Kuwait

Kuwait is a small country in Western Asia, located at the northwestern end of the Persian Gulf. It shares land borders with Iraq to the north and west and Saudi Arabia to the south, while its eastern coast opens onto the Gulf. The country covers about 17,800 square kilometres and is mostly flat, with broad desert plains and very little natural surface water. Kuwait City, the capital and largest urban centre, lies on the southern shore of Kuwait Bay.

The climate is arid and characterized by extremely hot summers, mild winters and limited rainfall. Dust and sandstorms can occur, particularly during the warmer months. Kuwait's position on the Gulf gives it an important maritime setting, while its location near major oil-producing regions has strongly influenced its modern economy and urban development. Kuwait's modern history is closely connected to trade, pearling and, later, petroleum.

Before the discovery of oil, the population depended largely on maritime trade, fishing and pearl diving, with Kuwait serving as a regional commercial centre. Large-scale oil production began in the 1940s and transformed the country's economy, infrastructure and standard of living. Kuwait became fully independent from Britain in 1961 and adopted a constitutional system in which the emir is the head of state and the National Assembly plays a legislative role.

In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to an international military response and the liberation of the country in 1991. Today, petroleum remains central to Kuwait's economy, although the country has also invested in finance, transport, infrastructure and other sectors. Arabic is the official language, the Kuwaiti dinar is the national currency, and Kuwait remains one of the world's major oil-producing states.