Kuwait

Kuwait is a very small country encircled by Saudi Arabia and is situated at the coast of Persian Gulf. The word 'Kuwait' is an Arab word, which means "a fortress built near water". It is an Islamic country and thus, most of the population consists of Muslims and Arabs. Most of the country's economy is based on the oil industry, which is completely under governmental control. The country is modern in every terms of technology and infrastructure.

Official Languages:

The official language of Kuwait is Standard Arabic, but English is widely spoken and understood in the country. In fact, English is the business language of Kuwait. Arabic belongs to the Semitic Language Family. the Arabic language is not only the mode of communication for the citizens of Kuwait but it is the ambassador of the culture too.

Independence, Republic and Government:

Kuwait was earlier named as Qurain by the people of Bani Khaled Tribe in around 18th Century. But with the advent of 20th Century, the Ottoman empire was ruling the Kuwait region. As the Ottoman empire had strings attached to the Britishers, British were in favor of them and therefore, it was a mere cakewalk for the Ottoman's to get an 'autonomous caza'. Shaikhs, who were the natives of that place were not granted any powers. Tables turned upside down after World War I. Ottoman empire fell apart and Shaikhs raised in terms of powers. It was declared as 'the independent Shaikhdom under the protectorate of Britishers'.

The reservoirs of oil converted the country into a rich one and therefore was among the first Persian gulf countries to gain independence on June 19, 1961. For succeeding two years, Kuwait had to face resistance from Iraq, but finally, Iraq recognized Kuwait's borders and the country as an independent territory.

The Kuwait government is operated under the constitutional monarchy and is the royal family of Al-Sabah. The government has been divided into six governorates : Al-Ahmadi, Al- Farwaniyah, Al- Asimah. Al-Jahra, Hawalli and Mubarak Al-Kabeer. The official proceedings of the government take place in the Bayan Palace.

• Kuwait City: It is the capital and the metropolitan city of the country. Situated in the middle of Kuwait, the city is full of modern infrastructure, skyscrapers, malls, modern facilities for communication as well as transportation and much more . It represents the gist of the culture and heritage of the entire Emirates.

• Ahmadi: Being the center of the Kuwait Oil Company, the region is of the utmost importance from the business point of view. Not only the place can be visited for the sake of professional purposes, it's green atmosphere and ancient British architecture makes it look magnificent. There are many sporting clubs and places to hang out and enjoy your holidays.

• Hawalli: Hawalli district is widely known for it's computer related accessories, shopping malls and most for the huge football stadium where many international matches take place. The place offers a great place to shop in an ultra modern aura.

Culture and Heritage:

The culture of Kuwait is very akin to that of Arabic culture. They are hospitable and are generally signified by offering tea or coffee to their guests. Women are granted privacy and there is lesser communication that takes place between men and women. However, men greet other men by shaking hands or giving a peck on cheek. It is customary to ask about the person's wellbeing first when you meet. The traditional cuisine of Kuwait people is 'Machboos', which is actually cooked mutton, chicken or fish garnished over cooked rice. Dewaniya is one of the peculiar cultural institution of Kuwait. It is a meeting place for men, usually, in the evenings where they sit together and exchange views over various issues like political, business, economy etc. This is a symbol of democracy prevalent in the country. Women too have similar meetings. But, men and women do not intermingle in a social manner much.

Kuwait possesses Bedouin crafts, which is famous all over the world. It is called as 'sadu work'. They were gypsy tribe traveling from one place to another and made long and strong tents with goat and camel hair. Kuwait has a tradition of Pearl diving occupation. They also conduct a Pearl Diving Festival in June of every year. Ship Building in beach areas and falconry in desert areas is also very much a part of Kuwait culture and heritage.

Tourism

Kuwait people are hospitable and Kuwait infrastructure is ultra modern. Both the elements attract a lot of tourists to the country. Despite being a small country, Kuwait has no scarcity of hotels, restaurants, night clubs and discos. All available in order to make your trip a memorable and luxurious affair. The transportation and communication is well managed and no inconvenience is likely to be faced by the holiday goers.

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