Everything you need to know about Kuwait: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Kuwait: Middle Eastern Oil-rich Country with Modern Islamic Values

Kuwait is considered to be the part of an early Mesopotamian Civilisation. In 1756 it became an autonomous sheikdom. Abd Rahim of the al-Sabah became the first sheik, and his descendants continue to rule Kuwait till today. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries Kuwait became the part of Ottoman Empire. In 1897 Kuwait became the part of British after threat of occupation by Turks. In 1961, Britain ended the protectorate and declared Kuwait an independent nation. Soon afterward the Arab League sent in troops, replacing the British. Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990 and set up a pro-Iraqi provisional government. Coalitions of Arab and Western military forces compelled Iraqi troops to leave Kuwait in mere four days. This ended the Persian Gulf War and established independent government in Kuwait.

Kuwait Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures

· National Name: The State of Kuwait
· Capital: Kuwait City
· Total area: 17,818 sq km (6,880 sq miles)
· Population: 2.9 million (UN, 2007)
· Currency: Dinar
· Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
· Ethnicity/ Races: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
· Religion: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15%
· GDP (Per Capita): $55,900 (2007 est.)
· Life Expectancy: Male: 76.38 years, Female: 78.73 years (2008 est.)
· Literacy Rate: Male: 94.4%, Female: 91% (2005 census)

Geographical Information on Kuwait:
Iraq is located in the Northeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. Kuwait is bordered by the Persian Gulf and lies between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is the only country in the world that has no natural lake or water reservoir.

Kuwait enjoys an arid continental climate with extremely hot and dry weather and high temperatures during daytime and summer seasons lasts from April to September, while the winter season lasts from November to February with some precipitation.

Culture, Cuisine and Tradition of Kuwait:
Kuwait cultural heritage derives from its deep-rooted historical legacy. The beliefs and faiths of traditional culture are embedded in Kuwait’s’ social rites that include traditional Kuwaiti food, sports, and family life. The strong relation with Western nations provides cosmopolitan aspects to Iraqi culture. Kuwait is considered as one of the Arab’s most modernized nations in terms of individual rights.

The Kuwaiti cuisine resembles Kuwait’s poly-ethnic diversity. The ancient trade routes introduced spices to the Kuwaiti cuisine. There is a vast range of foodstuff that is available in Kuwait ranging from seafood, meat from lamb and chicken, to the various types of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Tourist Attractions of Kuwait:
The tourists flock to Kuwait due to its architectural wonders that reflect modern as well as traditional Arabic styles. The cosmopolitan societal structure provides flexibility to the foreign tourists.
The Liberation Tower in Kuwait represents the Kuwaiti liberation from the Iraqi invasion. It is the 21st tallest tower in the world. Kuwait Towers consist of three separate towers and it is the famous landmark of the city. The mosques and cathedrals are some famous sightseeing places in Kuwait. The decoration of these mosques and churches displays intricate design of traditional and contemporary architecture. Some of the sites are Grand Mosque in Kuwait, and Our Lady of Arabia Church.

Major Sight-seeing Places in Kuwait include:

· Tareq Rajab Museum
· Kuwait musical fountain
· The Kuwait National Museum
· Kuwait Zoological Park