Kuwait is the state language. Kuwait - State of Kuwait

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 swamped Bubiyan and Failaka, and the small 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. According to preliminary estimates, oil resources make up about 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 USA 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, legislative power 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 actions of the government, especially in the field of national defense.

Political parties are banned in Kuwait, but there are political movements of Arab nationalists, Islamists, and others. There is a large trade union association, the General Federation of Workers of Kuwait (GFRK), which is part of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions and the World Federation of Trade Unions. 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 a total length of 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 of the merchant fleet is made up of 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), incomplete secondary school (4 years), complete secondary 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, the 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 under 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 was obliged to provide military assistance to 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.

Although Kuwait was able to provide a high standard of living for the population, all the power and wealth in the country was 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.

Kuwait at the end of the 20th century - early 21st century

On August 2, 1990, a 100,000-strong 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 been heading the government since 2003, was proclaimed the new Emir of Kuwait. In 2006, Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Sabah, the nephew of the Emir of Kuwait, became Prime Minister.

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 the weekly newspapers Al-Hadaf (The 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).

In November 2011, thousands of people protested. The parliamentary opposition boycotted the parliament session. From 16 to 17 November, demonstrators broke into the parliament building demanding the resignation of the prime minister and were violently dispersed by the police. 45 protesters were arrested.

There have been several government resignations in Kuwait over the past few years. On November 28, 2011, the Cabinet of Ministers resigned, with the exception of Prime Minister Nasser al-Sabah. The last resignation was caused by the past thousands of demonstrations in the capital. This was the first time such mass protests had taken place since the country's independence. The opposition demanded that corrupt officials from the government be brought to justice and the arrested participants in the seizure of parliament in November 2011 be released.

In October 2012, the head of state, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, dissolved parliament after several months of political stagnation. The Islamist opposition then called on its supporters to demonstrate, considering the new electoral law unconstitutional.

In early December 2012, in early parliamentary elections, representatives of the Shiite minority for the first time won about a third of the seats in the National Assembly - 15 out of 50 deputy mandates.

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State of Kuwait: A Handbook. M., 1990
Kuwait: social development. Leadership, planning, popular participation and humanistic orientations. M., 1997
Kuwait. St. Petersburg, 2000