Small Kuwait, thanks to its huge oil reserves, is one of the richest countries in the world. Civilization on the territory of this country arose about 5 thousand years ago, so tourists have something to see there. But in addition to sightseeing, tourists in Kuwait can visit camel races, relax on the white sandy beaches on the Persian Gulf, and go in for water sports there.

Geography of Kuwait

Kuwait is located in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. Kuwait borders Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north. In the east, the shores of this country are washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The area, including the adjacent islands, is 17,818 sq. km, and the total length of the state border is 462 km.

Most of the territory of Kuwait is occupied by deserts. In the west of the country there are hills, the highest of which reaches 290 m.

Kuwait consists of several islands, the largest of which are Bubiyan, Failaka and Karoo. But the largest of them is the island of Bubiyan, whose area is 863 square meters. km.

Capital

Al-Kuwait is the capital of Kuwait. About 300 thousand people now live in this city (much more with suburbs). Historians claim that Kuwait City was formed in the 18th century on the site of an ancient settlement.

Official language of Kuwait

In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic, belonging to the Semitic group of the Afroasian language family.

Religion

About 85% of the inhabitants of Kuwait are Muslims (75-80% of them are Sunnis, and the rest are Shiites), but there are also Christians (about 300-400 thousand people), Jews and Buddhists.

State structure of Kuwait

Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with the Emir (or Sheikh) as head of state. The power of sheikhs is inherited. Since the 18th century, the Al-Sabah family has usurped power in Kuwait.

Legislative power belongs to the Emir and the National Assembly, consisting of 50 people elected for 4 years. The Emir has the right to dissolve the National Assembly, which in turn approves the candidacy of a prince from the Al-Sabah family for the post of Emir.

Administratively, Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (provinces): Al-Ahmadi, Mubarak al-Kabir, Al-Jahra, El-Farwaniya, Al-Asima and Hawally.

Climate and weather

The climate in Kuwait is desert, hot and dry. The average air temperature in summer is +42-46C, and in winter - +15-20C. The average annual rainfall varies by region from 25 mm to 325 mm.

Sandstorms occur all year round, especially often in spring (February-April). Downpours that occur in some areas from October to April can even lead to flooding.

The best time to visit Kuwait is in spring when the trees and flowers are in bloom.

Sea in Kuwait

In the east, the shores of this country are washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. The length of the coast is 499 km. The average sea temperature off the coast of Kuwait in March is +21C, in April and May - +27C (spring is the best time to travel).

culture

The roots of the culture and traditions of Kuwait go to Islam. This religion determines all norms of behavior of Kuwaitis. All Orthodox holidays are celebrated in the country - starting with Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, and ending with Gadir-Khom and Rabi-ul-Awwal.

Camel racing is held in Kuwait from the end of winter until the end of March (races are usually held on Thursdays and Fridays). 60 camels take part in each race, the length of the track is 6 kilometers.

Every year, Kuwaitis celebrate National Day and Liberation Day (February 25 and 26) in a big way. These holidays are celebrated with fireworks, folk festivals (locals always wear traditional costumes).

Kitchen

The culinary traditions of India, Iran, and the Eastern Mediterranean have had a great influence on the formation of Kuwaiti cuisine. Also, one should not forget about the Bedouins, some of whose dishes are popular in this country. The main food products are fish and seafood, meat (lamb, chicken, less often beef), rice, dairy products.

Traditional dishes are “Khouzi” (baked lamb stuffed with rice and nuts), “Tabbouleh” (tomatoes, onions, herbs with millet), “Fattoush” (tomato and cucumber salad with mint and onions), as well as “hummus” and "dolma".

As desserts, residents eat fresh and candied fruits, sweets (for example, Umm Ali).

Traditional non-alcoholic drinks - coffee, sour-milk drinks (especially various yogurts). Alcohol is prohibited.

Sights of Kuwait

People settled on the territory of modern Kuwait about 6 thousand years ago. Despite the fact that this country has a lot of sand, quite a lot of interesting sights have been preserved there. True, most of them are located in the capital - Kuwait. The top ten best Kuwaiti attractions, in our opinion, include the following:

1. "Great Mosque" in Kuwait City
2. Emir Seif Palace in Kuwait City
3. National Museum in Kuwait City
4. Musical fountain in Kuwait
5. "Red Fort" in Kuwait City
6. Ruins of a Portuguese fort on Failaka Island
7. "Red Fort" in Al Jasr
8. Failaka Heritage Village
9. Tareq Rajab Museum in Kuwait City
10. Ruins of an English fort on Failaka Island

Cities and resorts

The largest cities in Kuwait are Al-Farwanya, Hawally, Al-Yahra, Al-Ahmadi, and, of course, the capital is Al-Kuwait.

The shores of Kuwait in the east are washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. There are many excellent beaches along the coast, where good conditions for water sports are also created. In Kuwait City, tourists are advised to visit the following beaches: Messila, El Okeila and Sea Front. The best of them is Messila beach, which has three large multi-level pools.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Tourists from Kuwait usually bring handicrafts, sheep wool carpets, coffee pots, jewelry, spices, and sweets.

Office Hours

Basic moments

In the north of Kuwait there is a flat rocky desert covered with rubble, in the central and southern parts - a slightly hilly sandy desert; in the east, the territory is crossed by deep canyons - wadis. The coast is lined with sandy spits and lagoons. During most of the year, the country experiences persistent hot weather. Precipitation is rare and does not exceed 100-200 mm per year. In summer, from about May to October, dry dusty northwest winds (shimal) prevail, which create an atmosphere of suffocation. The most favorable time in Kuwait is winter, warm sunny days prevail in December-January with a temperature of 12-14 ° C.

There are no rivers with a constant flow, no lakes in the country; therefore, the most acute problem of Kuwait for a long time was the problem of fresh water. However, being one of the world's largest suppliers of "black gold", Kuwait allowed itself to create a special industry for seawater desalination and now ranks first in the world in terms of the capacity of desalination plants.

Approximately one third of the emirate's inhabitants live in the capital - El Kuwait (637 thousand inhabitants). In a modern and beautiful city, government banks and commercial forms are concentrated, there is a university and an international airport. Most of the goods imported by the country pass through the seaport of El Kuwait. The second largest city - Mina el-Ahmadi is the country's main oil export port. On the island of Failaka, which was inhabited as early as the 3rd millennium BC, an archaeological reserve has been created.

Story

Kuwait was founded in the 18th century by a group of clans of the Bedouin tribe of Anaiz, who moved to the coast of the Persian Gulf from Najd (the predecessor of Saudi Arabia) and the Qatari Peninsula. Separate clans united in the Banu Utub tribe. The name of the tribe comes from the Arabic atabu ilya ash-shamal ("turned to the north"). There they founded the first settlement of Banu Khalid south of the mouth of the Tigris, headed by the first emir of Kuwait, Sabah I.

Occupying an advantageous position on the shores of the natural harbor of the Persian Gulf, Banu Khalid became a major port. Trade routes were established with Aleppo, Baghdad and Ottoman cities. The main exports were pearls, horses, spices and coffee. The pearl trade was regulated by large merchants, among whom was the al-Sabah family.

Kuwait soon became the subject of a dispute between the British and the Turks. Formally, Kuwait was under the control of the Ottoman Empire, but its economic ties with neighboring Arab Emirates were much more developed than with Turkish cities. This led to the Ottoman military invasion of Kuwait in 1871. The invasion failed and the emir found British support. In 1897, a British naval base was placed in Kuwait, which caused a protest from the Ottoman Empire, but the Turks did not dare to launch a new invasion.

In 1899, an agreement was concluded between Kuwait and Britain, according to which control over foreign policy and the security of Kuwait passed to the UK. In exchange for this, Britain pledged to support the royal family. In 1911, the Emir of Kuwait, Mubarak al-Sabah, sharply increased taxes on the export of pearls, which is why most merchants began to trade pearls, and then everything else, through the ports of Bahrain. This caused an economic crisis in the country, then Mubarak made a public apology for the "erroneous economic policy" and returned taxes to their previous level.

After the end of the First World War and the final defeat of the Ottoman Empire, Kuwait came under the protectorate of the British Empire. In 1920, Kuwait entered into a border war with the state of the Saudis. In the 20s, the pearl trade ceased to generate income, which was associated with the invention of artificial pearls. Kuwait became one of the poorest countries in the world, which further increased its dependence on the British crown.

In 1927, the borders of Kuwait were finally determined, which have been preserved to this day. June 22, 1941, on the day of the German attack on Soviet Union, Britain deployed in Kuwait (as well as in Iraq) a large military contingent. In August, the British, together with the Soviet troops, occupied Iran. The last British soldiers left Kuwait in the summer of 1961.

June 19, 1961 Kuwait became an independent state. The code of laws was drawn up by an Egyptian lawyer invited by the Emir. In the 80s, fearing the "export" of the Islamic revolution, Kuwait supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war.

Despite the support provided to Iraq by Kuwait, Saddam Hussein soon after the end of the war with Iran occupied and annexed the emirate on August 2, 1990. This led to interruptions in oil supplies to the main importer of Kuwaiti oil - the United States. The Americans created an international coalition and during the Persian Gulf War (January - February 1991) liberated Kuwait. As they retreated north, Iraqi forces used a scorched-earth tactic, setting fire to all oil rigs and blowing up oil pipelines. The result of this was the enormous losses that Kuwait suffered as a result of hostilities (over $ 5 billion).

Politics

The head of state is the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. The emir appoints the head of government, has the right to dissolve parliament, sign bills and return them to the Mejlis for revision. The Emir is the supreme commander of the armed forces of Kuwait, he appoints key posts in the army of Kuwait, including commanders of all branches of the military. According to the constitution, Emir enjoys legal immunity, but his criticism in the media is not prohibited.

In addition, the Emir appoints the crown prince. However, his candidacy must be approved by members of the ruling family and approved by the National Assembly. In the event that the National Assembly votes against the candidate proposed by the Emir, the Emir is obliged to present to the Assembly three other candidates from the ruling family. The Assembly chooses one of them.

The emir appoints the prime minister from among the members of the ruling family. The prime minister, in turn, appoints posts in the government. All ministers are members of the National Assembly and at least one minister is elected. Key ministries are headed by members of the ruling family.

Legislative power is vested in the Emir and the unicameral National Assembly Majlis al-Juma (National Assembly). 50 deputies are elected in a general election for a four-year term, another 15 are appointed by the prime minister. Political parties are prohibited.

Kuwait is the only country in the Persian Gulf with an elected legislature, while the emir and head of the ruling family also undergoes an election and approval process here, unlike the hereditary monarchies of neighboring countries.

Economy

The basis of the economy of Kuwait is oil production. Kuwait is a major oil exporter. Oil refining and petrochemistry are also developed. Oil production provides 50% of Kuwait's GDP, its share in the country's exports is 90%. Annual oil production is about 100 million tons. During the war with Iraq, Kuwait's economy suffered greatly due to the fact that Iraq deliberately dumped millions of tons of oil into the Persian Gulf. The production of building materials, fertilizers, food industry. Seawater desalination is being carried out, in which Kuwait is the leader. Fertilizers are an important part of the country's exports. Pearl mining is also developed.

The Bolshoy Burgan and Safaniya-Khafji oil fields, unique in terms of reserves, are being developed on the territory of the state.

culture

Kuwait is a great place for a civilized acquaintance with the Arab world. In this country, luxurious five-star hotels stand side by side with ancient mosques, modern supermarkets sell halva and oriental sweets, and beautiful beaches amaze with their spaciousness and infinity.

The best time to travel to Kuwait is the autumn and spring months, during which the weather in the country is not too hot. In summer, the average daily temperature can reach 40°C.

Muslim holidays are held according to lunar calendar so dates change from year to year. Among the most significant events of the religious calendar, it is worth noting the holy month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr (the end of the fast), Ghadir-e-Hom (the day Mohammed named Emam Ali as his successor) and Rabi-ol-Awwal (the birthday of the Prophet). The main official holiday in Kuwait is Liberation Day (February 26).

Kuwait is the only major city in the country. Of interest are the Kuwait National Museum, famous for its collection of archaeological finds and ethnographic exposition, Dar Al-Atar Al-Islamiya (Museum of Islamic Arts), the University and the "Red Fort" in the Jahra area.

In the Salmiya area, you can visit the pearl markets, one of the best in the world, or go to sea with a team of pearl divers to watch their skills, and with great luck, take part in diving on the "pearl banks" yourself.

On the island of Failaka, which was inhabited as early as the 3rd millennium BC, an archaeological reserve was created (after the war with Iraq, the island was occupied by an American base, and excursions to it were stopped). Cape Az-Zuur, one of the few places on the coast outside of Kuwait proper, not occupied by private villas and possessions. This is one of the best beach areas on the Persian Gulf coast, well suited for swimming and water sports.

One of the best and largest of the country's seaside resorts is Khiiran. It has everything you need for a carefree pastime, and the service and recreation conditions are in no way inferior to most fashionable resorts in the world.

Umm Al Kuwait is a favorite destination for wildlife lovers. Excursions to the island of Al Siyarh depart from here, where many sea birds live. Here is the famous riding academy with the most thoroughbred horses.

Attractions

Speaking about the sights of Kuwait, one cannot but pay special attention to its capital (El Kuwait). A month is not enough to see all the local sights. The capital has many museums with interesting exhibits, majestic mosques (Al-Khalifa Mosque (1714), the Great Mosque, etc.), the great Kuwait towers up to 187 m high, the Emir's Old Seif Palace (1880) and many other amazing buildings and places.

Popular among tourists is Failaka Island, located 20 kilometers from Kuwait City. It has been inhabited by people since the Stone Age. Now it is an archaeological reserve where you can see the ancient temples of Azuk and Ikaros, as well as other ancient buildings and structures.

Visit the small town of Al-Ahmadi (12 kilometers from El-Kuwait), built in the middle of the 20th century. It is owned by the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC for short). Here is a museum that tells about the development of the oil industry in Kuwait. And you can enjoy the silence and absolute peace in a small green park among the sands of the desert.

The city of Al-Jahra (32 kilometers from the capital) also deserves your attention. This is a symbolic place of military glory of the Kuwaiti people. Here you will see the Red Fort, which in 1920 played a significant role in the victory over the Saudi troops. Near Al-Jasr there are wide salt marshes, on the site of which a Nature Reserve has been organized. Nearby is the small fishing village of Doha, whose houses and buildings are very similar to local boats called dhows.

Kitchen

Kuwait is characterized by traditional Muslim cuisine. Therefore, in meat dishes beef, veal, goat meat, poultry meat, various fish, vegetables and eggs are used. Rice is the most common side dish.

What is worth trying in restaurants in Kuwait? We strongly recommend that you taste the kebe fried meat balls;

• guzi lamb stuffed with nuts and rice;
• various types of kebabs: tikka, kebab (marinated lamb or beef), tikka-dajaj (chicken) or shish kebab (mutton);
• traditional shawarma;
• quail meat saman, highly respected in the east;
• steamed chicken with al-mandi honey;
• meat with rice and all kinds of spices makbous.

The Koran forbids drinking alcohol, so tourists are forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages in public places, and is allowed only in some establishments. Alcohol can be bought in the restaurant and bar of your hotel, but it is strictly forbidden to sell it to take away.

Accommodation

Most of the hotels in Kuwait are characterized by the European level of hotel service. Rooms in a middle-class Kuwaiti hotel will cost you about $200, while in elite hotels the price tag will be 2-3 times higher. Expensive hotels are, as a rule, hotel complexes (4-5 *), on the territory of which there are comfortable conference rooms, modern spa and fitness centers with swimming pools, various shops and large parking lots. In the spacious rooms of expensive hotels, you will definitely be provided with a TV, Internet access, telephone, fax and even a printer.

To save money, you can stay in an inexpensive hotel or hostel. Accommodation in them will cost from $ 25 per day.

Entertainment and recreation

The coastal zone of Kuwait is considered a great place for a beach holiday. The largest and best resort in the country is Khiiran, which is located 120 kilometers from the capital. Service and service culture there is at the level of fashionable resorts in the Western world. The resort areas around Salmiya, Ardiyah and Safat also deserve attention.

Sports are an important part of Kuwaiti life. Here you can watch fun sports such as camel racing and falconry.

There are more than 20 marine clubs in the country, many professional clubs for divers, windsurfers and swimmers, water skiers and yachtsmen. In the Salmiya area, you can go on a unique journey - sink to the bottom of the sea with pearl divers.

Popular among tourists is the grandiose park "City of Entertainment" (20 kilometers from Kuwait City). It is the city of Ali Baba and Sinbad with many attractions, fun festivals and all kinds of performances. The park has three thematic zones: Arab world”, “The whole world” and “World of the future”. They are surrounded by a green area called "Regional Park".

The Green Island is also worth a visit. On its territory there are all kinds of entertainment facilities, a Roman amphitheater (accommodates up to 2000 spectators!), an artificial lake with sea water, an observation tower and a picturesque green area.

Purchases

In Kuwait you can buy almost everything! The quantity and quality of your purchases depends on taste and wallet. When buying, bargain, first naming a price that is half what you are willing to pay.

In the capital, it is customary to distribute stores by districts in accordance with their specialization. For example, in the Hawalli area there are jewelry and computer equipment stores. Moreover, gold jewelry there is sold by weight. The metropolitan area of ​​Salmiya is also popular. Here you will find both modern shopping centers and boutiques, as well as ordinary markets, including the gold market.

The most expensive center in the whole country, Salhiya Center is located next to the Meridian Hotel and houses many designer boutiques. So, for example, the price of a leather briefcase of $ 3,000 is considered quite normal there.

At local markets, you can buy gold and jewelry, Persian and Afghan carpets, as well as various souvenirs for relatives and friends (camel and elephant figurines, glass bottles with perfumes), etc. at reasonable prices.

Resting in Kuwait, be sure to visit the so-called Friday Bazaar - the Arabic analogue of the flea market. Surprisingly low prices on goods from all over the Middle East will delight you.

Transport

You can get to Kuwait by plane or by water. The international airport is located 16 kilometers from the capital. And the largest port is located 50 kilometers south of the Persian Gulf.

Public transport in Kuwait cities is represented by buses and taxis. There are three types of taxis here: orange cars (they work like ordinary taxis), minibuses and taxis that work only on telephone orders. The fare for a taxi from the center of the capital to the airport (about 25 kilometers) will be about $20. Bus service is well organized in Kuwait. Travel by bus is quite comfortable due to the presence of air conditioning in each of them. The fare will be no more than $ 2.

Connection

The communication system in Kuwait is developed at a high level. Cellular communication in the country of the GSM 900/1800 standard. Roaming is available to tourists, including Russian ones.

Using a magnetic card, you can make a call outside the country from a telephone booth. A telephone card Prepaid card allows you to call from any telephone. The card can be purchased at postal kiosks and some shops, as well as at gas stations.

Internet cafes in Kuwait are not as common as in neighboring Qatar or the UAE. The easiest way to access the Internet is to go to some large hotel, where there are always computers with Internet access. Owners of laptops with a modem can buy a special prepaid card and connect to a telephone line.

Security

Currently, the criminal situation in Kuwait is very calm. Law enforcement agencies fully control the situation in the country and create favorable conditions for living and working for both local residents and foreigners. Russian citizens can move freely throughout the country (with the exception of strategically important military and industrial facilities).

Business

The business culture in Kuwait is very similar to Western Europe, but there are a number of strict restrictions.

A citizen of Kuwait or a country included in the list of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) can be engaged in entrepreneurial activity. He must be at least 21 years old and have no legal restrictions. For non-residents of Kuwait, a couple of "buts" apply:

• you must have at least one partner who is a citizen of Kuwait;
• the share of Kuwaiti capital in the company must be at least 51%.

Foreign companies do not have the right to establish representative offices in Kuwait - they must work only through local companies.

To carry out commercial activities, it is necessary to obtain a special license. Alas, foreigners cannot get it in their name.

There is no income tax or value added tax in Kuwait, however, local companies are required to pay some contributions to special funds (while foreign companies registered and operating in Kuwait pay a 15% income tax). If the company is joint (the founders are Kuwaiti and foreign parties), the tax is paid from the profits of the foreign part of the company.

The property

Kuwait is considered one of the most economically successful states in the Middle East, which is primarily due to the huge oil reserves and effective government.

Recently, the government of Kuwait has carried out a number of liberal reforms that are aimed at easing restrictions on foreign citizens who want to buy property in the country. However, there remains a rather demanding attitude to the origin of capital for the purchase of housing, as well as the need for a long stay in the country. Offers for the sale of houses are presented in a wide price range - from modest options for $130,000-200,000 to luxury villas, the cost of which exceeds $1,000,000.

In Kuwait, rental housing is very developed, which is most popular with people who have come for long-term work. Renting out housing is strictly regulated. Prices start at $ 1300 per month (per house) and increase many times as you get closer to the center of the country.

Almost all stores in Kuwait have fixed prices. Bargaining is customary in local markets. Bargaining is also appropriate in private taxis. Employees of large stores and banks, as a rule, have a good command of English. You can exchange currency in Kuwait at almost any bank and private office. Credit cards (Mastercard and Visa) are also accepted in hotels, some restaurants and large shops.

It is not customary to give tips in Kuwait, as they are usually already included in the bill, but there are exceptions (for example, in the Ahmadi area with its European foundations).

Visa Information

Citizens of the Russian Federation need to apply for a visa to travel to Kuwait. A number of documents are submitted to the embassy and a special questionnaire is filled out. As a result, an insert is issued in the passport indicating your data (on English language). It must be presented when crossing the Kuwaiti border.

A state in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Territory - 17.8 thousand sq. km. The capital is the city of El-Kuwait.
Population - 2.2 million people. (1998), of which 753 thousand (34.6%) were natives of Kuwait.
The official language is Arabic.
The state religion is Sunni Islam.
From the 16th century Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the first half of the XX century. Kuwait was a sheikhdom with the dominance of tribal relations, which was under the British protectorate (1899-1961). In 1946, oil production began in the country. In 1961, Kuwait became an independent emirate.

State structure

Kuwait is a unitary state. Administrative division - 3 governorates.
The Constitution of 1962 is in force. According to the form of government, Kuwait is a quasi-constitutional monarchy. The political regime is absolutist with elements of parliamentarism. There are no political parties in the country.
Legislative power is vested in the Emir (head of state) and the National Assembly. The unicameral National Assembly (parliament) according to the Constitution consists of 75 deputies (50 members are elected by direct secret ballot for a term of 4 years and 25 are appointed by the Emir). Only men, literate, born Kuwaitis, enjoy the right to vote.
The head of state is the hereditary Emir, who actually has full power in the country. The emir himself appoints the heir to the throne. This appointment is then approved by Parliament. Between sessions of the National Assembly, he may issue decrees having the force of law, which must then be submitted to Parliament for approval. The Emir may dissolve the National Assembly by decree, indicating the reasons for such a decision. However, the Assembly cannot be dissolved again for the same reasons. In 1976 and 1986 The emir dissolved the parliament, which was then restored only in 1992.
Executive power belongs to the Emir and the Council of Ministers. According to the Constitution, the Emir, after traditional consultations, appoints the Prime Minister and dismisses him from office. The Emir also appoints and dismisses ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister. Since the adoption of the constitution, the crown prince has been appointed head of government of Kuwait. The National Assembly has the right to address members of the government with questions and interpellations, as well as to express no confidence in an individual minister of the government (but not its head), which entails his resignation. However, this right is rarely used.

Legal system

The legal system in Kuwait is mixed. According to the Constitution (Article 2), Sharia is the "main", "fundamental" source of legislation. In practice, Muslim law governs primarily the relationship of personal status, while most other branches of law are represented by legislation of the Romano-Germanic type. According to Article 1 (2) of the Civil Code of Kuwait, in the absence of legislative norms, judges must make a decision in accordance with custom ("urf), and in the absence of such custom, in accordance with the principles of Muslim jurisprudence (fiqh), which most fully meets the conditions and interests of the country.
In 1959-1964 Kuwait's legal system has undergone significant modernization. In 1960, with the help of Egyptian lawyers, modern codes were adopted - Civil and Commercial Procedure (206 articles), Criminal Procedure (250 articles) and Criminal (208 articles), in 1961 Commercial (1040 articles). All of these codes largely copied Egyptian designs (see the section "Egypt"), which, in turn, were based on French law.
Other major acts of this period were the Commercial Companies Act 1960, the Law of Conflicts Act 1961, the Civil Torts Act 1961, the Insurance Act 1961, and the Patents, Designs and Trademarks Act 1962.
Finally, in 1980, the Civil Code of Kuwait was adopted, also modeled after the Egyptian Civil Code. In the same year, the new, currently valid Commercial Code, Civil and Commercial Procedure Code were published.
The right of personal status (marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance) in Kuwait remained uncodified for a long time. In 1984, the Personal Status Code was adopted. It is based on the Maliki school of fiqh. The Shiite part of the population of Kuwait (about 30%) follows the Jafarite school.
The economic legislation of the country as a whole is aimed at protecting and encouraging foreign investment and local private business. Since 1990, privatization programs have been implemented. According to the Constitution (Article 21), natural resources and all income from them are the property of the state.
Under the Labor Law and other acts, workers have the right to unionize, strike and bargain collectively, but the first two of these rights are severely limited in law and practice. The standard work week is set at 48 hours. Labor law establishes special conditions jobs for foreigners (80% of the workforce), significantly worse than those of local subjects.
The 1960 Criminal Code provides for the death penalty as a mandatory punishment for crimes against the security of the state, including an attempt on the life, safety, or freedom of the Emir or the Prince of the Blood, and the attempted violent overthrow of the government. The death penalty is also envisaged as a mandatory measure of punishment for premeditated murder and poisoning, and as an alternative - for other types of murder, including for causing death by officials as a result of torture. Other crimes for which the death penalty is provided as a mandatory or alternative punishment include aggravated kidnapping, rape under certain circumstances, perjury leading to the execution of a defendant, and causing death during an attack on a vehicle.
The Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure establish the basic guarantees of democratic judiciary. At the same time, the criminal process in certain aspects differs from the practice of Western countries. In particular, arrests are sanctioned not by the court, but by the prosecutor.

Judicial system. Control bodies

The Constitution (Chapter 5) establishes the basic principles of legal proceedings. It proclaims the independence of judges, protects them from any pressure in the administration of justice, guarantees openness litigation except in special cases provided by law.
During the protectorate period in Kuwait, in parallel with the Sharia courts, there were various secular judicial bodies - committees for labor disputes, trade committees, appeal committees under the department of general security, and courts dealing with foreigners. In 1959, the law "On the organization of legal proceedings" was adopted, which established a single legal procedure in the country, taking into account the mixed nature of the legal system.
Kuwait's judiciary is currently governed by the 1990 Justice Law. The judicial system includes four levels of justice: the courts of first instance, the summary court, the court of appeal, and the court of cassation. The courts of all instances consist of several sections (chambers), each of which specializes in a certain group of cases: personal status, criminal, civil, commercial, administrative. In addition, the sections dealing with personal status matters have 3 subsections: for Sunnis, Shiites and non-Muslims.
The courts of first instance consist of the courts of first instance proper and the magistrates' courts. The organizational structure of the former coincides with the above scheme. Their judgments can be appealed to higher courts. Until 1995, these decisions were made by one judge, since 1995 - by a judicial presence of three judges. The jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court includes only civil and commercial cases of minor importance, decisions on which are made by one judge. At the same time, decisions on claims up to 1000 dinars are final. The courts of first instance also include specialized courts (judicial chambers): for labor conflicts, traffic accidents. The summary court acts in some cases (for example, criminal ones) as a court of first instance, and in others - as a second instance.
The Court of Appeal re-examines all the materials of the case. However, in some cases, cases are sent here directly, bypassing the courts of first instance. Cases are heard by three judges appointed by the general meeting of the court.
Decisions of the court of second instance may be challenged before the Court of Cassation, which reviews them for the correct application of legal norms. The case itself is not subject to review. The Court of Cassation sits with 5 judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council.
The body of constitutional control is the Constitutional Court, established in accordance with Article 173 of the Constitution and called upon to make decisions on the compliance of legislative and other normative acts with the fundamental law.
In 1969-1995. In Kuwait, there was a State Security Court whose decisions were final and not subject to revision. In addition to the actual cases of state security, he considered cases of some other crimes punishable by death. Article 164 of the Constitution also allows the formation of military courts in case of martial law.
Issues related to the appointment, dismissal and removal of judges, the determination of their qualifications and service suitability, are within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Council. On his recommendation, the Emir appoints judges of the Constitutional and Cassation Courts. Kuwaiti judges are appointed to judicial positions for life, while foreigners work as judges on contracts that are renewed after 1-3 years.

Literature

Amin S. H. Middle East Legal Systems. Glasgow, 1985. P.269-282.
Background and Sources: Amin. Legal System of Kuwait. Glasgow, 1991.
Redden K.R. Kuwait // Modern Legal Systems Cyclopedia. Vol. 5. Buffalo, 1990.
Huneidi I. A. The Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Kuwait // International Company and Commercial Law Review. Vol. 2. Issue 12. December 1991.

The state religion in Kuwait is Islam (Article 2 Part I of the Constitution), Sharia is proclaimed the basis of legal proceedings. In Art. 12 part II of the constitution stipulates the obligation of the state to protect the heritage of Islam and Arab culture. However, Art. 35 part III formally declares freedom of religion, provided that the practice of religious worship does not conflict with the policy of the country's leadership and moral standards.

At least 80% of believers are adherents of Islam (about 70% of Muslims adhere to the Sunni direction, 30% to the Shiite direction). In addition, there are representatives of Hinduism, Christianity (Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, Americans and Europeans), Zoroastrianism (Parsis) in the country.

De facto, there is discrimination based on religion in the country. The Shiite population has fewer opportunities to perform religious rites (despite the fact that Shiites make up 30% of the number of believers, only 30-40 Shiite mosques function in Kuwait against about 1,200 Sunni ones), receive religious education (there are no independent religious educational institutions in the country for Shiites, which forces them to receive similar education in Iran) and career growth in government structures.

At the same time, the situation shows some tendency towards gradual improvement, which, in particular, was reflected in the satisfaction in 2003 of the request of the Shiite population for the establishment of the Shiite Court of Cassation for Family and Marriage and the start of construction of a number of new mosques for Shiites. The organization representing the Shiites in politics is the Islamic National Alliance.

Although there is no open conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, some danger of Shiite discontent remains. It is due to such external factors as instability in neighboring Iraq with its significant Shiite population and the situation around Iran, which, in the event of a significant aggravation of relations with the United States, may try to destabilize the internal situation of Washington's key regional ally, as was already the case during the Iran-Iraq war. , when a Hezbollah cell operating in Kuwait staged a series of terrorist attacks, including against the United States Embassy.

Representatives of faiths not mentioned in the Qur'an (Buddhists, Baha'is, Hindus and Sikhs) are not allowed to build places of worship, but the right to worship at home is not limited in any way. It is noted that foreign workers are treated better by employers in case of conversion to Islam.

Kuwait is a major sponsor of Muslim missionary work: with the financial support of the government of the country and its citizens, various funds and educational structures work in a number of states (primarily Asian and African) to help strengthen the position of Islam.



Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Kuwait

(Kuwait), state-in Middle East, on SV. Arabian Peninsula . Pl. 17,818 km², capital El Kuwait . Dr. large cities: Ash-Shamiliyah (130 thousand inhabitants, 1995), Jalib-ash-Shuyukh (103 thousand), Khavalli (82 thousand). The oldest finds on Failaka belong to the Sumerian and Harappan cultures (3rd millennium BC). In the IV century. BC. Greeks appeared on the island and built the Temple of Artemis. Since 1756, auth. sheikhship in the Ottoman Empire. Europeans became interested in Kazakhstan only at the end of the 19th century, when Germany decided to extend the Berlin-Baghdad railway. to Kuwait City. British protectorate since 1914, independent since 1961 State of Kuwait - constitutional monarchy, head of state - emir (sheikh), parliament - Nat. meeting.
K. occupies flat and hilly sandy-pebble plains in the southeast. Mesopotamian nism. , swampy coast Persian Hall. with low islands; Ridges up to 290 m high stretch to the west. Tropical desert with relatively wet winters and dry, hot summers. There are no permanent streams. Population 2 million people (2001), the indigenous people are Arabs (Kuwaitis); more than 2/3 are foreign workers, in the main. from other Arab countries and South. Asia; before the war with Iraq (1990–91), there were many Palestinians. Official language - Arabic; state religion - Islam (about 80% Sunnis). The basis of the economy is oil production. The huge income from its exports has allowed for one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. They are invested in industry, infrastructure, social. sphere, abroad. K. provides great finance. assistance to other state-you. Developed oil refinery, petrochemical. prom-st, construction, production of consumer goods; mining gas. Sat. x-in is limited by the lack of arable land and water (livestock, vegetables); fish-in. Active banking and investment activities; science-intensive production and the service sector are developing. The war with Iraq has destroyed the country's economy, which has not yet been fully restored. Developed road network. Main ports: Ash-Shuwayh, Ash-Shuaiba, Mina al-Ahmadi (main oil port), intl. airport in Kuwait. University (since 1966), the largest in the area of ​​the Persian Hall. Cult Museum. heritage. K. is a transit point for pilgrims to Mecca. Cash unit - Kuwaiti dinar.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

The State of Kuwait, in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula on the coast of the Persian Gulf (between 28° 45" and 30° 05" N, 46° 30" and 48° 30" E). He also owns about a dozen small islands. Kuwait borders Iraq to the north and west and Saudi Arabia to the south.
Nature. The territory of Kuwait is confined to the East Arabian coastal plain, which has a gentle slope towards the Persian Gulf. The low flat relief of the coast is replaced by a hilly ridge in the central zone (with absolute heights of 100–200 m) and a low plateau in the extreme southwest, where the highest point of the country (281 m a.s.l.) is located. The coastal low-lying strip is replete with salt marshes, which turn into salt lakes “sebha” during the rainy season. There is no erosion network here. The central and southwestern regions of the country are deeply dissected by a network of channels of temporary streams (wadis). Within the northern half of Kuwait, rocky deserts are common, within the southern half - sandy deserts with dune relief.
Coastline length approx. 220 km. In general, the coast is slightly indented, with the exception of the central part, where the narrow Kuwait Bay (the only deep-water harbor on the entire western coast of the Persian Gulf) protrudes almost 50 km into the interior of the land, on the southern coast of which the capital Al Kuwait is located. The coastal zone is mostly shallow. At a short distance from the coast, a chain of low islands stretches: the largest are the heavily swampy Bubiyan and Failaka, and the smaller ones are Warba, Muskan, Aukha, Karu, Umm-en-Namil, Kurain, Umm el-Maradim.
The bowels of Kuwait are rich in oil and associated gas, the reserves of which are of world importance. By preliminary estimates, oil resources make up approximately 10% of the world, and at current production rates, they will last more than 100 years.
The climate of Kuwait is tropical and dry. Two seasons are clearly expressed: dry summer (precipitation does not fall from June to September, in May and October their average amount is 1–6 mm) and wetter winter (with maximum precipitation in January 21–25 mm). In the north, less than 150 mm falls annually, and in the south, less than 100 mm. The average annual rainfall in Kuwait City is approx. 100 mm. Sometimes precipitation falls in the form of downpours, washing away roads and destroying buildings.
In the coastal zone, the average temperature in July is 37 ° C, in January + 13 ° C. Daytime temperatures in summer are very high and can reach 50 ° C in the shade, humidity is low, except for the coast. In winter, the day is usually warm and comfortable. Night frosts occasionally occur in inland areas. Dust storms (toz) often rise, which in summer are brought by the dry shimal wind blowing from the deserts of Arabia. Occasionally there are dusty tornadoes rising to a height of up to 1800 m.
There are no permanent streams and natural sources of fresh water on the territory of Kuwait, groundwater is saline. Since ancient times, Kuwaitis have mastered the art of finding aquifers and putting wells on them. Currently, fresh water is obtained by industrial desalination of sea water.
Soils are sandy, depleted in mineral and organic compounds, barren. Extremely sparse desert vegetation is represented by low-growing shrubs, semi-shrubs, and hard-leaved grasses. The most common are camel thorn (its roots up to 20 m long can reach the aquifer), some cereals (aristida, etc.), kermek, wormwood, haze (mainly saltwort). Occasionally there are gada shrubs up to 2 m high and trees such as acacia, mimosa, tal, cider and dzhurdzhub. Thickets of comb (tamarix) are confined to the coastal zone. In the deserts, after the passage of rains, brightly flowering ephemera appear for a short time. Rare oases are found in places where groundwater comes to the surface. Date palm and some vegetable crops are usually grown there.
The animal world is poor. The most numerous rodents are gerbils, jerboas, and mice. Reptiles are characterized by a significant species diversity (sand boas, Arabian cobra, horned vipers, sandy and motley ephs, gray monitor lizards, agamas, geckos). Of the predatory mammals, the fennec fox, hyena, and jackal are occasionally found. Of the ungulates, sand gazelles and goitered gazelles are extremely rare, in the southwestern most elevated regions - wild sheep and oryx antelopes. The avifauna is more diverse. Wild pigeons, larks, bustards, grouses, doves, hoopoes, gulls, as well as such birds of prey as eagles, falcons, kites, hawks on the coast and vultures in the deserts nest. Qatar is a wintering ground for flamingos, ducks, cormorants, pelicans, herons and other water birds, as well as various passerine species. Locusts are numerous in the coastal lowlands, poisonous spiders and scorpions, ticks, phalanxes, tarantulas, and so on are found in the deserts.
In coastal waters, there are up to 250 species of fish (commercial - tuna, silver mackerel, horse mackerel, sea bass, zubeidi, sardines, herring, shark, swordfish, sawfish, etc.). There are also shrimps, lobsters, squids, spiny lobsters, on the shallows there are many mollusks (pearl mussels, etc.). Sea turtles are common.
Population Kuwait has 2257 thousand people (2004), of which 1160 thousand people do not have Kuwaiti citizenship - mostly Arabs (35%), immigrants from South Asia (9%) and Iran (4%) who arrived in Kuwait for work in the oil industry. In Kuwait and its suburbs live approx. 1.6 million people.
The population of Kuwait is predominantly of Arab origin, but African, Iranian, Indian and Pakistani peoples also took part in its formation.
The age group from 15 to 65 years prevails (approx. 69.8%), the group under 15 includes approx. 27.5%, and over 65 - less than 2.7%. The birth rate in Kuwait is estimated at 21.85 per 1000 population, the death rate - 2.44 per 1000, immigration - 14.31 per 1000. Population growth in 2004 was 3.36%. Such rates of increase in the population are associated with the return of previously expelled foreigners. Infant mortality is 10.26 per 1000 newborns.
The official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken.
The main religion is Islam. It is practiced by approximately 85% of the population (45% Sunnis and 40% Shiites). Sunni Islam is the state religion. The head of the state is the head of the Kuwaiti Muslims. Among believers there are Christians (immigrants from Syria and Lebanon, specialists from the United States and Western Europe), Hindus (immigrants from India), Parsis (Zoroastrians), etc.
The Kuwaitis trace their origins to the nomadic Beni Atban tribe of the Anaza group, who arrived at the beginning of the 18th century. from central Arabia and settled around a few wells, where fortified settlements were erected. The name of the capital Kuwait in Arabic means "small fortress". Over the next two centuries, the composition of the population was homogeneous.
The development of the oil industry after World War II brought a huge number of foreign workers to Kuwait. In the late 1980s, foreigners were dominated by Indians and Pakistanis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Lebanese, as well as people from other Arab countries and Iranians. After the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990, a significant part of the foreign workers left the country. After the end of the war, most of the Palestinians living in Kuwait (who constituted the main contingent of workers) were expelled for collaborating with the Iraqis. They were replaced by people from other Arab and South Asian countries. Obtaining Kuwaiti citizenship is fraught with great difficulties, so that immigrants are not fully integrated into the public life of the country.
State device. The State of Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy. The country gained full independence on June 19, 1961 after the termination of the British protectorate treaty. From 1899 to 1961, Kuwait had autonomy in internal affairs, the head of state was a sheikh from the al-Sabah dynasty (this dynasty has ruled since 1756), other senior government positions were occupied by representatives of the same dynasty or other noble families. It was only after World War II that a new class of technocrats and managers emerged to share power with them. In December 1961, elections were held for the Constitutional Assembly, which was called upon to develop a draft constitution. The current constitution was approved on November 16, 1962.
According to the constitution, legislature belongs to the Emir and the National Assembly (Parliament), consisting of 50 deputies elected for a four-year term. Only men who settled in Kuwait before 1920 or naturalized more than 30 years ago can become members of parliament. Suffrage is vested in literate male citizens who naturalized more than 30 years ago, or Kuwaitis living in the country since 1920 and earlier, and their descendants aged at least 21 years who do not serve in the army. Thus, approx. 10% of the country's population. The National Assembly also includes the entire Cabinet of Ministers. The emir has the right to veto legislative acts adopted by the parliament.
Executive power is exercised by the emir and the government (Council of Ministers). According to the constitution, the emir appoints the crown prince as head of government, as well as members of the government (on the recommendation of the prime minister).
The Kuwaiti parliament, after resuming its work in 1992, has been critical of the government's actions, especially in the field of national defense.
Political parties are banned in Kuwait, but there are political movements of Arab nationalists, Islamists and others. The WFRK has its own printed organ - the weekly magazine "Al-Amal" ("Worker").
Since 1961 Kuwait has been a member of the League of Arab States, since 1963 it has been a member of the UN and a number of other international and regional organizations. Since 1962, Kuwait has regularly provided financial assistance to developing countries through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). The Government of Kuwait has provided interest-free loans to some Arab states. After the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, it provided financial assistance to the governments of Egypt and Jordan, and also generously helped Palestinian organizations. Large loans were provided to Iraq during its war with Iran in 1980-1988.
Economy. Until the 1930s and 1940s, nomadic pastoralism, oasis farming, pearling and maritime intermediary trade were traditional occupations in Kuwait. The economic prosperity of Kuwait is associated with oil production. Although large oil fields in the country were discovered as early as 1938, their development began only after the Second World War. Kuwait currently ranks third in the Middle East in terms of oil production (after Saudi Arabia and Iran). In recent decades, Kuwait has pursued a policy of conserving oil resources, so after 1979 the volume of oil production has declined significantly.
Kuwait's economy suffered greatly during the Gulf War. As a result of the Iraqi occupation, a significant part of the oil-producing and oil-refining enterprises was destroyed. In addition, the country assumed obligations to compensate for the military expenses of the international coalition. After the war, large sums of money had to be spent on the restoration of the oil sector of the economy. The country's economic situation also deteriorated due to the decline in world oil prices. In addition, Kuwait occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of spending on the purchase of weapons per capita. All these factors contributed to the growth of external debt and the budget deficit. However, by 1992 Kuwait's oil industry was almost completely restored and oil production reached pre-war levels.
Thanks to higher oil prices and favorable conditions in the oil market in the 1999/2000 financial year, budget revenue increased by $2 billion compared to 1998/1999. Approximately 50% of GDP, 90% of export foreign exchange earnings and 75% of the budget are generated by the oil industry. In 2000, GDP was $29.3 billion, or $15,000 per capita, and grew by 6% over the previous year. In the structure of GDP, the share of the industrial sector is 55%, the service sector - 45%. The country's labor force is estimated at about 1.3 million people, with 68% of them being immigrants.
The largest operator of oil concessions is the government-owned Kuwait National Oil Company. Exploration and production of oil in the continental part of the Neutral Zone in the southeast of the country, on the border with Saudi Arabia, is carried out by the American company American Independent Oil, and on the shelf by the Japanese company Arabian Oil. Oil revenues from the Neutral Zone are divided equally between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Approx. 100 million tons of oil.
Leading positions among industries are occupied by oil refining and petrochemistry. Energy in Kuwait is based entirely on the use of fossil fuels. Approx. 31.6 billion kWh of electricity, which significantly exceeds its domestic consumption. Construction, production of consumer goods and fertilizers, food industry are developed. There are industrial installations for desalination of sea water. With the improvement in the quality of education, such knowledge-intensive industries as the electronics industry, etc., have developed. The banking sector is actively operating in the country, and the service sector is expanding.
Limited arable land (approximately 1% of the country's territory) and water resources significantly limit the opportunities for agricultural development. Livestock is bred and vegetables are grown in the country. Fishing is developed, the production of which satisfies 25% of domestic demand, and shrimp fishing.
Kuwait is a major exporter of oil and petroleum products. Fertilizers and shrimps are also exported. The main export partners are Japan, the USA, Singapore, the Netherlands. Kuwait imports food, building materials, cars, ready-made clothes. The main import partners are the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Germany. Foreign trade has a stable positive balance.
Thanks to the successful exploitation of huge oil reserves, Kuwait has a surplus of capital, which is directed both to foreign investment and to the implementation of numerous projects for the development of communications, roads, domestic civil engineering and social security.
Kuwait has high quality domestic and international telephony, including cell phones, radio relay lines, overhead wires, coaxial and fiber optic cables, and satellites.
The road network has total length 4450 km, of which more than 80% are paved. Oil and gas fields are connected to industrial centers and ports by pipelines (the length of the oil pipeline is approx. 880 km, the gas pipeline is 165 km, the wires for the transfer of petroleum products are approx. 40 km). There are six seaports in Kuwait (the largest are Kuwait and Mina el-Ahmadi), to which 45 heavy-duty vessels with a displacement of more than 1,000 gross register tons each are assigned (with a total displacement of about 2.5 million gross register tons) . about half merchant fleet are oil tankers. Aviation communication is developed, both domestic and international, there are 8 airports. Helicopter communication has been established in the country.
Society. Prior to the development of oil fields, Kuwait was an underdeveloped state with a per capita income of only $21. Nowadays, living standards have risen so significantly that Kuwaiti citizens are even able to travel abroad.
In 1936, only 2 schools worked in the country, and in the 1990s there were already more than 1,000 of them. Children of Kuwaiti citizens receive free education - from school to university. Schooling is compulsory. The system of educational institutions includes Kindergarten(2 years), elementary School(4 years), junior high school (4 years), high school (4 years). In addition, programs of specialized colleges - technical, commercial, medical, pedagogical, spiritual - were built on the basis of an incomplete secondary school. Education for girls and boys is separate. At the time of the proclamation of Kuwait, most of its inhabitants were illiterate, currently about 79% of adults can read and write.
In 1966, the Kuwait University was opened, which became the largest educational institution in the Persian Gulf. In addition, hundreds of students receive higher education abroad - in Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Great Britain, USA.
During the years of the "oil boom" the health situation improved significantly. After World War II, there was only one hospital in Kuwait. Dozens of clinics, hospitals, maternity hospitals, and medical centers are currently operating. Medical care for native and naturalized Kuwaitis is free. In Kuwait, epidemic diseases have been practically eliminated, preventive work has been established, large medical treatment and research centers are operating, in particular, the As-Sabah hospital. Although the health care sector suffered great damage as a result of the Iraqi occupation of 1990-1991, it has now been restored.
Story. Archaeological discoveries on Failaka Island, located at the entrance to Kuwait Bay, indicate that the island was inhabited as early as the 3rd millennium BC. It was probably part of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun (centered on Bahrain). In the era of the empire of Alexander the Great (end of the 4th century BC), there was a fortified Greek city and a seaport on Failaka Island.
From the 7th c. AD the territory of Kuwait was part of the Arab Caliphate, first under the rule of the Umayyads (661-750), then - the Abbasids (750-1258). From the 13th century until the end of the 15th century. the territory of modern Kuwait, then called Kurain, was ruled by the sheikhs of the local Arab tribes of the Beni Khaled, Beni Hajar, Beni Muteir, Beni Kaab. At the beginning of the 16th century in the Persian Gulf, the influence of the Portuguese increased. However, the leaders of the Ben Khaled tribe, relying on the support of the Ottoman Empire, managed to maintain the independence of the Emirate of Kurain from both the Portuguese and the Turks, despite the fact that the latter repeatedly occupied its territory.
At the beginning of the 17th century. the Portuguese were expelled, but France, the Netherlands and Great Britain entered the struggle for the coastal regions of the Persian Gulf. The Ottoman Empire and Persia still contested their dominance. Although in the middle of the 17th century. Kurane was again occupied by the Turks and formally incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, where strong local power was maintained. In 1680, during the reign of Sheikh Barraq al-Hamid (1669–1682), the fortified port city of Kuwait was built. Qurayn reached its peak under the wise rule of Sheikh Sadun al-Hamid (1691-1722), who was the head of the Arab Beni Khaled tribe and managed to maintain peaceful relations with neighboring states. Under him, the Arabs of the Beni Atban tribe settled on the coast of the Persian Gulf in the region of Al-Kuwait, headed by several influential clans, but later only the al-Sabah clan settled there. In 1756, Sheikh Sabah ibn Jaber al-Sabah united all the tribes living in Kuwait into a single state entity, the Emirate of Kuwait. In 1760, the city of Kuwait, in which the bulk of the population of the emirate was concentrated, was surrounded by a wall. By the end of the 18th century the strengthened state of the Saudis in Central Arabia extended its influence all the way to the coast of the Persian Gulf, but it failed to conquer Kuwait. In 1777, the British persuaded the Emir of Kuwait, Abdullah ibn Sabah al-Sabah, to establish friendly relations with Great Britain. In 1793, a trading post of the East India Company was founded in El Kuwait, which sought to monopolize trade in this region.
Throughout the 19th century, despite pressure from England, the rulers of Kuwait did not agree to establish treaty relations with her. In the early 1870s, Kuwait received the status of a qazi (county) of the Basor vilayet of the Ottoman Empire, and the emir was recognized as the governor of the sultan.
Kuwait attracted special attention from the European powers at the end of the 19th century. in connection with the German plan to stretch the Baghdad railway to the port of Kuwait. Meanwhile, Great Britain feared the strengthening of the German presence in the Persian Gulf. Sheikh Mubarak ibn Sabah al-Sabah, seeking to protect the country from the Turkish invasion, in 1899 signed a secret agreement with Great Britain, according to which the latter was to be responsible for the foreign policy of Kuwait. Thus, Kuwait actually turned into an English protectorate.
In July 1913, Turkey signed a convention with Britain, in accordance with which it recognized the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899. In October 1913, a new Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement was concluded, according to which Great Britain was endowed with exclusive rights to explore, extract and transport oil in Kuwait. In June 1914, Germany ceded to Great Britain the right to build a section of the Basra-El-Kuwait railway. In November of the same year, Great Britain recognized Kuwait as an independent principality under British protectorate.
In 1918–1922, Kuwait became involved in border conflicts with Najd (where the Saudis ruled) and Iraq. Great Britain took an active part in the settlement of the foreign policy situation. Through the mediation of its representatives, in December 1922, an agreement was signed on the transfer of part of the territory of Najd to Kuwait and Iraq and the creation of border Kuwait-Saudi and Iraqi-Saudi zones (since 1942 received the status of the Neutral Zone), free for nomads. In April 1923, the British contributed to the inclusion of the islands belonging to Iraq, located at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab River, into Kuwait. Since 1927, Kuwait has effectively become a British colony.
In accordance with the notes exchanged between the governments of the two countries on June 19, 1961, Great Britain renounced its rights in Kuwait and the independence of the State of Kuwait was proclaimed. Six days later, Iraq declared its sovereignty over these lands. Kuwait immediately turned to Britain and Saudi Arabia for military assistance, and applied to join the UN and the Arab League. Over the next few days, under the pretext of moving Iraqi troops to the Iraqi-Kuwait border, approx. 6 thousand British and Saudi soldiers.
In August 1962, British troops, by decision of the League of Arab States, were replaced by Sudanese, Jordanian and Egyptian units. The tension subsided, but relations between Iraq and Kuwait improved significantly only after 1963. At the same time, the “security forces” of the Arab League in Kuwait were evacuated. In 1968, an agreement was annulled between Kuwait and Great Britain, according to which the latter undertook to provide military aid Kuwait.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Kuwait quickly enriched itself through oil exports. The funds received were directed by the government to the development of the economy and the social sphere within the country, investments in Western countries, assistance to Islamic states and support for such Arab nationalist organizations as the Palestine Liberation Organization. In the 1970s, most of the oil industry was nationalized, and oil production was limited in order to preserve its reserves.
While Kuwait was able to provide high level the lives of the population, all the power and wealth in the country were controlled by members of the ruling family and their allies, and some social programs extended only to native Kuwaitis. The economic success of Kuwait favored mass immigration, and already in the 1970s, the majority of the population was from other countries. In connection with the prevailing unfavorable political situation, the emir dissolved the parliament in 1976, which did not function until 1981. Some articles of the constitution were also suspended. A new National Assembly was elected in 1981 and then dissolved in 1986.
On August 2, 1990, a hundred thousandth Iraqi army invaded Kuwait, and Iraq announced the annexation of Kuwait. Hundreds of thousands of people fled the country; thousands of those who remained were arrested or killed. The Iraqis looted or burned almost every civilian facility and set fire to 700 oil wells. These fires have had unprecedented negative impacts on the environment. On January 17, 1991, based on the decision of the UN Security Council, an action began to liberate Kuwait by a coalition of 29 countries led by the United States. By February 26, the country was completely liberated. After the restoration of the power of the al-Sabah dynasty, mass arrests took place in the country. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were deported.
In order to guarantee its security, Kuwait entered into military cooperation agreements with the United States, Britain, France and Russia in the early 1990s. Kuwait agreed to expand the American military presence on its territory, stationing the equipment of the American army brigade and basing the US Air Force and other allies.
The country remains concerned about Iraq's intentions, so that Kuwait remains the most active supporter of the US policy of containment of Iraq. Kuwait spends heavily on strengthening its armed forces. Its military budget in 2000/2001 was 8.7% of GDP.
Immediately after the end of the Gulf War, Kuwait began to restore the destroyed economy, but the fall in world oil prices held back this process. Nevertheless, already in July 1991, Kuwait resumed oil exports. In 1993, export earnings exceeded pre-war levels. By 1994, the oil refining industry was almost completely restored.
The first post-war parliamentary elections were held in 1992, and then in 1996 and 1999. Since December 31, 1977, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah has been the head of state (Emir of the State of Kuwait). The government was headed by Crown Prince Sheikh Saad al-Abdallah al-Salem al-Sabah. On January 15, 2006, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, died at the age of 77. Power passed to the 75-year-old crown prince. On January 24, 2006, the country's parliament adopted a decision, confirmed by the conclusion of the medical commission, to deny him the right to inherit the throne due to poor health. The 75-year-old Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, who has headed the government since 2003, has been proclaimed the new Emir of Kuwait.
Government services operate in the country: the Kuwait News Agency (since 1976), the Kuwait Broadcasting Service (since 1951), and Kuwait Television (since 1961). In Kuwait, about a dozen daily and weekly newspapers, as well as several magazines, are published in mass circulation, mainly in Arabic. The largest publication is the monthly magazine "Al-Arabi" ("Arab", about 350 thousand copies), covering political and economic news and scientific achievements. The daily newspapers Al-Anba (Izvestiya, 80,000), Al-Watan (Motherland, 56.8 thousand copies), Al-Kabas (Knowledge, 90 thousand copies), “Ar-Ray al-Amm” (“Public Opinion”, 86.9 thousand copies) with the weekly supplement “An-Nahda” (“Rise”, 148.5 thousand copies) and weekly newspapers Al-Khadaf (Goal, 153,000 copies) and Al-Yakza (Awakening, 91,300 copies). There are two English-language newspapers, Arab Times (31,100 copies) and Kuwait Times (30,000 copies).
LITERATURE
Mikhin V.L. . M., 1984
Melkumyan E.S. . - In the book: recent history Arab countries of Asia. 1917–1985 M., 1988
State of Kuwait: A Handbook. M., 1990
: social development. Leadership, planning, popular participation and humanistic orientations. M., 1997
. St. Petersburg, 2000

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

KUWAIT

STATE OF KUWAIT
A state in Southwest Asia, located on the northwestern shore of the Persian Gulf. In the north and northwest it borders with Iraq, in the south - with Saudi Arabia. The area of ​​the country (including the islands of Bubiyan, Warba and Failaka) is 17818 km2.
The population (as of 1998) is 1913300 people, the average density is about 107 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Kuwaitis - 45%, other Arabs - 35%, Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis. Language: Arabic (state), English. Religion: Islam (mainly Sunism) - 85%. The capital is Kuwait (1,090,000 people). Largest cities: Hawali, As-Salimya. The state system is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is Emir Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (in power since January 1, 1978). The head of government is Prime Minister Sheikh Saad Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah (in office since February 8, 1978). The monetary unit is the Kuwaiti dinar. Average duration life (for 1998): 73 years - men, 77 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) is 21.0. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 2.3.
Until June 19, 1961, Kuwait was a British protectorate. Now the country is ruled by the Al-Sabah dynasty, founded in 1759. The non-Native Kuwaiti portion of the population is not eligible to vote. Kuwait is a member of the UN, World Bank, IMF, GATT, Arab League, OPEC. The country receives 90% of its income from the export of oil and natural gas. The climate in the country is dry and hot. The average annual temperature is about 25°C, however, during the dry season, the temperature exceeds 46°C. The average annual rainfall is about 127 mm or less. Rains come from October to March.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Kuwait is a state in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, on a low desert plateau, gradually lowering to the east, towards the Persian Gulf. It borders Iraq to the north and northwest and Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest. (cm. Saudi Arabia), in the east it is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. A number of adjacent islands also belong to Kuwait: Failaka, Bubiyan, Varba, etc. The area is 17.8 thousand square kilometers, the population is 2.5 million people. The head of state is the emir. The state religion is Islam. The capital is Kuwait City.
In the north of Kuwait there is a flat rocky desert covered with rubble, in the central and southern parts - a slightly hilly sandy desert; in the east, the territory is crossed by deep canyons - wadis. The coast is lined with sandy spits and lagoons. During most of the year, the country experiences persistent hot weather. Precipitation is rare and does not exceed 100–200 mm per year. In summer, from about May to October, dry dusty northwest winds (shimal) prevail, which create an atmosphere of suffocation. The most favorable time in Kuwait is winter, in December-January warm sunny days prevail with a temperature of 12-14 ° C.
There are no rivers with a constant flow, no lakes in the country; therefore, the most acute problem of Kuwait for a long time was the problem of fresh water. However, being one of the world's largest suppliers of "black gold", Kuwait allowed itself to create a special industry for seawater desalination and now ranks first in the world in terms of the capacity of desalination plants. - KUWAIT, State of Kuwait (Daulat al Kuwait), state in the West. Asia, on the S.V. Arabian Peninsula. Pl. 20.2 tons km2 (including part of the former neutral zone since 1966). Us. 1.67 million hours (1983). Capital El Kuwait (c. 1025 t.j., with suburbs, 1982). Before… … Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary

State of Kuwait (Daulat al Kuwait), state in the West. Asia, on the O B. Arabian Peninsula, off the coast of the Persian Gulf. Pl. 17.8 thousand km (including the half of the former neutral zone attached to K. on the border with Saudi Arabia). Hac. 1.7 million... Geological Encyclopedia

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