A Traveler's Guide to Kuwait

Kuwait is a sovereign Arab emirate located at the northwestern end of the Persian Gulf. It is bordered by Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. It was under the control of Britain until 1961 when it was granted its independence. Since then the country's economy has exploded because of the crude oil reserves in the country. It has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. In fact, it became famous in international news in the early 1990's when Iraq invaded it from the north. Saddam Hussein deposed the Kuwaiti ruler and declared Kuwait to be a state of Iraq. An international force led primarily by the United States invaded Kuwait and pushed Saddam's armies back into Iraq and reinstated Kuwaiti independence. Since then Kuwait has been a NATO ally of the United States.

Kuwait is located in an arid, hot climate zone. Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures frequently passing the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark. Winter temperatures usually stay in the 50's and 60's Fahrenheit. Precipitation is very rare in Kuwait. Annual rainfall usually averages around 4 inches.

Kuwait City is the main financial hub of the country. Citizens of Kuwait have one of the highest per capita incomes of any country in the world. Tourism has become more and more popular in Kuwait since the reconstruction after the Gulf War. Most residents of the country are Muslim, and Arabic is the most widely spoken language. Muslim dress code is not compulsory in Kuwait, which is not true of all Arab countries. Because of its location on the Persian Gulf, much of traditional Kuwaiti cuisine involves seafood.

Some of the most popular and most recognizable buildings in the country are the Kuwait Tower and the National Assembly of Kuwait buildings. Kuwait International Airport is the only civil airport in the country. It is the home of Kuwait Airlines. The country of Kuwait is well known for its highly developed highway system, which makes travel around the country convenient and efficient.