In 1998, Kuwait was a wealthy and prosperous nation. Located in the Middle East, it had a strong economy based on its vast oil reserves. The population of Kuwait was largely comprised of native Kuwaitis, with a small expatriate population made up of other Arabs, Indians and Pakistanis. Despite its wealth and prosperity, the country faced many challenges in 1998 due to regional conflicts. The First Gulf War had left the country deeply scarred and in need of rebuilding after its infrastructure had been devastated by Iraqi forces. Additionally, Kuwait faced increasing tensions with neighboring Iraq due to Iraq’s refusal to abide by UN resolutions related to weapons inspections. The government also faced internal pressures from various political factions seeking greater autonomy from the ruling Al-Sabah family. This political unrest was further compounded by economic disparities between different sections of society, particularly between native Kuwaiti citizens and foreign workers. In order to restore stability and security for its citizens, the government implemented various reforms such as increasing access to education and healthcare services as well as investing heavily in infrastructure projects. Despite these efforts, however, tensions remain high within the region due to ongoing regional conflicts that have yet to be resolved. See dentistrymyth for Kuwait in the year of 2015.
Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait, capital of Kuwait at the northwest end of the Persian Gulf, in a protected location on the south bank of the Bay of Kuwait; Kuwait City has (2018) 62 100 residents, almost 3 million people live in the metropolitan region, the majority of whom are foreigners.
As a trading post and center of pearl fishing and boat building, Kuwait had around 25,000 residents in 1914. Since 1950, the inconspicuous port city with unpaved streets and single-storey adobe houses has developed into a modern city with a university (founded in 1962), international banks, reinforced concrete commercial buildings in the city and generously planned residential areas in the outskirts; international Airport.
The »Kuwait Towers« (water towers) and the 413 m high Al Hamra Tower, which was completed in autumn 2011, have been a landmark since 1979. The approximately 8 km long stretch of coast from the port to the eastern cape with the water towers is the new lifeline of the modern city. The reconstruction of the National Museum (built 1976-81 according to a design by M. Ecochard, burned out in 1991) has been going on since 1995; most of it is open again. The airport buildings (1981) are the work of K. Tange, but were extensively rebuilt and expanded until 2001. The parliament building (1983) was created by J. Utzon.
- Abbreviationfinder: What does KWT stand for in geography? Here, this 3 letter acronym refers to the country of Kuwait.
Yearbook 1998
Kuwait. During the year, the power struggle between the government and certain members of the country’s parliament, especially Islamists, was made clearer. Since the government is completely dominated by the governing family and Parliament has no real power, the outcome was given. In mid-March, Islamic MPs announced a vote of no confidence in Information Minister Sheikh Saud Nasir Saud as-Sabah after admitting that books the Islamist opposition considered fighting Islam were sold at a book fair in the country. However, the entire government resigned before the vote was held. The Emir, Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad as-Sabah, asked Prime Minister Sheikh Sad al-Abd Allah as-Sabah to form a new government where Saud became Minister of Oil.
In June, a number of MEPs demanded a cross-examination of Interior Minister Sheikh Muhammad Khalid al-Hamad as-Sabah on a range of issues, from drugs to human rights. According to Countryaah, the capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City. The government rejected the claim because the interior minister, like several other ministers, is considered “sovereign” and therefore should not be subjected to parliamentary questioning.
As in other countries in the Persian Gulf, measures to expel illegal immigrants continued. In September, it was announced that Kuwait’s stateless Arab residents – Bedouins – would be offered a genetic test to prove their Kuwaiti origin. Those who did not turn out to be Kuwaiti would be forced to leave the country. However, one condition for passing the test was that it was registered at the 1965 census.
Country data
Area: 17,818 km2 (world rank: 153)
Population: 4,137,000
Population density: 232 per km2 (as of 2017, world rank: 127)
Capital: Al-Kuwayt (Kuwait)
Official languages: Arabic
Gross domestic product: US $ 120.1 billion; Real growth: -2.9%
Gross national product (GNP, per resident and year): 31,430 US$
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1000 Fils
Embassy
Griegstr. 5
7, 14193 Berlin
Telephone 030 8973000,
Fax 030 89730010
www.kuwait-botschaft.de
Government
Head of State: Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber as-Sabah (15th Emir of Kuwait), Head of Government: Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad as-Sabah, Exterior: Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad as-Sabah
National holiday: 25.2.
Administrative structure
6 districts; also neutral zone with Saudi Arabia
State and form of government
Constitution of 1962
Constitutional monarchy (emirate)
State religion: Islam
Islamic law (Sharia)
Parliament: National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) with 65 members (50 elected, 15 ex officio), election every 4 years
suffrage from 21 years of age
Population: Kuwait, last census 2011: 3,065,850 residents approx. 36% Kuwait (of which 150,000-180,000 Bedouins); 64% foreigners
Cities (with population): (as of 2005) Qalib asch-Schuyukh 179,425 residents, As-Salimiyah 145,314, Hawalli 104,901, Al-Kuwayt (Kuwait) 31,574 (A 1.8 million)
Religions: Kuwait: mainly Muslims (70% Sunnis, 30% Shiites); Foreigners: mainly Muslims, minorities of Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and others (status: 2006)
Languages: Arabic; English
Workers by economic sector: agriculture. 4%, industry 27%, business 70% (2017)
Unemployment (in% of all labor force): 2017: 2.1%
Inflation rate (in%): 2017: 1.5%
Foreign trade: import: 33.6 billion US $ (2017); Export: 54.8 billion US $ (2017)
Defense and security
Kuwait’s army is not particularly developed, neither quantitatively nor technologically. Military expenditure on GDP, although not modest in absolute terms, is also lower than that of almost all the other Gulf countries. Since 1991, the defense of Kuwait has been closely linked to the United States, which has proposed to keep the 13,500 soldiers stationed in the country indefinitely. In 2004, in addition, Washington gave the country the status of Major non- NATO Ally. More than 20 years after the Gulf War, there are still some disputes with Iraq: the biggest problem is the advance of the jihadist threat posed by the IS. To deal with this threat, the country has deployed troops on its borders. Despite this, on 26 June 2015 the capital Kuwait City was the scene of one of the most serious terrorist attacks in its recent history, which resulted in the death of 27 Shiite citizens, probably by IS.