Kuwait Information |
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Population: 2,691,158 Dialing Code: +965 Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shia 30%), other (includes Christian, Hindu, Parsi) 15% Internet TLD: .kw Located: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia Area: 17,820 sq km Literacy: 93.3% Comparative Size: slightly smaller than New Jersey Nationality Noun: Kuwaiti(s) Nationality Adjective: Kuwaiti currencyKWD |
Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East, is an ideal destination for a relaxed holiday in the Arabian Peninsula. Surrounded by the Persian Gulf on the southeast, it shares border with Saudi Arabia on the southwest and Iraq on the north and west. A vast majority of natives of Kuwait are descendents of the Al-Anisa and the Al-Utub tribes, who migrated here from central Arabia. It came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire and subsequently the British after the World War I. It became a fully independent country in 1961.
In 1990, Iraq made an unsuccessful attempt to annex Kuwait, causing much destruction to its economy and infrastructure. Kuwait, whose economy once depended upon pearl and spice trade, today has the fifth largest oil reserve in the world. It is a rich country and has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.
Kuwait city, the capital of the country, is a bustling metropolitan center. The Kuwait Towers are the most well-known landmarks of the city. Located on the Arabian Gulf Street in Dasman, the tallest of the three towers, soaring to a height of 187 meters, is the telecommunications nerve center of the country. The peak of this tower houses a restaurant and revolving observation area. The second tallest tower stores water, which is supplied to the city. The third tower controls the supply of electricity to the city. The towers sustained extensive damage in the war with Iraq in 1990, but they were restored quickly to their previous glory.
Kuwait is famous for its duty free shopping experience. The Salmiya district has some of the finest shops of the region.
White sand beaches of Kuwait provide excellent opportunities both for relaxation and activity. There are numerous sea clubs offering facilities for a wide variety of activities related to the sea. The Persian Gulf shoreline of Kuwait is excellent for water sports such as windsurfing, boating, water skiing, jet skiing and scuba diving. The tranquil offshore provides an ideal setting for sailing and yachting. A boat trip to the Failaka Island or Kubbar Island is a breathtaking experience. The Failaka Island showcases some Bronze Age and Greek archaeological sites, which includes a Greek temple.