Fun & Interesting Facts about Kuwait

• Kuwait is officially known as the ‘State of Kuwait’.

• The official language of Kuwait is Arabic, but English is also widely spoken and understood.

• The main ethnic groups in Kuwait include Kuwaiti, other Arab, South Asian and Iranian.

• Majority of the people in Kuwait follow Islam, followed by Christian, Hindu and Parsi religion.

• The currency of Kuwait is Kuwaiti Dinar.

• The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City.

• Kuwait follows the system of ‘Constitutional Monarchy’, with a Parliamentary System of government.

• Kuwait became an independent country, after the end of British Protectorate, on 19^th June 1961.

• Apart from having world's fifth largest proven oil reserves, Kuwait is the fourth richest country in the world in terms of per capita income.

• Kuwait's oil fields were discovered and exploited in the 1930s.

• Petroleum and petroleum products make up around 95 percent of export revenues, and 80 percent of government income, in Kuwait.

• In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The occupation lasted seven month and ended after direct military intervention by United States-led forces.

• The island of Failaka in Kuwait was an ancient trading post.

• Kuwait came under the leadership of the Al Sabah family in 1750s, with semi-autonomy from the Ottomans.

• Kuwait entered the Special Treaty of Friendship with Britain in 1899, to prevent the occurrence of Ottoman direct rule.

• The borders between Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were agreed in the 1920s and 1930s.

• Kuwait became a member of the Arab League in 1961 and that of United Nations in 1963.

• Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament.

• Full political rights were granted to women in Kuwait, in 2005.

• Kuwaiti men usually wear the national dress of long white dishdashes and white headcloths, while women wear yashmaks.

• Kuwaiti food is primarily based on the staple product of rice.

• Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world.

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