About Kuwait
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait is an Arab country in Western Asia. Situated in the northeastern edge of the Arabian peninsula at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 square miles) and has a population of 2.6 million as of 2012. Historically, the region was the site of the kingdom of Characene, of which the capital city, Charax Spasinu, was a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.
Location : Serbia
Al Otob tribe fled to State of Kuwait away from the terrible drought which perished the Arab Peninsula. They chose Sabah bin Jaber as their governor in 1756. As time passed, the small town of Kuwait benefited from its location overlooking the head of the Arabian Gulf and thrived through trade, fishing and pearl fishery. Hence, Kuwait became one of the most prosperous countries in the region. Since 1756, fourteen rulers from Al Sabah family ruled Kuwait.
In 2006, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, may Allah protect him, became the ruler of Kuwait until the present time
Kuwait Regime
Kuwait is an independent country with a constitution. It has a democratic amiri regime. His Highness the Amir of the State is the ruler of the country. Kuwait National Assembly must enact country laws. The number of the assembly members is 50, chosen by people every 4 years through free and fair elections.
Kuwaiti Landmarks
Kuwait has many historic and modern landmarks. One of the most important landmarks in Kuwait is the Kuwait towers. The Kuwait Towers were designed to resemble traditional Arabian Rose water Sprinklers. Inside the structure there is a superb coffee house and a revolving observation platform. Another landmark is Kuwait's Sadu House. The Sadu House mainly exhibits Bedouin art displays. Visitors can observe Bedouin women weaving, buy handicrafts, or even take weaving classes. The walls surrounding old Kuwait City - were torn down in 1957 but the city gates are still standing making it a very interesting visit.
Some other places of interest in Kuwait you might find interesting are:
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Climate
Kuwait's weather consists mostly of hot long summers and short winters. Dust storms and humidity are regulars during the summer period while in the winter it can get quite chilly and rain fall can come in sudden heavy but irregular bursts.
Hints for Visitors
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, especially during the summer. When exposed to the sun, drink plenty of fluids.
Language
The official and native language of Kuwait is Arabic. Though the Kuwaitis speak the Gulf dialects (all other Arabic dialects are understandable). English is also widely used in the State of Kuwait.
Population
In June 30, 2008, the population of Kuwait was estimated at 3.328.136 persons according to the Central Statistical office. In this census, the number of Kuwaitis reached 1.038.598, while the rest were non-Kuwaitis and foreigners.
Business Hours
The Kuwaiti work week is mostly from Sunday to Thursday, with Friday & Saturday making up a weekend. Banks and insurance companies work Sundays through Thursdays in order to coordinate with the international money markets and many of the private offices work half days on Thursdays. The government day is from 7:300 AM to 1:30 PM in the winter and 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the summer.
Currency
The Kuwaiti unit of currency is the Kuwaiti Dinar consists of 1000 fils and abbreviated "KD". The Kuwaiti Dinar is one of the strongest currencies in the Gulf. The paper currency comes in denominations of twenty dinars, ten dinars, five dinars, one dinar, half a dinar, and a quarter of a dinar. The coin denominations come in 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 fils. Currently one KD equals approximately 3.3 U.S. Dollars.
Useful website link to gather more information about Kuwait
www.kuwaitiah.net/ www.e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/portal/Pages/Visitors/TourismInKuwait.aspx www.e.gov.kw www.dgca.gov.kw www.kuna.net.kw www.visit-kuwait.com/ www.e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/portal/Pages/Visitors/TourismInKuwait.aspx
