Kuwait History
His Highness Sheikh
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
At the north-eastern end of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait arose to challenge the
harshness of the desert environment with
construction and urbanization, and to overcome the perils of the sea through voyages
for fishing and pearl-diving, at a
time when its territory remains a witness to an eventful history.
In ancient times Kuwait was known as a meeting-point for several civilizations which
reached it with trading caravans.
It continued to struggle against the hardships of life until the difficult equation was
balanced and God granted it oil
wealth which came as a compensation for the days of toil and struggle. Modern
Kuwait arose with its small society
and its structure which harmonizes with the ambition of its people. All that remains of
the desert life is remains, and
Kuwait looks forward to a future that is event more prosperous and brilliant.
The plenty which the oil wealth brought was not as clear as fresh water. It brought with
it the filth of greed, and this
meant that the struggle had to continue, to repel the violations of the covetous and
pursue a creative way of life.
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of Kuwait
during His contribution in an Arab Summit
In spite of tribulations, Kuwait remained the beautiful bride of the Gulf, its captivating
charm attracting people, many
thousands of whom came to take part with the Kuwaitis in the process of building for
a better life.
If history is geography in motion, and geography is history standing still, history both
in motion and standing still is an
indispensable basis to confirm the noble origin of a country and its identity through
successive ages. God has granted
Kuwait geographical elements and historical facts that have enabled it to play a
prominent role in many human
activities.
Kuwait in History
Kuwait was known as "Al-Kout" (the Fort) from the middle of the eleventh century of
the Islamic era when the Amir
Muhammad Ibn 'Aray'ar of the Bani Khalid tribe built a small fort which the herdsmen
of the tribe used as a shelter. It
was a store for provisions and ammunition and had a garrison. The word Kout
means a fortified castle. Kuwait also
became known by another name, Grane (Qurain), which was mentioned in records of
Portuguese, Dutch and English
sailors and explorers of the region. It became known by this name since the late
eighteenth century after an older
name for Kuwait, namely "Kazima", began to lose its importance as a harbor by
which the region had been known in
previous centuries. The first map in which the name of Grane was mentioned was
was that of Van Keulen which was
printed in Amsterdam in 1753. Then this name began to disappear with the close of
the nineteenth century. Lorimer,
in his guide book of the Gulf, attributes this name to the small barren island of Jurain
in the Bay of Kuwait, whereas
John Kelly attributes it to the diminutive of the word Qarn or horn, which is the shape
of the Creek of Kuwait itself
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of Kuwait during a press
conference while he was in charge of the Ministry of Finance
English and Arab reports have mentioned similar descriptions of Kuwait, as a
seaport lying on the western coast of
the Gulf near to its northern end, ruled by Arab tribes. It was ruled by the Iyad tribe,
who are regarded as the first
who migrated to the land of Kuwait, and chose the town of Kazima, close to the
northern coast of the Gulf a few
miles from Jahra, as their home. Kazima was the site of the famous battle of Dhat
Al-Salasil, which was fought by
the Muslim Arabs under the command of Khalid Ibn Al-Walid against the Persians
commanded by Hormuz in 630
AD.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah during
the graduation ceremony of a military troop
The Persian soldiers chained themselves together in groups so that they would not
flee from the battlefield. Hence the
battle came to be known by the Arabic word Salasil which means chains. This
marked the fall of the Sasanid Empire
and the Arab occupation of Persia. When Kuwait became a small colony protected
by a small castle known as a
Kuwait or small Kout, its inhabitants were from the 'Utub, whose tribe was formed of
three main branches: the
Jalahima, Al Khalifa and Al Sabah. Kuwait was probably founded at the beginning of
the eighteenth century or shortly
before that, when Arab tribes migrated to its region. In the middle of the eighteenth
century itg became a trading town
with more than 20,000 inhabitants working on more than 800 boats. History relates a
story that the Portuguese came
to its coasts in the sixteenth century, but without mentioning its name at that time.
However it is confirmed historically
that the British attempted to bring it under their protectorate in 1805, but they did not
succeed in defending or
protecting it at that time. History relates that the Ottomans sought the help of the
Ruler of Kuwait Shaikh Jaber I to
regain Basra and put down the civil disorder that was going on there.
Shaikh Jaber did not disappoint their hopes and rose to their aid, and so he gained
prestige among Arab rulers. This
brought renewed Ottoman and British interest in Kuwait once again in 1820. The
English tried to persuade Shaikh
Abdullah Ibn Sabah I to conclude a treaty with Britain to protect Kuwait, but he did not
respond to them. Kuwait
continued to co-operate with the Turks, who sought its help in 1871 to conquer Qatif
and Al-Ihsa and suppress the
revolts which were going on there. The Ruler of Kuwait at that time Shaikh Abdullah II
equipped a fleet of ships and a
land army, came to the help of the Turks and the battles resulted in a clear victory.
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of kuwait and Crown
Prince Sheikh Saad al Abdullah al Salem al Sabbah in an honorary
guards parade
Towards the end of the nineteenth century relations between Kuwait and the Turks
became clouded by the latter
granting the Germans a concession to build a railway from Berlin to Iraq that would
end in Kuwait. This worried the
English who began to place obstacles in the way of this dangerous project. Kuwait
responded to the English and
stood in the way of Turkish influence after Turkish ill intentions became clear to
Shaikh Mubarak. As a reward for this
the British made Kuwait a protectorate independent in its internal affairs as from 23
January 1899. In 1901 war broke
out between Shaikh Mubarak and Al Rashid.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah with the present
Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah
Shaikh Mubarak's astuteness and wisdom helped the Emirate of Kuwait to remain
independent. He was helped in this
by the courage of the Amirs around him and their and their wholehearted defense in
resisting those with designs on
Kuwait. With Kuwait's rejection of Turkish blackmail, Turkey was compelled in 1913
to recognize the treaties and
agreements which had been concluded between Britain and Kuwait, on the basis
that Kuwait was an independent
country in its internal affairs. In 1913 the first map of Kuwait was drawn as an official
document. In 1924, in the reign of
Shaikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah the first Kuwaiti flag was raised, which was white
with the word Kuwait written on
it. In the reign of the late Shaikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the flag was adopted
in its present form with its four
colors, and it flew above Kuwait for the first time on Wednesday 7 September 1961.
Kuwait's map as displayed in old documents
Summits and Roots
The origins of the 'Utub probably go back to the 'Aneza tribe from Najd. Al Sabah
belong to the 'Utub. Sabah Ibn
Jaber was established as the Shaikh of Kuwait, which became a stopping place for
caravans travelling between
Aleppo and the east of the Arabian Peninsula. At that time depended on what it
earned from maritime trade and
from pearl diving expeditions.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah with
the present Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah
When Sabah Ibn Jaber died in 1762, he was succeeded by his son Abdullah Ibn
Sabah. Al Sabah began leading
Kuwait forward so that it gained a respected status among the Shaikhdoms of the
Arabian Peninsula at that time.
This status attracted Britain's interest in establishing close relations with Kuwait in
1775. Until 1779 Kuwait became
a center for trade from India going to Baghdad, Aleppo and Constantinople, after the
Persians occupied Basra. In
the reign of Abdullah Ibn Sabah Kuwait's second wall was built, with eight gates.
Previously Kuwait had built its first
wall, approximately 750 metres long, around 1760. In 1812 was the accession of
Jaber I, who was known to the
Kuwaitis as "Jaber the Livelihood" because of his generosity. He was succeeded by
Sabah Ibn Jaber, known as
Sabah II, who became Ruler in 1859. During the reign of Sabah II the Ottoman state
became aware of the
geographical importance of Kuwait, and wanted to make it a commercial harbor.
After 1866, the year when Sabah
Ibn Jaber died, he was succeeded by his three sons, Abdullah, Muhammad and
Shaikh Mubarak, in whose reign
Kuwait's trade prospered. Its ships went as far as the eastern and southern coasts of
Asia, to Ceylon and Malaya,
the whole length of the east African coast, Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Cape of
Good Hope. After Shaikh
Mubarak's soul went to the mercy of his Creator on 21 November 1915, he was
succeeded by his son Jaber II,
whose reign lasted only a year and two months. The Emirate then passed to his
brother Shaikh Salem Al-Mubarak.
During his reign the third and last wall was built, to resist attacks by Bedouins against
the city whose commercial
prosperity had begun to attract attention in the Arabian Peninsula. One of the most
important battles of his time was
the Battle of Jahra.
Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad while visiting a Diwan
After his death in 1921 Shaikh Salem was succeeded by Shaikh Ahmad Ibn Jaber II
for a period of 29 years. In his
reign the oil wealth was discovered, and an Anglo-American company won the
concession for it. Schools and hospitals
were built, and Kuwait embarked on an era of construction and prosperity. After
Shaikh Ahmad's death in 1950, he
was succeeded by his cousin Shaikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who followed the
course of construction and
development. Kuwait came to have much influence in international forums. It joined
the League of Arab States and
issued its new independent currency. Kuwait secured full national independence in
1961, and Britain recognized its
sovereignty over its territory and cancelled the protectorate treaty. The National
Petroleum Company was established in
1960. Parliamentary elections were held and the first Constituent Assembly was
opened in 1962. The first Constitution
in the history of Kuwait was drawn up and is still in force today. When Shaikh
Abdullah Al Salem died in 1965, he was
succeeded by his brother Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who spared no effort
on behalf of Kuwait which continued
on its course of prosperity and progress in various fields. During his reign the
University of Kuwait was opened in 1966.
Kuwait was a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) in 1968.
Sheikh Jaber while delivering His country's speech at the
UN General Assembly during the occpation of kuwait in 1990
When Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem died on 31 December 1977 he was succeeded by
the present Amir, His Highness Shaikh
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, may God preserve him. In his reign Kuwait has
made, and is still making, even
more progress, is prospering and has scored many achievements which there is not
space to describe adequately here.
The technology and sciences of this age have entered Kuwait to make it a modern
state. His Highness the Amir has
dedicated his life to defending Kuwait and ensure that peace prevails over it. His
great efforts and patient struggle in
international forums and diplomacy played a major role in freeing Kuwait from the
tyrannical occupation.
A major crisis befell Kuwait, the land of peace and harmony, in August 1990 when
the forces of the Iraqi regime its
territory. All Kuwaitis rose to defend their country, offering a fine example of sacrifice
and struggle to the world. The role
of His Highness the Amir came to the fore at that time, in the way the Kuwaitis rallied
around him and stood shoulder to
shoulder until they were able to liberate Kuwait from the occupiers after suffering
various forms of plunder and
destruction during the period of oppression during which not only Kuwait suffered an
upheaval, but it also went beyond
that and cast dark shadows over all Arab countries. With the support of friends and
honorable fraternal countries which
stood beside kuwait, it was able to regain its lost freedom on 26 February 1991 and
begin the process of removing the
effects and pollution of aggression on the one hand, and carry out reconstruction on
the other, to become again not
merely a geographically small spot at the edge of our Arab World, but also to have a
position in the heart of this Arab
World.
Kuwait Today
While Kuwait today is living in a prosperous present and a life full of modernity in
various ways, it has also not neglected
its past. Close to tall glass skyscrapers the past and its traditions still have the
position they deserve. Beside modern
service utilities, organized government establishments, cultural and educational
buildings and industrial installations are
markets well stocked with modern goods and new industries. From amidst these
buildings rise tall minarets from which
echo voices giving the call to prayer at the appointed times. Kuwait today remains
like a mosaic of many shapes and
colors which it is difficult to describe accurately. It is no longer confined to the capital
city and its districts, it also spreads
out over six governorates. In addition to the Capital Governorate, there are also the
Governorates of Hawalli, Farwaniya,
Ahmadi, Jahra and Mubarak Al-Kabir.
Kuwait's population now numbers 2.092 million, of whom 732,000 are Kuwaitis and
1.36 million non-Kuwaitis of
various Arab and non-Arab nationalities. The total number of Arab nationals is
624,800, which indicates that Kuwait is
open to Arab workforces and so is a source of livelihood for millions of families
whose members work in Kuwait in
peace, stability and tranquillity.
The Geography of Kuwait
At the north-eastern end of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait lies between 28.45 and 30.05
degrees latitude north of the
Equator, and 46.30 and 48.30 degrees longitude east5 of the Meridian of
Greenwich. This position gives it a continental
climate. The borders of Kuwait are a total of 685 kilometres long. The Arabian Gulf
adjoins the country to the east, while
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia borders it to the south and west, and Iraq borders it to
the north snd west. Most of
Kuwait's territory is flat and sandy, sloping down gradually from a level of 300 metres
at its farthest point to the west at
Salimi and Shaqaya, to sea level at the western shore of the Gulf. In the northern part
of the country there are several
scattered hills, the best known of which are Layyah, Shaqqat Al-Jleeb, Kraa Al-Marw
and 'Afry. Nearer to the coast,
these hills take the form of a continuous chain stretching along the northern shore of
the Bay of Kuwait. The southern part
of Kuwait is a level plain except for the small Ahmadi Plateau which rises some 137
metres above sea level. The fact that
Kuwait is mostly a plain has made it a region open to traffic and meetings and
exchanges between nomadic tribes. This
freedom caused some problems about the borders. These were solved in a friendly
manner after the Neutral Zone was
divided between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in July 1965. The northern part of the
Zone is now the responsibility of
Kuwait and the southern part that of Saudi Arabia. The oil extracted from the Zone is
divided into equal shares between
the two fraternal countries.
The Climate and Territorial Waters
Whoever contemplates Kuwait's geographical position can identify its climate as
continental with a long, hot, dry summer
and a short, warm and sometimes rainy winter. The winds known locally as "Tawz"
usually blow over the territory of
Kuwait in the summer months, filling the air with dust and increasing the level of
humidity.
Average temperatures range from 45 degrees centigrade in summer and 8 degrees
in the winter. This difference in
temeratures is accompanied by wide divergence in the average annual rainfall,
which ranges from 22 to 352 millimetres.
The limit of Kuwait's territorial waters were fixed by an Amiri Decree promulgated on
17 December 1967 at 12 miles
both from the mainland and from Kuwaiti islands. The Bay of Kuwait is regarded as
internal waters, and territorial waters
begin from the line that closes this bay. Geographers estimate the area of Kuwaiti
territorial waters at 2,200 square miles,
divided between the northern are in which the water is no more than five metres deep
and the sea bed is covered by a
layer of mud, the deep southern area where there are sand deposits concentrated an
the sea bed. The depth of the water
in this area was a help for building Kuwait's harbors.
Adjoining the Bountiful Sea
Since Kuwait is next to the sea, earlier generations used it as a source of livelihood.
But this source is no longer what it
used to be, so there is less dependence on it in view of present-day developments.
However, the emotional link is still
deeply rooted in people's souls. There is still a strong feeling which draws Kuwaitis
to spend long hours on the Gulf coast.
Kuwait's coastline is 290 kilometres long. It can be divided into two main parts. One
part lies on the coast of the Gulf
itself, while the other part lies around the bay of Kuwait and Subbiya Creek. The
difference between them is very
profound.
The first part is predominantly sandy because it is exposed to sea currents, while the
other part, 70 kilometres long, is
mainly mud flats, particularly in the very shallow northern part of the Bay of Kuwait.
The shallowness of the water affects the waves, which are no more than 16
centimetres high in front of Kuwait City. The
tidal movement is of the double type, which occurs twice a day.
Studies on the Kuwaiti coastline show that sandy beaches form about 33.3% of the
total length of the coast. About 14%
of the total coastline is used for government projects like harbors, water desalination
plants and hospitals. There are six
harbors, at Shuwaikh, Doha, Ahmadi, Shuaiba, Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Zor.
There are also twenty mooring points
for wooden boats.
Private establishments and individuals use 40% of the coastline, mostly for private
villas and chalets. About 11% of the
coast is devoted to tourist resorts and recreation.
Nearly 35% of the coastline still remains unexploited.
The Islands of Kuwait
There are nine islands scattered off the Kuwait coast, the largest of them being
Bubiyan in the north-west of the Gulf with
an area of 863 square kilometres. To the north of Bubiyan lies the much smaller
island of Warba. At the entrance to the
Bay of Kuwait are the three sisters. The first of these is Failaka, the most beautiful
and famous of Kuwait's islands, which
lies twenty kilometres north-east of Kuwait City. It is not only an historical site with
Greek ruins, it is also keeping pace
with modern life in construction and tourism. Its two sisters are Miskan to the north
and 'Awha to the south. Inside the
Bay of Kuwait is Umm Al-Naml island, where ancient Islamic ruins have been found.
Near to it is a former island called
'Akaz, which has been turned into a piece of ordinary land adjoining the stores of
Shuwaikh harbor, after the water
separating it from the mainland was filled in. The three islands of Kabbar, Qarouh
and Umm Al-Maradim to the south are
colonies for sea birds, which live there in large numbers. But their numbers have
recently been reduced after people
began to shoot them.
This is Kuwait, its land and sea, its sands and waters, its past and present. Its people
now live a modern life with an
active democracy through constructive parliamentary activity in the National
Assembly, which ensures that development
will continue and offers people a decent life. The Kuwaitis have succeeded in
building up important institutions since the
early 1960s, including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Kuwait
Institute for Scientific Research,
and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
Kuwait applies a policy of free medical treatment and free education, from
kindergarten to the completion of university
studies, for all its people.
The news media are prospering in Kuwait. In addition to ordinary television channels,
two satellite channels and Kuwait
Broadcasting, there are seven daily newspapers, five of them in Arabic and two in
English. All these enjoy complete
freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Kuwaitis have been able to bandage their wounds caused by the Iraqi invasion
whose clouds were dispersed in
February 1991. They are continuing to build, with one eye open to the love and
appreciation of fraternal peoples, and the
other eye on the alert to prevent the hateful and greedy from depriving them of their
liberty. All that remains of that crisis,
which exposed concealed hatreds, is the appeal by all freedom-loving people in the
world for the release of the innocent
prisoners of war who are still held in Iraqi prisons.
The headland now occupied by Kuwait City was settled only 300 years ago. In the
early 18th century, Kuwait was
nothing more than a few tents clustered around a storehouse-cum-fort. Eventually the
families living around the fort divided
among themselves the responsibilities attached to the new settlement. The Al-Sabah
family, whose descendants now rule
Kuwait, were appointed to handle local law and order. The small settlement grew
quickly. By 1760, when the town's first
wall was built, Kuwait's dhow fleet was reckoned to be 800 and its camel caravans
travelled regularly to Baghdad and
Damascus.
By the early 19th century, Kuwait was a thriving trading port. But trouble was always,
literally, just over the horizon. It was
often unclear whether Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire or not, though official
Kuwaiti history is adamant that the
shaikhdom was always independent of the Ottomans. During the second half of the
19th century, the Kuwaitis generally
got on well with the Ottomans. They skillfully managed to avoid being absorbed into
the empire as the Turks sought to
solidify their control of eastern Arabia (then known as Al-Hasa). They did, however,
agree to take the role of provincial
governors of Al-Hasa
That decision led to the rise of the pivotal figure in the history of modern Kuwait:
Shaikh Mubarak al-Sabah al-Sabah,
commonly known as Mubarak the Great, who reigned from 1896 to 1915. Mubarak
was deeply suspicious of Turkey
and was convinced that Constantinople planned to annexe Kuwait. He overthrew and
murdered his brother, the emir,
did away with another brother and installed himself as ruler. In 1899 Mubarak signed
an agreement with Britain: in
exchange for the British navy's protection, he promised not to give away territory to,
take support from or negotiate
with any other foreign power without British consent. Britain's motive for signing the
treaty was a desire to keep
Germany, then the main ally and financial backer of Turkey, out of the Gulf. The
Ottomans continued to claim
sovereignty over Kuwait, but they were now in no position to enforce it.
Kuwait spent the early 1920s fighting off the army commanded by Abdul Aziz bin
Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder
of modern Saudi Arabia. In 1923 the fighting ended with a British-brokered treaty. As
a result, an oil concession was
granted in 1934 to a US-British joint venture known as the Kuwait Oil Company
(KOC). The first wells were sunk in
1936, and by 1938 it was obvious that Kuwait was virtually floating on oil. The
outbreak of WWII forced the KOC to
suspend operations, but when oil exports took off after the war so did Kuwait's
economy. As the country became
wealthy, health care, education and the general standard of living improved
dramatically.
On 19 June 1961, Kuwait became an independent state. Elections for the first
National Assembly were held the
following year. Although representatives of the country's leading merchant families
won the bulk of the seats, radicals had
a toehold in the government from its inception. In August 1976, the cabinet resigned,
claiming the assembly had made
day-to-day governance impossible. The emir suspended the constitution, dissolved
the assembly and asked the crown
prince (who, by tradition, also serves as prime minister) to form a new cabinet. New
elections were not held until 1981,
but the assembly's new majority proved just as troublesome as the last and
parliament was dissolved again in 1986.
Despite political and economic tensions, by mid-1990 the country's (and the Gulf's)
economic prospects looked bright,
particularly when the eight-year Iran-Iraq war ended. So it came as a shock when on
16 July 1990 Iraq sent a letter to
the secretary-general of the Arab League accusing Kuwait of exceeding its OPEC
quota and of stealing oil from the Iraqi
portion of an oil field straddling the border. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein
threatened military action. Over the next two
weeks a series of envoys bent over backwards to offer Iraq a graceful way out of the
dispute. But it was to no avail:
Iraqi tanks were in Kuwait City before dawn on 2 August, and by noon they had
reached the Saudi frontier. The emir
and his cabinet fled to Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations quickly passed a series of resolutions calling on Iraq to withdraw
from Kuwait. The Iraqis
responded with the claim that they had been invited in by a group of Kuwaiti rebels
who had overthrown the emir. On 8
August Iraq annexed the emirate. Western countries, led by the US, began to enforce
a UN embargo on trade with Iraq,
and in the months that followed more than half a million foreign troops flooded into
Saudi Arabia.
At the end of November, the US and the UK secured a UN resolution authorising the
use of force to drive Iraq out of
Kuwait if the Iraqis did not leave voluntarily before 15 January 1991. The deadline
passed, the Iraqis didn't budge and
within hours waves of Allied (mostly US) aircraft began a five-week bombing
campaign of Iraq and Kuwait. The ground
offensive, when it finally came, was something of an anticlimax: Iraq's army
disintegrated in a mere 100 hours. At the end
of February, Allied forces arrived in a Kuwait City choked by clouds of acrid black
smoke from the hundreds of oil
wells the Iraqis had torched as they retreated.
The government set about not simply rebuilding Kuwait, but rebuilding it exactly as it
had been before the invasion.
Meanwhile, a heated debate began over the country's political future. In keeping with
a promise the opposition had
extracted from the emir during the occupation, elections for a new National Assembly
took place in October 1992. The
opposition shocked the government by winning over 30 of the new parliament's 50
seats, and opposition MPs secured
six of the 16 seats in the Cabinet, though the Al-Sabah family retained control of the
key defence, foreign affairs and
interior ministries.
By the second anniversary of the invasion, Kuwait's government had largely
succeeded in erasing the physical scars of
war and occupation, although tensions with Iraq remained high. In 1994, Kuwait
convicted several Iraqis on charges of
attempting to assassinate former US president George Bush when he visited the
emirate the previous year. The plot,
according to the Kuwaitis, was uncovered and foiled at the last minute.
Today, many resources are being used to remove land mines and clean up
environmental damage left over from the Iraqi
retreat, subsidised by the UN to the tune of US$5.9 billion. Ten percent of oil
revenues are, by law, put into a trust to
prepare for the day that Kuwait's massive oil reserves dry up. Also on the political
agenda are women's rights: In May
1999, the Emir decreed that women would for the first time be able to vote and run
for office in the 2003 general
elections, subject to approval by the parliament.
His Highness Sheikh
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
At the north-eastern end of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait arose to challenge the
harshness of the desert environment with
construction and urbanization, and to overcome the perils of the sea through voyages
for fishing and pearl-diving, at a
time when its territory remains a witness to an eventful history.
In ancient times Kuwait was known as a meeting-point for several civilizations which
reached it with trading caravans.
It continued to struggle against the hardships of life until the difficult equation was
balanced and God granted it oil
wealth which came as a compensation for the days of toil and struggle. Modern
Kuwait arose with its small society
and its structure which harmonizes with the ambition of its people. All that remains of
the desert life is remains, and
Kuwait looks forward to a future that is event more prosperous and brilliant.
The plenty which the oil wealth brought was not as clear as fresh water. It brought with
it the filth of greed, and this
meant that the struggle had to continue, to repel the violations of the covetous and
pursue a creative way of life.
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of Kuwait
during His contribution in an Arab Summit
In spite of tribulations, Kuwait remained the beautiful bride of the Gulf, its captivating
charm attracting people, many
thousands of whom came to take part with the Kuwaitis in the process of building for
a better life.
If history is geography in motion, and geography is history standing still, history both
in motion and standing still is an
indispensable basis to confirm the noble origin of a country and its identity through
successive ages. God has granted
Kuwait geographical elements and historical facts that have enabled it to play a
prominent role in many human
activities.
Kuwait in History
Kuwait was known as "Al-Kout" (the Fort) from the middle of the eleventh century of
the Islamic era when the Amir
Muhammad Ibn 'Aray'ar of the Bani Khalid tribe built a small fort which the herdsmen
of the tribe used as a shelter. It
was a store for provisions and ammunition and had a garrison. The word Kout
means a fortified castle. Kuwait also
became known by another name, Grane (Qurain), which was mentioned in records of
Portuguese, Dutch and English
sailors and explorers of the region. It became known by this name since the late
eighteenth century after an older
name for Kuwait, namely "Kazima", began to lose its importance as a harbor by
which the region had been known in
previous centuries. The first map in which the name of Grane was mentioned was
was that of Van Keulen which was
printed in Amsterdam in 1753. Then this name began to disappear with the close of
the nineteenth century. Lorimer,
in his guide book of the Gulf, attributes this name to the small barren island of Jurain
in the Bay of Kuwait, whereas
John Kelly attributes it to the diminutive of the word Qarn or horn, which is the shape
of the Creek of Kuwait itself
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of Kuwait during a press
conference while he was in charge of the Ministry of Finance
English and Arab reports have mentioned similar descriptions of Kuwait, as a
seaport lying on the western coast of
the Gulf near to its northern end, ruled by Arab tribes. It was ruled by the Iyad tribe,
who are regarded as the first
who migrated to the land of Kuwait, and chose the town of Kazima, close to the
northern coast of the Gulf a few
miles from Jahra, as their home. Kazima was the site of the famous battle of Dhat
Al-Salasil, which was fought by
the Muslim Arabs under the command of Khalid Ibn Al-Walid against the Persians
commanded by Hormuz in 630
AD.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah during
the graduation ceremony of a military troop
The Persian soldiers chained themselves together in groups so that they would not
flee from the battlefield. Hence the
battle came to be known by the Arabic word Salasil which means chains. This
marked the fall of the Sasanid Empire
and the Arab occupation of Persia. When Kuwait became a small colony protected
by a small castle known as a
Kuwait or small Kout, its inhabitants were from the 'Utub, whose tribe was formed of
three main branches: the
Jalahima, Al Khalifa and Al Sabah. Kuwait was probably founded at the beginning of
the eighteenth century or shortly
before that, when Arab tribes migrated to its region. In the middle of the eighteenth
century itg became a trading town
with more than 20,000 inhabitants working on more than 800 boats. History relates a
story that the Portuguese came
to its coasts in the sixteenth century, but without mentioning its name at that time.
However it is confirmed historically
that the British attempted to bring it under their protectorate in 1805, but they did not
succeed in defending or
protecting it at that time. History relates that the Ottomans sought the help of the
Ruler of Kuwait Shaikh Jaber I to
regain Basra and put down the civil disorder that was going on there.
Shaikh Jaber did not disappoint their hopes and rose to their aid, and so he gained
prestige among Arab rulers. This
brought renewed Ottoman and British interest in Kuwait once again in 1820. The
English tried to persuade Shaikh
Abdullah Ibn Sabah I to conclude a treaty with Britain to protect Kuwait, but he did not
respond to them. Kuwait
continued to co-operate with the Turks, who sought its help in 1871 to conquer Qatif
and Al-Ihsa and suppress the
revolts which were going on there. The Ruler of Kuwait at that time Shaikh Abdullah II
equipped a fleet of ships and a
land army, came to the help of the Turks and the battles resulted in a clear victory.
Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah Prince of kuwait and Crown
Prince Sheikh Saad al Abdullah al Salem al Sabbah in an honorary
guards parade
Towards the end of the nineteenth century relations between Kuwait and the Turks
became clouded by the latter
granting the Germans a concession to build a railway from Berlin to Iraq that would
end in Kuwait. This worried the
English who began to place obstacles in the way of this dangerous project. Kuwait
responded to the English and
stood in the way of Turkish influence after Turkish ill intentions became clear to
Shaikh Mubarak. As a reward for this
the British made Kuwait a protectorate independent in its internal affairs as from 23
January 1899. In 1901 war broke
out between Shaikh Mubarak and Al Rashid.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah with the present
Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah
Shaikh Mubarak's astuteness and wisdom helped the Emirate of Kuwait to remain
independent. He was helped in this
by the courage of the Amirs around him and their and their wholehearted defense in
resisting those with designs on
Kuwait. With Kuwait's rejection of Turkish blackmail, Turkey was compelled in 1913
to recognize the treaties and
agreements which had been concluded between Britain and Kuwait, on the basis
that Kuwait was an independent
country in its internal affairs. In 1913 the first map of Kuwait was drawn as an official
document. In 1924, in the reign of
Shaikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah the first Kuwaiti flag was raised, which was white
with the word Kuwait written on
it. In the reign of the late Shaikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the flag was adopted
in its present form with its four
colors, and it flew above Kuwait for the first time on Wednesday 7 September 1961.
Kuwait's map as displayed in old documents
Summits and Roots
The origins of the 'Utub probably go back to the 'Aneza tribe from Najd. Al Sabah
belong to the 'Utub. Sabah Ibn
Jaber was established as the Shaikh of Kuwait, which became a stopping place for
caravans travelling between
Aleppo and the east of the Arabian Peninsula. At that time depended on what it
earned from maritime trade and
from pearl diving expeditions.
Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah with
the present Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah
When Sabah Ibn Jaber died in 1762, he was succeeded by his son Abdullah Ibn
Sabah. Al Sabah began leading
Kuwait forward so that it gained a respected status among the Shaikhdoms of the
Arabian Peninsula at that time.
This status attracted Britain's interest in establishing close relations with Kuwait in
1775. Until 1779 Kuwait became
a center for trade from India going to Baghdad, Aleppo and Constantinople, after the
Persians occupied Basra. In
the reign of Abdullah Ibn Sabah Kuwait's second wall was built, with eight gates.
Previously Kuwait had built its first
wall, approximately 750 metres long, around 1760. In 1812 was the accession of
Jaber I, who was known to the
Kuwaitis as "Jaber the Livelihood" because of his generosity. He was succeeded by
Sabah Ibn Jaber, known as
Sabah II, who became Ruler in 1859. During the reign of Sabah II the Ottoman state
became aware of the
geographical importance of Kuwait, and wanted to make it a commercial harbor.
After 1866, the year when Sabah
Ibn Jaber died, he was succeeded by his three sons, Abdullah, Muhammad and
Shaikh Mubarak, in whose reign
Kuwait's trade prospered. Its ships went as far as the eastern and southern coasts of
Asia, to Ceylon and Malaya,
the whole length of the east African coast, Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Cape of
Good Hope. After Shaikh
Mubarak's soul went to the mercy of his Creator on 21 November 1915, he was
succeeded by his son Jaber II,
whose reign lasted only a year and two months. The Emirate then passed to his
brother Shaikh Salem Al-Mubarak.
During his reign the third and last wall was built, to resist attacks by Bedouins against
the city whose commercial
prosperity had begun to attract attention in the Arabian Peninsula. One of the most
important battles of his time was
the Battle of Jahra.
Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad while visiting a Diwan
After his death in 1921 Shaikh Salem was succeeded by Shaikh Ahmad Ibn Jaber II
for a period of 29 years. In his
reign the oil wealth was discovered, and an Anglo-American company won the
concession for it. Schools and hospitals
were built, and Kuwait embarked on an era of construction and prosperity. After
Shaikh Ahmad's death in 1950, he
was succeeded by his cousin Shaikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who followed the
course of construction and
development. Kuwait came to have much influence in international forums. It joined
the League of Arab States and
issued its new independent currency. Kuwait secured full national independence in
1961, and Britain recognized its
sovereignty over its territory and cancelled the protectorate treaty. The National
Petroleum Company was established in
1960. Parliamentary elections were held and the first Constituent Assembly was
opened in 1962. The first Constitution
in the history of Kuwait was drawn up and is still in force today. When Shaikh
Abdullah Al Salem died in 1965, he was
succeeded by his brother Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who spared no effort
on behalf of Kuwait which continued
on its course of prosperity and progress in various fields. During his reign the
University of Kuwait was opened in 1966.
Kuwait was a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) in 1968.
Sheikh Jaber while delivering His country's speech at the
UN General Assembly during the occpation of kuwait in 1990
When Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem died on 31 December 1977 he was succeeded by
the present Amir, His Highness Shaikh
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, may God preserve him. In his reign Kuwait has
made, and is still making, even
more progress, is prospering and has scored many achievements which there is not
space to describe adequately here.
The technology and sciences of this age have entered Kuwait to make it a modern
state. His Highness the Amir has
dedicated his life to defending Kuwait and ensure that peace prevails over it. His
great efforts and patient struggle in
international forums and diplomacy played a major role in freeing Kuwait from the
tyrannical occupation.
A major crisis befell Kuwait, the land of peace and harmony, in August 1990 when
the forces of the Iraqi regime its
territory. All Kuwaitis rose to defend their country, offering a fine example of sacrifice
and struggle to the world. The role
of His Highness the Amir came to the fore at that time, in the way the Kuwaitis rallied
around him and stood shoulder to
shoulder until they were able to liberate Kuwait from the occupiers after suffering
various forms of plunder and
destruction during the period of oppression during which not only Kuwait suffered an
upheaval, but it also went beyond
that and cast dark shadows over all Arab countries. With the support of friends and
honorable fraternal countries which
stood beside kuwait, it was able to regain its lost freedom on 26 February 1991 and
begin the process of removing the
effects and pollution of aggression on the one hand, and carry out reconstruction on
the other, to become again not
merely a geographically small spot at the edge of our Arab World, but also to have a
position in the heart of this Arab
World.
Kuwait Today
While Kuwait today is living in a prosperous present and a life full of modernity in
various ways, it has also not neglected
its past. Close to tall glass skyscrapers the past and its traditions still have the
position they deserve. Beside modern
service utilities, organized government establishments, cultural and educational
buildings and industrial installations are
markets well stocked with modern goods and new industries. From amidst these
buildings rise tall minarets from which
echo voices giving the call to prayer at the appointed times. Kuwait today remains
like a mosaic of many shapes and
colors which it is difficult to describe accurately. It is no longer confined to the capital
city and its districts, it also spreads
out over six governorates. In addition to the Capital Governorate, there are also the
Governorates of Hawalli, Farwaniya,
Ahmadi, Jahra and Mubarak Al-Kabir.
Kuwait's population now numbers 2.092 million, of whom 732,000 are Kuwaitis and
1.36 million non-Kuwaitis of
various Arab and non-Arab nationalities. The total number of Arab nationals is
624,800, which indicates that Kuwait is
open to Arab workforces and so is a source of livelihood for millions of families
whose members work in Kuwait in
peace, stability and tranquillity.
The Geography of Kuwait
At the north-eastern end of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait lies between 28.45 and 30.05
degrees latitude north of the
Equator, and 46.30 and 48.30 degrees longitude east5 of the Meridian of
Greenwich. This position gives it a continental
climate. The borders of Kuwait are a total of 685 kilometres long. The Arabian Gulf
adjoins the country to the east, while
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia borders it to the south and west, and Iraq borders it to
the north snd west. Most of
Kuwait's territory is flat and sandy, sloping down gradually from a level of 300 metres
at its farthest point to the west at
Salimi and Shaqaya, to sea level at the western shore of the Gulf. In the northern part
of the country there are several
scattered hills, the best known of which are Layyah, Shaqqat Al-Jleeb, Kraa Al-Marw
and 'Afry. Nearer to the coast,
these hills take the form of a continuous chain stretching along the northern shore of
the Bay of Kuwait. The southern part
of Kuwait is a level plain except for the small Ahmadi Plateau which rises some 137
metres above sea level. The fact that
Kuwait is mostly a plain has made it a region open to traffic and meetings and
exchanges between nomadic tribes. This
freedom caused some problems about the borders. These were solved in a friendly
manner after the Neutral Zone was
divided between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in July 1965. The northern part of the
Zone is now the responsibility of
Kuwait and the southern part that of Saudi Arabia. The oil extracted from the Zone is
divided into equal shares between
the two fraternal countries.
The Climate and Territorial Waters
Whoever contemplates Kuwait's geographical position can identify its climate as
continental with a long, hot, dry summer
and a short, warm and sometimes rainy winter. The winds known locally as "Tawz"
usually blow over the territory of
Kuwait in the summer months, filling the air with dust and increasing the level of
humidity.
Average temperatures range from 45 degrees centigrade in summer and 8 degrees
in the winter. This difference in
temeratures is accompanied by wide divergence in the average annual rainfall,
which ranges from 22 to 352 millimetres.
The limit of Kuwait's territorial waters were fixed by an Amiri Decree promulgated on
17 December 1967 at 12 miles
both from the mainland and from Kuwaiti islands. The Bay of Kuwait is regarded as
internal waters, and territorial waters
begin from the line that closes this bay. Geographers estimate the area of Kuwaiti
territorial waters at 2,200 square miles,
divided between the northern are in which the water is no more than five metres deep
and the sea bed is covered by a
layer of mud, the deep southern area where there are sand deposits concentrated an
the sea bed. The depth of the water
in this area was a help for building Kuwait's harbors.
Adjoining the Bountiful Sea
Since Kuwait is next to the sea, earlier generations used it as a source of livelihood.
But this source is no longer what it
used to be, so there is less dependence on it in view of present-day developments.
However, the emotional link is still
deeply rooted in people's souls. There is still a strong feeling which draws Kuwaitis
to spend long hours on the Gulf coast.
Kuwait's coastline is 290 kilometres long. It can be divided into two main parts. One
part lies on the coast of the Gulf
itself, while the other part lies around the bay of Kuwait and Subbiya Creek. The
difference between them is very
profound.
The first part is predominantly sandy because it is exposed to sea currents, while the
other part, 70 kilometres long, is
mainly mud flats, particularly in the very shallow northern part of the Bay of Kuwait.
The shallowness of the water affects the waves, which are no more than 16
centimetres high in front of Kuwait City. The
tidal movement is of the double type, which occurs twice a day.
Studies on the Kuwaiti coastline show that sandy beaches form about 33.3% of the
total length of the coast. About 14%
of the total coastline is used for government projects like harbors, water desalination
plants and hospitals. There are six
harbors, at Shuwaikh, Doha, Ahmadi, Shuaiba, Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Zor.
There are also twenty mooring points
for wooden boats.
Private establishments and individuals use 40% of the coastline, mostly for private
villas and chalets. About 11% of the
coast is devoted to tourist resorts and recreation.
Nearly 35% of the coastline still remains unexploited.
The Islands of Kuwait
There are nine islands scattered off the Kuwait coast, the largest of them being
Bubiyan in the north-west of the Gulf with
an area of 863 square kilometres. To the north of Bubiyan lies the much smaller
island of Warba. At the entrance to the
Bay of Kuwait are the three sisters. The first of these is Failaka, the most beautiful
and famous of Kuwait's islands, which
lies twenty kilometres north-east of Kuwait City. It is not only an historical site with
Greek ruins, it is also keeping pace
with modern life in construction and tourism. Its two sisters are Miskan to the north
and 'Awha to the south. Inside the
Bay of Kuwait is Umm Al-Naml island, where ancient Islamic ruins have been found.
Near to it is a former island called
'Akaz, which has been turned into a piece of ordinary land adjoining the stores of
Shuwaikh harbor, after the water
separating it from the mainland was filled in. The three islands of Kabbar, Qarouh
and Umm Al-Maradim to the south are
colonies for sea birds, which live there in large numbers. But their numbers have
recently been reduced after people
began to shoot them.
This is Kuwait, its land and sea, its sands and waters, its past and present. Its people
now live a modern life with an
active democracy through constructive parliamentary activity in the National
Assembly, which ensures that development
will continue and offers people a decent life. The Kuwaitis have succeeded in
building up important institutions since the
early 1960s, including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Kuwait
Institute for Scientific Research,
and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science.
Kuwait applies a policy of free medical treatment and free education, from
kindergarten to the completion of university
studies, for all its people.
The news media are prospering in Kuwait. In addition to ordinary television channels,
two satellite channels and Kuwait
Broadcasting, there are seven daily newspapers, five of them in Arabic and two in
English. All these enjoy complete
freedom guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Kuwaitis have been able to bandage their wounds caused by the Iraqi invasion
whose clouds were dispersed in
February 1991. They are continuing to build, with one eye open to the love and
appreciation of fraternal peoples, and the
other eye on the alert to prevent the hateful and greedy from depriving them of their
liberty. All that remains of that crisis,
which exposed concealed hatreds, is the appeal by all freedom-loving people in the
world for the release of the innocent
prisoners of war who are still held in Iraqi prisons.
The headland now occupied by Kuwait City was settled only 300 years ago. In the
early 18th century, Kuwait was
nothing more than a few tents clustered around a storehouse-cum-fort. Eventually the
families living around the fort divided
among themselves the responsibilities attached to the new settlement. The Al-Sabah
family, whose descendants now rule
Kuwait, were appointed to handle local law and order. The small settlement grew
quickly. By 1760, when the town's first
wall was built, Kuwait's dhow fleet was reckoned to be 800 and its camel caravans
travelled regularly to Baghdad and
Damascus.
By the early 19th century, Kuwait was a thriving trading port. But trouble was always,
literally, just over the horizon. It was
often unclear whether Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire or not, though official
Kuwaiti history is adamant that the
shaikhdom was always independent of the Ottomans. During the second half of the
19th century, the Kuwaitis generally
got on well with the Ottomans. They skillfully managed to avoid being absorbed into
the empire as the Turks sought to
solidify their control of eastern Arabia (then known as Al-Hasa). They did, however,
agree to take the role of provincial
governors of Al-Hasa
That decision led to the rise of the pivotal figure in the history of modern Kuwait:
Shaikh Mubarak al-Sabah al-Sabah,
commonly known as Mubarak the Great, who reigned from 1896 to 1915. Mubarak
was deeply suspicious of Turkey
and was convinced that Constantinople planned to annexe Kuwait. He overthrew and
murdered his brother, the emir,
did away with another brother and installed himself as ruler. In 1899 Mubarak signed
an agreement with Britain: in
exchange for the British navy's protection, he promised not to give away territory to,
take support from or negotiate
with any other foreign power without British consent. Britain's motive for signing the
treaty was a desire to keep
Germany, then the main ally and financial backer of Turkey, out of the Gulf. The
Ottomans continued to claim
sovereignty over Kuwait, but they were now in no position to enforce it.
Kuwait spent the early 1920s fighting off the army commanded by Abdul Aziz bin
Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder
of modern Saudi Arabia. In 1923 the fighting ended with a British-brokered treaty. As
a result, an oil concession was
granted in 1934 to a US-British joint venture known as the Kuwait Oil Company
(KOC). The first wells were sunk in
1936, and by 1938 it was obvious that Kuwait was virtually floating on oil. The
outbreak of WWII forced the KOC to
suspend operations, but when oil exports took off after the war so did Kuwait's
economy. As the country became
wealthy, health care, education and the general standard of living improved
dramatically.
On 19 June 1961, Kuwait became an independent state. Elections for the first
National Assembly were held the
following year. Although representatives of the country's leading merchant families
won the bulk of the seats, radicals had
a toehold in the government from its inception. In August 1976, the cabinet resigned,
claiming the assembly had made
day-to-day governance impossible. The emir suspended the constitution, dissolved
the assembly and asked the crown
prince (who, by tradition, also serves as prime minister) to form a new cabinet. New
elections were not held until 1981,
but the assembly's new majority proved just as troublesome as the last and
parliament was dissolved again in 1986.
Despite political and economic tensions, by mid-1990 the country's (and the Gulf's)
economic prospects looked bright,
particularly when the eight-year Iran-Iraq war ended. So it came as a shock when on
16 July 1990 Iraq sent a letter to
the secretary-general of the Arab League accusing Kuwait of exceeding its OPEC
quota and of stealing oil from the Iraqi
portion of an oil field straddling the border. Iraqi president Saddam Hussein
threatened military action. Over the next two
weeks a series of envoys bent over backwards to offer Iraq a graceful way out of the
dispute. But it was to no avail:
Iraqi tanks were in Kuwait City before dawn on 2 August, and by noon they had
reached the Saudi frontier. The emir
and his cabinet fled to Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations quickly passed a series of resolutions calling on Iraq to withdraw
from Kuwait. The Iraqis
responded with the claim that they had been invited in by a group of Kuwaiti rebels
who had overthrown the emir. On 8
August Iraq annexed the emirate. Western countries, led by the US, began to enforce
a UN embargo on trade with Iraq,
and in the months that followed more than half a million foreign troops flooded into
Saudi Arabia.
At the end of November, the US and the UK secured a UN resolution authorising the
use of force to drive Iraq out of
Kuwait if the Iraqis did not leave voluntarily before 15 January 1991. The deadline
passed, the Iraqis didn't budge and
within hours waves of Allied (mostly US) aircraft began a five-week bombing
campaign of Iraq and Kuwait. The ground
offensive, when it finally came, was something of an anticlimax: Iraq's army
disintegrated in a mere 100 hours. At the end
of February, Allied forces arrived in a Kuwait City choked by clouds of acrid black
smoke from the hundreds of oil
wells the Iraqis had torched as they retreated.
The government set about not simply rebuilding Kuwait, but rebuilding it exactly as it
had been before the invasion.
Meanwhile, a heated debate began over the country's political future. In keeping with
a promise the opposition had
extracted from the emir during the occupation, elections for a new National Assembly
took place in October 1992. The
opposition shocked the government by winning over 30 of the new parliament's 50
seats, and opposition MPs secured
six of the 16 seats in the Cabinet, though the Al-Sabah family retained control of the
key defence, foreign affairs and
interior ministries.
By the second anniversary of the invasion, Kuwait's government had largely
succeeded in erasing the physical scars of
war and occupation, although tensions with Iraq remained high. In 1994, Kuwait
convicted several Iraqis on charges of
attempting to assassinate former US president George Bush when he visited the
emirate the previous year. The plot,
according to the Kuwaitis, was uncovered and foiled at the last minute.
Today, many resources are being used to remove land mines and clean up
environmental damage left over from the Iraqi
retreat, subsidised by the UN to the tune of US$5.9 billion. Ten percent of oil
revenues are, by law, put into a trust to
prepare for the day that Kuwait's massive oil reserves dry up. Also on the political
agenda are women's rights: In May
1999, the Emir decreed that women would for the first time be able to vote and run
for office in the 2003 general
elections, subject to approval by the parliament.
His Highness Crown Prince Sheikh
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
