About Kuwait

The Rich History of Kuwait

The modern State of Kuwait has been a sovereign nation since the 1700s. Even before that, it was a vital link in Gulf trading and transportation. Archeological evidence has shown that it also was home to Stone Age settlements, a Bronze Age civilization, and a Greek colony.

For a nation that has only come to the modern world’s attention since the discovery of petroleum, Kuwait has had a rich and diverse history. Archeologists have discovered chipped flint tools from 10,000 years ago, indicating that Stone Age people ranged through the area. A site in Sabbiya on the north shore of Kuwait Bay has yielded evidence of the oldest proper settlement in the region, dating to 4500 BC. Pottery fragments, knives, and beads found there indicate that the site was used by Ubaid settlers, the same people who populated ancient Mesopotamia. This means that the earliest settlers of Kuwait were cousins of the Sumerians, who developed the first recorded human civilization...more information

The Economy of Kuwait

After the turmoil of recent years, the oil driven economy of Kuwait is undergoing spending rationalization and consolidation. The government is actively pursuing a privatization policy and to open up the economy for foreign investment. There are good opportunities here for foreign businessmen, particularly in advanced technology areas.

Oil and oil related products have tended to dominate the economy since the production of oil from the Burgan field commenced in the 1940s. As long as oil remains a valuable energy source, it will continue to play a substantial role in the future economy of the country. Kuwait has about 10% of the world’s proven oil reserves which are estimated to last for another 100 years at the present level of extraction. Exports of oil and oil related products represent more than 90% of total exports. For the year 1997, total exports including re-exports were US$14.3 billion of which oil and oil related products were $13.6 billion. This is a remarkable accomplishment given the fact that the oil industry infrastructure was virtually destroyed during the invasion by Iraq in 1990 and 1991...more information

The Kuwaiti Way of Life

Kuwaitis are a people of strong mercantile and bedouin traditions. Oil wealth has brought cosmopolitanism and the trappings of ultra-modern technology, but they remain true to their cultural roots.

The family unit is the most important thing in Kuwaiti society. Arab names themselves contain a sort of genealogy: Ibrahim Al-Ahmad Al-Mansour Al-Rashid, for example, is Ibrahim, the son of Ahmad, the son of Mansour, the son of Rashid. After the birth of a child, the parents are often referred to by derivatives of the child’s name: Abu Khalid is the “father of Khalid”, and Umm-Bader is the “mother of Bader”.

The Kuwaiti family is generally very closed and private. It consists of a closely-knit extended family circle, some of whose members may be only distantly related. It is not unheard of for cousins to marry, and in fact it used to be the norm. Thus thefamily is a cohesive institution with individuals helping out with the different tasks within, supporting each other, rallying around in times of difficulty, and often pooling resources for business ventures or to overcome hardship.

Kuwaitis love children. The traditional average family size is around ten. Males carry more prestige than females. Members of the older generation are accorded much respect and appreciated for their wisdom, for they represent an era lost to the present generation...more information

Visitor's Information

Passport and visa information, climate, geography, language, transportation and lodging, currency, everything a traveler to Kuwait should know.

Geography

Kuwait occupies an area of 17,820 square kilometres, and has nearly 500 kilometres of coastline along the Arabian Gulf. Most of the country is a flat desert plain, broken by coastal dunes, marshes, and salt depressions around Kuwait Bay, and an oasis in Jahra. Coarse grass grows in the desert most of the time. The country has nine off-shore islands. Kuwait is essentially a city-state. There are smaller communities inland and to the south, but the vast majority of people live in Kuwait City on the bay.

Climate and Clothing

In the middle of the summer, Kuwait can have temperatures ranging upwards of 55° Celsius (over 130° Fahrenheit). While any time spent out of doors will be hot indeed, most buildings are air-conditioned, and you may need a jacket or wrap indoors. High temperatures of 35-40° Celsius may last into October, but in the winter the highs fall dramatically, and the nights can be quite chilly. Several times a year the temperature drops below 10° Celsius.

There is an average of 12 centimetres of rain in the winter, usually coming in sudden heavy but irregular bursts, though annual rainfall has been as high as 37 centimetres and as low as 1 centimetre. Light, absorbent, and airy clothes are a necessity for visits between April and October. If you visit in the winter, you should pack clothes suitable for late autumn in northern climates.

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