Kuwait

Lore & Background

The territory of modern-day Kuwait has been inhabited by humans since antiquity, particularly due to its strategic location near the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In the early 18th century, the territory of modern-day Kuwait was under the jurisdiction of the Bani Khalid clan; then the territory became known as the Sheikdom of Kuwait in 1752 and a British protectorate in 1899. Prior to the discovery of oil reserves in 1938, the territory of modern-day Kuwait contained a regional trade port. The protectorate agreements with the United Kingdom ended in June 1961 when Kuwait officially became an independent state. From 1946 to 1982, Kuwait underwent large-scale modernization, largely based on income from oil production. In the 1980s, Kuwait experienced a period of geopolitical instability and an economic crisis following the stock market crash. It suffered pro-Iranian attacks during the Iran–Iraq War, as a result of Kuwait's financial support to Iraq. In 1990, the state of Kuwait was invaded, had a puppet regime installed, and was subsequently annexed by Ba'athist Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein following disputes over oil production. The Iraqi occupation of Kuwait ended on 26 February 1991, after a U.S.–led international coalition expelled Iraqi forces from the country during the Gulf War.

In Their Own Story

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting Kuwait City's glass skyline in burnt orange and deep violet, the call to prayer drifted over the calm waters of Kuwait Bay. An old fisherman adjusted his thobe, watching the modern towers reflect off the sea where his grandfather once launched pearl-diving dhows. The air carried a distinct blend of salt spray and diesel fumes—a sensory signature of a nation straddling two eras. In the distance, the iconic Kuwait Towers stood like sentinels, their globes glowing softly against the twilight. Here, history wasn't confined to museums; it pulsed in the rhythm of the tides and the steady hum of distant refineries, bridging a narrow strip of land between ancient maritime traditions and modern geopolitical power.

Reader's Guide

Kuwait is a high-income economy, backed by the world's sixth largest oil reserves. Like most other Arab states of the Persian Gulf, it is an emirate; the emir is the head of state and the ruling Al Sabah family dominates the country's political system. Its official state religion is Islam, specifically the Maliki school of Sunni Islam. It is a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and is also a member of the United Nations, OPEC, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. As of February 2026, Kuwait has the world's most valuable currency, with one Kuwaiti Dinar being worth 3.25 USD.

Did You Know?

• Kuwait has the world's sixth largest oil reserves.
• The name 'Kuwait' is from the Mesopotamian Arabic diminutive form of 'Kut' or 'Kout', meaning 'fortress built near water'.
• Kuwait's official name has been the 'State of Kuwait' since 1961.
• One of the world's earliest reed boats was discovered at site H3 in Kuwait, dating back to the Ubaid period.