History, Culture & Tourism

The State of Kuwait is a small constitutional monarchy on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning “fortress built near water.”

Kuwait was formed when several clans from different Middle Eastern tribes settled near the area now known as the “Kuwait Bay”.

The Al-Sabah family was chosen by the people of Kuwait. This process is known as “mubaya’a”, which means “to give one’s self” in Arabic. Before the Kuwaiti constitution was drafted, the Al-Sabah family ruled Kuwait in practice (de facto).

Location: Middle East
Time: GMT + 3 Hours
Area of Kuwait: 17,820 sq km
Kuwaiti Population: 2.5 Million
Kuwaiti Capital: Kuwait City
Population in Kuwait City: 1.7 Million
Major Kuwaiti Cities: Kuwait City, as-Salimiyah
Bordering Countries : Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Kuwaiti Government: Monarchy
Languages: The official language is Arabic.
Religion: Islam
Electricty: 240 volts AC, 50Hz; single phase. UK-type flat three-pin plugs are used.

Kuwait is a charming and energetic country with lots to offer visitors, including the ancient Kuwaiti historical monuments, the renaissance beauty and fashion metropolis cities.

Learn more about Kuwait from the tables below, which has access to Kuwaiti tourist information centres around the world, kuwait travel guides, tourist attractions in Kuwait, holiday resorts, sight seeing tours, shopping, Kuwaiti nightlife and events in Kuwait. Also find pictures of Kuwait, Kuwaiti history and culture, travel videos of Kuwaiti holiday destinations and more.