an independent state and is of strategic importance from both military (proximity to Iraq) and economic (oil reserves) perspectives. == Politics == ''Main article: Politics of Kuwait'' Image:Amir.jpg|thumb|right|Kuwaiti Emir: Sheikh Jabir, who suffered a stroke in 2001, seldom appears in public. Chief of state is the Emir, a semi-hereditary title. The emir appoints the prime minister, who until recently was also the crown prince. A council of ministers aids the prime minister in his task as head of government. The parliament known as the Majlis Al-Umma (National Assembly), consists of 50 members, who are chosen in elections held every four years. Government ministers, according to the Constitution of the State, are given automatic membership in the parliament. Prior to 2005, only 15% of the Kuwaiti population was allowed to vote, with all women, "recently naturalised" citizens (less than 30 years of citizenship), and members of the armed forces excluded. On May 16, 2005, Parliament permitted women's suffrage by a 35-23 vote, subject to Islamic law and effective for the 2007 Parliamentary Election; formerly, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were the only remaining Middle Eastern countries without womens' suffrage. It is unclear what terms will be imposed upon female voters through the decision's requirement of them to abide by Islamic law, such as whether it will require conservative dress and separate polling places. The decision could raise Kuwait's voter rolls from 139,000 to as many as 339,000 if all eligible women register; the total number of Kuwaitis is estimated at more than 960,000. Recently naturalised citizens and current members of the armed forces are still excluded from voting. ''See also:'' al-Sabah|al-Sabah Ruling Family == Governorates == ''Main article: Governorates of Kuwait'' Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (''muhafazat''): * Al Ahmadi * Al Farwaniyah * Al Asimah * Al Jahra * Hawalli * Mubarak Al-Kabeer == Geography == Image:Ku-map.gif|300px|thumb|Map of Kuwait ''Main article: Geography of Kuwait'' Kuwait consists mostly of desert, with little altitude difference. It has nine islands, the largest one being the ''Bubiyan'', which is linked to the mainland by a concrete bridge (after the liberation in 1991 the island was converted into a military base and currently no civilians are allowed in). The islands are: *Auhah Island *Bubiyan Island *Failaka Island *Kubbar Island *Miskan Island *Qaruh Island *Umm al Maradim Island *Umm an Namil Island *Warbah Island Kuwait is considered to be one of the fifteen lands that comprise the "Cradle of Humanity". Kuwait's climate is dry and hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. The major cities are the capital Kuwait City|Kuwait, and Al-Jahrah (further in the north, 30-minute drive from the capital). The main residential and business areas are Salmiya (with US-style shopping malls) and Hawalli. == Economy == Image:KuwaitTowers.jpg|thumb|right|Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait and is one of the busiest financial and trade centres in the Gulf .Two water-storage tanks, left, designed to resemble minarets, or mosque towers, hold the city?s potable water (FFG 38). ''Main article: Economy of Kuwait'' Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of 94 billion barrels (15 km³) - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of Gross domestic product|GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agriculture|agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Higher oil prices put the FY99/00 budget into a $2 billion surplus. The FY00/01 budget covers only nine months because of a change in the fiscal year. The budget for FY01/02 envisioned higher expenditures for salaries, construction, and other general categories. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country. By 1990 the country earned more from foreign investment than from oil exports. The expenses of the Iraqi invasion and postwar reconstruction placed a heavy economic burden on the country, but by the mid-1990s Kuwait had resumed its preinvasion prosperity. Gross domestic product (GDP) for 2003 was $41.7 billion, giving Kuwait a per capita GDP of $17,420. The labor force totals 1,073,115 people, only about one-quarter of whom are Kuwaiti citizens.{{ref|figure}} The Central Bank of Kuwait in the capital city issues Kuwait?s currency, the Kuwaiti dinar. The dinar is valued at 0.30 dinars per U.S.$1 (2003 average). ==Oil Companies== Because the government owns the oil industry, it controls most of the economy?in all, about 75 percent of the GDP. Kuwait?s oil exports vary depending on internal needs (almost all of Kuwait?s energy is derived from oil), international demand and prices, and production quotas fixed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Kuwait is a member. OPEC?s quotas, however, are difficult to enforce, and Kuwait and other countries have been accused of violating them. In 2002 oil production was 692 million barrels. The chief oil companies are - * '''Kuwait Oil Corporation''' (KOC) - ''A crude oil exploration and devolpment company'' * '''Kuwait National Petroleum Corporation''' (KNPC) - ''Runs Oil Refineries across Kuwait'' * '''Petrochemicals Industries Corporation''' (PIC) - ''Petrochemical & Fertilizers manufacturer'' * '''Kuwait Petroleum Intl. Limited''' (KPIL - '''Q8''') - ''Runs refining and marketing buisness in Europe'' * '''Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploraton''' (KUFPEC) - ''Intl. Oil Exploration Company '' * '''Equate''' - ''A Petrochemical company formed by '''PIC''' and '''Dow Chemical''' '' == Demographics == ''Main article: Demographics of Kuwait'' About 80% of the Kuwaiti population is Arab; the non-Kuwaiti Arabs contain a large group of Egyptians and also stateless Arabs, locally known as Bidoon (an Arabic language|Arabic word meaning "without" and different from Bedouin). Other large groups of immigrants include Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, and Philippines|Filipinos. Kuwait formerly had a large Palestinian population, though most of them were forced out of the country after PLO leader Yassir Arafat's support of Iraq during the Gulf War|Iraqi occupation of Kuwait. The official language is Arabic language|Arabic, although English language|English is generally understood. Some immigrants also speak their own local languages. About 85% of Kuwait's population are Muslims, mostly Sunni. Of Kuwait's Muslims, it is estimated that around 70% of them are Sunni, and around 30% or slightly more are Shia Muslims. A relatively large percentage of Kuwaitis belonging to Islam's Shia sect is due to Kuwait's close proximity to Iran and Iraq. ==Transportation== Kuwait?s transportation system is modern and efficient, with a road system that is well developed by regional standards. Roads total 4,450 km (2,765 mi), of which 81 percent are paved, and most people travel by automobile. A small public bus system serves mainly foreign workers. An international airport is located on the southern outskirts of the Kuwait city metropolitan area and Kuwait Airways is the national airline. The country has three modern seaports, one of which specializes in oil exports. == Culture == ''Main article: Culture of Kuwait'' *Music of Kuwait  == Miscellaneous topics == * Communications in Kuwait * Transportation in Kuwait * Military of Kuwait * Foreign relations of Kuwait * Postage stamps and postal history of Kuwait == External links == *[http://www.kuwait-info.org/ Kuwait Information Office] under the guidance of the Ministry of Information *[http://www.kuwait-information.com/ Kuwait Information Portal] *[http://www.kuwaitblogs.com/ Kuwait Blogs] listing and hosting of blogs from and about Kuwait *[http://gis.baladia.gov.kw/ Kuwait Electronic Guide - Kuwait's Municipality's Maps and Directions Guide] *[http://www.kuwiki.org/ KuWiki: Kuwait's Wiki Page] *[http://www.kuwaitpast.com/ KuwaitPast.com - Information about Kuwait's Past] *[http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/kuwait Flickr.com - Kuwait Tags] *[http://www.Miskan.com/ Miskan.com - Daily Pictures from Kuwait] *[http://www.crsk.org/ Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait] *[http://www.al-bab.com/arab/countries/kuwait.htm Arab Gateway - ''Kuwait''] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/791053.stm BBC News Country Profile - ''Kuwait''] *{{note|figure}}[http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ku.html CIA World Factbook - ''Kuwait''] *[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kwtoc.html Library of Congress Country Study - ''Kuwait''] *[http://search.looksmart.com/p/browse/us1/us317916/us559898/us560105/us560114/ LookSmart - ''Kuwait''] directory category *[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Middle_East/Kuwait/ Open Directory Project - ''Kuwait''] directory category *[http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Kuwait/ Yahoo! - ''Kuwait''] directory category *[http://story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=Kuwait Yahoo! News Full Coverage - ''Kuwait''] news headline links *[http://www.thepersiangulf.org/cities/kuwaitcity.html Kuwait, The Persian Gulf] Information and History of Kuwait {{Southwest_Asia}} {{Middle_East}} Category:Kuwait Category:Arab League Category:Arabia Category:Middle Eastern countries Category:Persian Gulf states Category:Monarchies ar:كويت bg:Кувейт ca:Kuwait da:Kuwait de:Kuwait et:Kuveit es:Kuwait eo:Kuvajto fr:Koweït gd:Kuwait hi:कुवैत hr:Kuvajt io:Kuwait id:Kuwait ia:Kuwait it:Kuwait he:כווית lv:Kuveita lt:Kuveitas hu:Kuvait ms:Kuwait zh-min-nan:Kuwait nl:Koeweit nds:Kuwait ja:クウェート no:Kuwait pl:Kuwejt pt:Kuwait ru:Кувейт sa:कुवैत sk:Kuvajt sl:Kuvajt fi:Kuwait sv:Kuwait th:ประเทศคูเวต uk:Кувейт zh:科威特 First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

This article on Kuwait is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kuwait".

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