Kuwait Travel Guide

Kuwait, like many nations in Middle Eastern region, has a rich tribal and cultural history that has been punctuated by relatively recent intense war. The Kuwaitis trace their roots to the Al-Anisa and the Al-Utub tribe from the Najd province, in modern Saudi Arabia. Kuwait became a British Protectorate in 1899. In 1938, oil was first struck at the Burgan oil field in Kuwait, and by 1946, they began exportation. In 1961, Kuwait nullified the treaty of 1899 and became an independent nation. Most recently, Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated Kuwait in four days; February 26 is celebrated as Liberation Day. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

Kuwait is not the ideal vacation spot in the region, but if on a business trip, there are some sites worth seeing