Kuwait
Kuwait (/kʊˈweɪt/ (About this soundlisten);[6][7] Arabic:
الكويت al-Kuwait, Gulf Arabic pronunciation: [ɪl‿ɪkweːt] or
[lɪkweːt]), officially the State of Kuwait (Arabic: دولة
الكويت About this soundDawlat al-Kuwait), is a country in
Western Asia. 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.[8] 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.[16] According to the World Bank, the country has the
fourth highest per capita income. The Constitution was
promulgated in 1962.[17][18][19] 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.
Learn more about Kuwait Here!