Kuwait

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 . 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.

Arabic text Kuwait / k uː ˈ w eɪ t / ( ), officially the State of Kuwait , is a country in Western Asia . Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf , it shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia . As of 2014, Kuwait has a population of 4.1 million people; 1.2 million are Kuwaitis and 2.8 million are expatriates. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Kuwait was a prosperous trade port. Starting in the early 20th century, its regional economic importance declined, and by 1934 Kuwait had lost its prominence in long-distance trade. Kuwait's economy was devastated by several trade blockades. During World War I , the British Empire imposed a blockade against Kuwait because its ruler supported the Ottoman Empire . Following the Kuwait–Najd War of 1919–1920, Saudi Arabia maintained a trade blockade against the country from 1923 until 1937. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded by Iraq . The Iraqi occupation came to an end in 1991 after military intervention by United States -led forces. Kuwait is a constitutional emirate with a parliamentary system . Kuwait has a petroleum-based economy. In recent years, the hostile relationship between the parliament and government has hindered the country's development. Kuwait is recognized as a high income economy by the World Bank . Before oil was discovered in Kuwait 53 years ago, the country was largely a nation of merchant traders. Its natural harbor made Kuwait a hub of Middle East commerce and a center for boat building. Home to one of only two natural ports in the Persian Gulf, Kuwait has for hundreds of years been a commercial and cosmopolitan center. Doctor Mary in Arabia: Memoirs . A Political Chronology of the Middle East .

Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf , it borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south . As of 2016 , Kuwait has a population of 4.5 million people: 1.3 million are Kuwaitis and 3.2 million are expatriates. Expatriates account for approximately 70% of the population. Oil reserves were discovered in commercial quantities in 1938. In 1946, crude oil was exported for the first time. From 1946 to 1982, the country underwent large-scale modernization. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following the stock market crash . In 1990, Kuwait was invaded , and later annexed , by Saddam's Iraq . The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait came to an end in 1991 after military intervention by a military coalition led by the United States. Kuwait is a non-NATO ally of the United States. Kuwait is also a major ally of ASEAN , while maintaining a very strong relationship with China . Kuwait is a constitutional sovereign state with a semi-democratic political system. Kuwait has a high-income economy backed by the world's sixth largest oil reserves . The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest valued currency in the world. According to the World Bank , the country has the fourth highest per capita income . The Constitution was promulgated in 1962. Kuwait is home to the largest opera house in the Middle East . The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of the Global Cultural Districts Network . United Nations Development Programme . 10 December 2019 . "Wise cities" in the Mediterranean? : challenges of urban sustainability . OCLC 1117436298 . : CS1 maint: others ( link ) "Contributors".

Country in the Middle East For other uses, see Kuwait (disambiguation) . Kuwait ( / k ʊ ˈ w eɪ t / ; al-Kuwayt , Gulf Arabic pronunciation: [ɪl‿ɪkweːt] or [lɪkweːt] ), officially the State of Kuwait ( Dawlat al-Kuwayt ), is a country in the Middle East . It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf , bordering Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south . Kuwait also shares maritime borders with Iran . Kuwait has a coastal length of approximately 500 km (311 mi). Most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of the capital and largest city Kuwait City . As of 2022 , Kuwait has a population of 4.45 million people of which 1.45 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.00 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries. Historically, most of present-day Kuwait was part of ancient Mesopotamia . Before the discovery of oil, Kuwait was a strategic trade port between Mesopotamia, Persia and India . Oil reserves were discovered in commercial quantities in 1938. In 1946, crude oil was exported for the first time. From 1946 to 1982, the country underwent large-scale modernization, largely based on income from oil production. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following the stock market crash . In 1990, after oil production disputes with neighbouring Iraq, Kuwait was invaded , and later annexed into one of Iraq's governorates by Iraq under Saddam Hussein . The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait came to an end on February 26, 1991, after military intervention by a military coalition led by the United States and various other countries. As an Arab state in the Persian Gulf , Kuwait is an emirate . The emir is the head of state and the Al Sabah is the ruling family which dominates the country's political system. Kuwait's official state religion is Islam, specifically the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. Kuwait is a developing country with a high-income economy , backed by the world's sixth largest oil reserves . Kuwaiti popular culture, in the form of theatre, radio, music, and television soap opera, is regionally influential and exported to neighboring GCC states. In 2009, Kuwait had the highest Human Development Index in the Arab world. Kuwait is a founding member of the GCC and is also a member of the UN , AL , OPEC and the OIC . In July 2022, Kuwait named the emir's son as the country's new prime minister to replace caretaker premier Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid , who faced a combative parliament as head of cabinet in a feud hindering fiscal reform. The World Factbook (2023 ed.). United Nations Development Programme . 8 September 2022 . "Wise cities" in the Mediterranean? : challenges of urban sustainability . OCLC 1117436298 . : CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( link ) CS1 maint: others ( link ) "Contributors".

Country in West Asia For other uses, see Kuwait (disambiguation) . Kuwait , officially the State of Kuwait , is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East . It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf , bordering Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south . With a coastline of approximately 500 km (311 mi), Kuwait also shares a maritime border with Iran , across the Persian Gulf. Kuwait is a city-state , most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of Kuwait City , the capital and largest city. As of 2024 , Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million, of which 1.53 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.29 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries. Kuwait has the world's third largest number of foreign nationals as a percentage of the population , where its citizens make up less than 30% of the overall population. The territory of modern-day Kuwait has been occupied by humans since antiquity, particularly due to its strategic location at the head of the Persian Gulf near the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers . In the early 18th century, the territory of modern-day Kuwait was under the jurisdiction of the Bani Khalid Emirate of the Bani Khalid clan; then the territory became known as the Sheikdom of Kuwait , it became a British protectorate in 1899. Prior to the discovery of oil reserves in 1938, the territory of modern-day Kuwait contained a regional trade port. The protectorate agreements with the United Kingdom ended in June 1961 when Kuwait officially became an independent state. From 1946 to 1982, Kuwait underwent large-scale modernization, largely based on income from oil production . In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following the stock market crash . It suffered pro-Iranian attacks during the Iran–Iraq War , as a result of Kuwait's financial support to Iraq. In 1990, the state of Kuwait was invaded , installed a puppet regime, and subsequently annexed by Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein following disputes over oil production. The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait ended on 26 February 1991, after a U.S and Saudi Arabia–led international coalition expelled Iraqi forces from the country during the Gulf War . Like most other Arab states of the Persian Gulf , Kuwait is an emirate ; the emir is the head of state and the ruling Al Sabah family dominates the country's political system. Kuwait's official state religion is Islam, specifically the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. Kuwait is a high-income economy , backed by the world's sixth 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 neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Kuwait is a founding member of the GCC and is also a member of the United Nations , the Arab League , and OPEC . "دستور الكويت, الباب الرابع" [Constitution of Kuwait, Chapter Four]. "ما أسباب تأجيل انعقاد مجلس الأمة الكويتي؟" [What are the reasons for postponing the Kuwaiti National Assembly?]. The World Factbook (2024 ed.). "Wise cities" in the Mediterranean? : challenges of urban sustainability . "OPEC pressures Kuwait to moderate quota demand", New Straits Times , 7 June 1989 "Kuwait's theater culture is still thriving. There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).