Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Natural resources

Petroleum, fish natural gas

Currency

The Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) is divided into 1,000 fils.

one kuwaiti dinar = 3.75 usa dolar

Emergency telephone number

Dial 777

Business Times

Government : Saturday to Thursday, 7.00am to 2.00pm

Private Sector: Times vary, usually Sunday to Thursday, half day Saturday

Banks: Sunday to Thursday, 8.00am to 1.00pm (some banks are open for custom afternoons 5.00pm to 7.00pm)

Electricity

220/240 volts AC, 50 cycles 3-phase

Climate

Desert climate; long hot and dry summers with short, mild winters when there is occasional rainfall. Sandstorms may occur in the summer months, though this has not been a recent phenomenon. Humidity may occasionally reach high levels during these months.

Language

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken among most inhabitants. There is also few minorities speaking Indian, French and German.

The state of Kuwait became independent in 1963 anf joined the Un in 1963.

Before the discovery of oil, the people of Kuwiat relied on pearl diving and business travelling using wooden boats and ships in the Arabian Gulf. Most of Kuwait's business ties were made with India, where they used to sell their pearls to buy goods to sell back in Kuwait and other gulf countries. Before the existence of the official Kuwaiti Dinnar, Kuwait used the Indian Robbiyah as their official currency.

Government Type

Constitutional monarchy

Governates

Kuwait is administratively divided into six governorates; The Capital, Hawally, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Al-Ahmadi, Al-Farwaniya and Al-Jahraa.

Official Religion

Islam

Geographical Area

17,820

Population (2004)

2,645,000

Time

3 hours ahead of GMT; 8 hours ahead of EST.

Country Code

++(965) Kuwait has no city codes

Special advice for foreign visitors:

You can drive on an International Driving Licence. Third party insurance is compulsory. Anyone applying for residence in Kuwait can also drive on an International Driving Licence until such time as the residency permit is issued. Thereafter, a Kuwaiti driving licence is required.

If you have an accident you must stay with the vehicle and not attempt to move it. It is an offence to leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive.

Kuwait is a Muslim state and Islamic customs, in public, are strictly observed.

In public, general modesty of behaviour and dress is expected. Women who wear shorts or tight-fitting clothes, in particular in downtown areas, are likely to attract unwelcome attention.

The importation of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and obscene material are forbidden and can lead to imprisonment. Penalties for drug trafficking include the death sentence. Drunken behaviour in public or driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by a fine or imprisonment and/or deportation and the withdrawal of the driving licence.

Photography near government, military and industrial sites, particularly oil fields, is forbidden.

Homosexual behaviour is illegal. So is any public display of affection between men and women.

Co-habiting in Kuwait is illegal. If you wish to live with your partner in the same house, you need to be married.