General Information about Kuwait

Kuwait was granted formal independence in 1961. In 1977 Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah became the ruler of Kuwait, the Emir. The Emir is head of state and the Crown Prince holds the post of Prime Minister. The Emir appoints the Council of Ministers and the Constitution also allows for the election of a 50-members National Assembly.

History
Kuwait's modern history began in the early 18th century, when several clans from the Al Aniza tribe migrated to the northern shore of the Gulf from the Najd, their famine-stricken homeland in central Arabia. These settlers combined to create an oligarchic merchant principality, whose economic prosperity was based on fishing, pearling, and trade. Eventually the Al Sabah emerged as the dominant clan, and were formally established as rulers in 1756. 

Geography
Land Area 17,818 square kilometers (6,880 square miles), including the Kuwaiti share of the Neutral Zone (2,590 sq km).

Topography Almost entirely flat desert.

Climate Although summers are long, hot, and mostly dry, with daily temperatures between 43º and 47ºC (110º and 120ºF) and high humidity in August. The fall and spring are pleasant and mild; winters are short and relatively cool. Sandstorms in June and July; some rain, mainly in winter and spring.

Boundaries Border with Saudi Arabia set in 1922 Treaty of Al-Uqair, which also established Kuwait-Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone. In 1966 Kuwait and Saudi Arabia agreed to divide the Neutral Zone; the partitioning agreement making each country responsible for administration in its portion was signed in December 1969.

Iraq accepted the mutual border in 1963, based on earlier agreements. Historical border definitively demarcated by a UN commission 1992; Iraq accepted the demarcation in November 1994

Culture
It is inevitable in a country like Kuwait, which has grown from relative poverty to great wealth in a very short time that clashes should occur between the old and the new. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the most important part of Kuwaiti society remains the family, and here the old values are retained and cherished. The traditional virtues of hospitality, courtesy and respect must not be lost in a head-long rush to what some may term "modernization". Nowadays in Kuwait it is generally felt that not enough attention has been paid to the country's heritage, and so a number of government projects have sought to reverse this trend.

The people
There are essentially five levels of Kuwaiti society: the ruling family, the old Kuwaiti merchant families, former Bedouins who settled in Kuwait, Arabs from other countries and foreigners. Arabic is the official language and 90% of the population is Muslim. In per-capita terms, Kuwait has one of the highest incomes in the world. Before the Iraqi invasion in August 1990, less than 40% of the population were Kuwaitis. Non-Kuwaitis enjoyed most of the welfare benefits of Kuwaiti citizens.

Economy
The economy of Kuwait is based almost exclusively on oil. By law, 10% of all petroleum income has been deposited in a special reserve fund to provide for the future when oil revenues are exhausted. During the 1990/91 occupation, a great deal of Kuwaiti wealth was taken to Iraq; the Kuwaiti government-in-exile, however, retained control of the country's very substantial overseas assets. Limited oil exports began a few months after the liberation. It was anticipated that pre-invasion oil production levels would be reached by the end of 1992. It was also estimated that it would take two to five years to restore the country to its pre-war condition. Immigration, Visas
Nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council states (GCC -- Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman) do not need entry visas. All other nationalities require entry visas. Visas can be obtained from Kuwaiti embassies and consulates or through a sponsor in Kuwait or from the Ministry of the Interior. In order to obtain a visitor's visa, the following are required: a photocopy of the passport together with a letter from the sponsor in Kuwait. Most hotels can arrange visas for their guests. The initial visa is for one month and visitors who overstay will be fined.

The following items are not allowed in Kuwait: alcoholic beverages, pork and bacon products, pigskin and of course narcotics of any kind. Videos are subject to censorship. Pornography is also banned. Restrictions are similar to those found in other countries as regards firearms and explosives. Other restrictions relate to the import of items which are produced locally in order to bolster the local manufacturing sector. If you are in any doubt, contact the Ministry of Commerce. Population & Language
Population (total) 2.274 million (June 30th 1999; Source: Public Authority for Civil Info.)Kuwaitis 798,200 (35.1% of total)
Non-Kuwaitis 1.476 million (64.9% of total) 

The official language is Arabic though English is widely used -- especially in business, banking and big shopping centers. Most street signs are written in both languages.

Climate
Due to the location of Kuwait in the Sahara geographical region, the weather of the country is characterized by long, hot and dry summers and short, warm and sometimes rainy winters. Dust storms almost always occur with a rise in humidity during summer.

The highest temperature ever recorded was 52 oC in July 1978, (making Kuwait the fourth hottest place in the world). The lowest temperature, -6oC, was recorded in January 1964. There is a wide variation of temperature, ranging from an average of 45 oC in summer to an average of 8 oC in winter. Such climate fluctuation is often accompanied by a change in the annual rainfall -- which may vary from 22 mm one year to 352 mm the next.

Money
Currency Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils. Exchange rate on June 30, 1999: US$1.00 = KD0.306 

Health
Kuwait has one of the most comprehensive health care systems, and one of the most all-encompassing social service systems in the world. Although the origins of a modern system of health care in Kuwait can be traced back to the first years of the twentieth century, it was not until the 1950's that the government introduced an extensive health care program, in which all medical services, even veterinary medicine for livestock, became free to the entire population. The precursor to this remarkable movement was the dramatic increase in Kuwait's development after oil revenues brought wealth to the country in the 1940's. Kuwait has continued to experience a gradual and steady growth in the fields of medicine and welfare. However, in order to fully grasp the extent of the country's expansion, a brief history of health care in Kuwait is in order Communication
Local calls are free and can be made from shops or from the local telephone exchange. Overseas calls can be made from hotels or the telephone exchange. Postal services are currently being privatised. The Main Post Office is located on Fahd Al-Salem Street. It is open from 7.30am-7.30pm Sat to Thurs and from 8.00-10:00am Friday. If you receive a parcel, you will be sent a green card by the Post Office. This must be taken to the Parcel Office in Shuwaikh, at the junction of Airport Road and Jahra Road. The parcel will be opened in front of you to insure that you are not receiving any illegal items

Water Quality
Virtually all of Kuwait's water comes from government-constructed sea-water desalination plants. The Iraqi occupation did considerable damage to these plants but most of them are once again fully operational. One of them was the largest in the world with a production of approximately 200m gallons of drinking water per day. Domestic tap water is not completely safe to drink. A filtration system is recommended. It is also a good idea to use filtered water for kitchen use in order to avoid staining. Bottled mineral water is readily available from all shops. Hotels
Kuwait has many international hotels with excellent amenities. There are also a number of smaller hotels, so there is a complete range of facilities and tariffs to suit all needs. Advance booking and reconfirmation is strongly advised. Hotels are used as social venues providing clubs, restaurants, dinner parties etc. The local press carries details of promotions and special events. In most hotels and restaurants, a 15-20% service charge is included in the bill but an additional token tip is also usual. 

Activities
There are a number of restaurants and cinemas in Kuwait as well as a wide variety of sporting activities ranging from water sports to bowling to horse racing to golf. Those interested in amateur theatricals will also find their interests catered for.

Tourist Bus
A sightseeing service runs from Salmiya to the Kuwait Towers. The trip takes about 90 minutes and costs 250 fils.