Set at the northern end of the Arabian Gulf, Kuwait is a very hot and dry country with basically flat terrain (the highest elevation is only 1,000 ft/300 m).
The area now known as Kuwait has been occupied since 5,000 BC, but the first real urban center, Kuwait City, was not founded until a tribe of nomads settled there in the mid-18th century. Once a dependency of the Ottoman Empire, Kuwait became a British protectorate in 1899. The discovery of oil in the 1930s changed the economy drastically: Previously, it had been dependent on the pearl trade.
Kuwait became independent in 1961 and immediately was threatened with invasion by neighboring Iraq, which claimed the territory on the basis of old Ottoman provincial boundaries. Britain sent troops to Kuwait, and Iraq backed down. There things remained until 1990, when Iraq unexpectedly invaded. Kuwait endured a harsh occupation until the Iraqi army finally was driven from the country by an international coalition led by U.S. forces.
Kuwaitis, however, paid heavily for the Gulf War. The country's official financial reserves were slashed, buildings and oil infrastructure were destroyed, museums and private homes were looted, and hundreds of Kuwaitis were taken to Iraq as prisoners of war. Since then, the government has become more open. Popular demands for a greatersay in the running of the country led to the formation of a National Assembly in 1992. The parliament has been reluctant to enact much change, but it has initiated a privatization program. Some formerly state-owned businesses have been sold, in whole or in part, but the majority of Kuwaitis remain employed by the government.
Commerce and journalism are no longer the only reasons to visit Kuwait. The previous tourist draws—camel racing and beaches—are still attractive to foreigners, but there are also markets, malls and museums, plus a good selection of fine hotels.
Although Kuwait is open to tourists, we would recommend it mostly to experienced travelers who are interested in modern Middle Eastern life. Don't expect any nightlife or a commercialized tourist scene. Although visitors are welcome, most attractions and facilities are set up to cater to the local population. Thus, tour buses and tourist advertising are seldom seen there.
Before the Iraqi invasion, most of the menial jobs in Kuwait were filled by Palestinian workers. After the war, most of the Palestinians were expelled for siding with the Iraqis, and their places have been taken by tens of thousands of South Asian men who earn about US$200 a month on short-term work visas. Foreign residents now outnumber native Kuwaitis 2-1.
Visiting Kuwait today, you'd hardly know the whole Iraq tragedy began there with an invasion ordered by Saddam Hussein in 1990. Not only are there no signs of the war, but Kuwait is utterly peaceful and safe (if you exclude the frenetic traffic on the roads).
Kuwait is the perfect place to visit if you'd like to see where some of those petro-dollars you pay at the pumps have ended up. Flashy high-rise buildings line the streets, and expensive automobiles clog the roads. Conspicuous wealth is everywhere since tiny Kuwait possesses 10% of the world's oil reserves.
Although hotels in Kuwait are expensive, food, transportation and sightseeing can be very inexpensive. Admission to most museums is free, and the longest public bus ride in the country costs less than US$1/KWD 0.30.
The largest aquarium in the Middle East is at the Scientific Center, off the Corniche and east of the city center. The tank of sharks and rays is a highlight. The Kuwait City skyline is spectacular from there.
The world's largest wooden ship is the Al-Hashemi II, which is permanently dry-docked at the Radisson SAS Hotel southeast of Kuwait City. Measuring more than 59 ft/18 m wide and 262 ft/80 m long, this huge Arabian dhow was built in 2000 as a meeting and wedding hall.
