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| Overview:
Kuwait is located in the northeastern corner of the Arabian
Peninsula. Bordered by Iraq on the north, northwest and by
Saudi Arabia on the south, southwest, it fronts the Arabian
Gulf to the east. A small state of 17,818 square kilometres
(6,880 square miles), Kuwait includes nine gulf islands
within its territory. In addition to being the country’s
capital and centre for trade and commerce, Kuwait City is an
important port for oil and the production of petroleum
products. The nearby city of Al Jahrah is the centre of the
country's agricultural industry, which primarily produces
fruits and vegetables. A prominent geographic feature is
Kuwait Bay, which extends for 48 kilometres (30 miles)
inland. Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy governed by
the Al Sabah family, the ruling family since 1756. The
constitution, which was approved on 11 November 1962,
authorizes the Al Sabah family council to select the emir,
traditionally from the Al Sabah line. On 31 December 1977
Jabir al Ahmad al Jabir Al Sabah became emir. Crown prince
and prime minister Saad al Abdullah al Salim Al Sabah is the
appointed successor.
Crude oil and refined products account for most of the
country's exports. The reserves of crude oil are estimated
to be 10% of the world total, the third largest quantity in
the world. Kuwait’s other main industries include
desalination, food processing, and the manufacturing of
building materials, which include plastics, cement, and
metal pipes |
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Population:
2,363,325 (official estimate 2003).
Capital:
Kuwait City.
Major Cities: Ahmadi, Jahra, Hawalli, Farwania.
Language:
Arabic, but English is widely
understood, especially in commerce and industry.
Religion:
95 per cent Muslim (mostly of the
Sunni sect), with Christian and Other minorities.
Time:
GMT + 3.
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 50Hz; single phase.
UK-type flat three-pin plugs are used.
Communications:
Telephone:
Full IDD is available. Country
code: 965. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone:
GSM 900 and 1800 networks.
Network operators include Mobile Telecoms Co (website:
www.mtc-vodafone.com) and National Mobile
Telecommunications Co (website:
www.wataniya.com).
Fax:
Most hotels have facilities.
Internet:
Internet cafes throughout Kuwait
provide public access to e-mail and Internet services. ISPs include
Fast Telco Co. (website:
www.fasttelco.com)
and QualityNet (website:
www.qualitynet.net).
Telegram:
Telegram services are available
24-hours at the Ministry of Post and Telegraph Offices, Abdullah Al
Salem Square, Kuwait City, but must be handed to the post office
(opening hours: Sat-Wed 0700-1400, Thurs 0700-1200).
Post:
Airmail to Western Europe takes about
5 days.
Press:
The English-language newspapers are
the Arab Times and the Kuwait Times. The press enjoys
a fair degree of freedom.
Radio:
BBC World Service (website:
www.bbc.co.uk) and Voice of America (website:
www.voa.gov) can be
received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most
up-to-date can be found online. |
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