Simple directory > Regional > Kuwait

Official name: State of Kuwait Head of State: Emir Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah Head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al Ahmad al Jabir al Sabah (appointed by the Emir 13 Jul 2003) Ruling party: 16-member Council of Ministers (appointed 2003) Area: 17,818 square km (including neutral zone) Population: 2.39 million (2004) Capital: Kuwait City Official language: Arabic Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rate: KD0.30 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$16,388 (2003) GDP real growth: 2.70% (2003) Labour force: 1.30 million (2003) Unemployment: 7.00% (2003) Inflation: 2.10% (2003) Oil production: 2.24 million bpd (2003) Balance of trade: US$396.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$10.40 billion (2003)

 

Historical profile
Kuwait became part of Ottoman Empire during the sixteenth century. It became semi-autonomous in the later years of Ottoman rule, under the Sheikh of the al Sabah family.

1899 The Sheikh accepted British protection in order to counter the spread of Turkish influence. It also granted control of external relations to Britain.

1918 The end of the First World War saw the end of what was already only nominal Turkish control over Kuwait.

1938 Oil was first discovered in Kuwait. Further exploration was interrupted by the Second World War. Drilling resumed after the war and Kuwait soon developed into a thriving commercial centre. The government began using oil revenues to develop the country's infrastructure and a modern and comprehensive welfare system.

1961 Kuwait's status as a British protectorate ended and it became an independent country. The ruling Sheikh became the Emir and assumed full executive power.

1977 Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah became Emir, succeeding Sheikh Sabah al Salem al Sabah.

1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait. The invasion was condemned by the international community which, led by the US, deployed armed forces to Saudi Arabia.

1991 The Allies launched an aerial bombing campaign against Iraqi forces in Kuwait and Iraq in January. US-led ground forces entered Kuwait and in February, Iraq agreed to accept all UN resolutions concerning Kuwait. A demilitarised zone between Iraq and Kuwait was established, to be monitored by the UN.

1999 Islamists and Liberals swept to victory in parliamentary elections. A draft law granting women full political rights, including the right to vote, was narrowly rejected. Parliament was dissolved following a dispute over a misprinted Qur'an.

2000 Kuwait put its armed forces on partial alert after Iraq President Saddam Hussein made hostile remarks during a speech on the tenth anniversary of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

2001 The Constitutional Court refused to grant women the vote.

2002 Emir Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah returned home after three months of medical treatment in London after he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

2003 Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq, two-thirds of Kuwait, including the border with Iraq, was declared a closed military area, with more than 150,000 US troops in the desert. Islamist and pro-government candidates did well in the 5 July parliamentary elections. On 13 July, Emir Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabah appointed his brother, foreign minister Sheikh Sabah al Ahmad al Jabir al Sabah, as prime minister, separating the post from the role of heir to the throne for the first time since independence; the deputy emir is Crown Prince Sheikh Sa'd al Abdallah al Salim al Sabah, who is in his seventies.

2004 In May, the Council of Ministers approved a bill giving women the right to vote and stand for parliament.

2005 Gun battles were fought in January between suspected Islamist militants and police. In March, several hundred women demonstrated in Kuwait City against the delay in allowing women to vote and run for office in parliamentary elections. For the first time, two women were named as members of the municipal council in June and because of a change in the law, women will be able to take part in parliamentary elections in 2007.

 

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