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Kuwait Facts & Worksheets

The State of Kuwait is a sovereign country in West Asia on the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf.

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The State of Kuwait is a sovereign country in West Asia on the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf. Situated in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait has a desert topography; however, despite having the least-hospitable desert, the country is rich in oil.

See the fact file below for more information on Kuwait or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Kuwait worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GEOGRAPHY

  • Kuwait, with Kuwait City as its capital city, is located on the Arabian Peninsula and is part of the Arab states. It is bordered to the north and west by Iraq and to the south by Saudi Arabia. On its eastern side lies the Persian Gulf thus, the country is one of the major trading hubs in West Asia due to its nearness to the gulf.
  • Kuwait is a small country with a land area of 6,880 mi2 (17,818 km2). Due to its location, most of its land is made up of the Arabian Desert, one of the driest and least-friendly deserts in the world.
  • Kuwait has nine islands with Būbiyān and Al-Warbah as the largest, but both are uninhabited. Amongst the islands, Faylakah is the only one inhabited.
  • Kuwait has an arid climate. It experiences some of the hottest summers on earth, but a relatively cold winter season compared to other countries located in the Persian Gulf.
  • Due to its desert topography, the land area in Kuwait considered as arable is less than 1%, with sparse vegetation located along the coastline.
  • Kuwait does not have a permanent source of fresh water such as rivers. It relies mainly on the process of water desalination, as they have wadis or riverbeds that only have waters during periods of heavy rains.
  • In 1965, the government of Kuwait commissioned the Swedish company VB to develop water towers in the country for its water supply system. Due to their shape, the water towers are often called ‘mushroom towers’.
  • Kuwait is home to hundreds of species of birds as it serves as a crossroads of bird migration. Moreover, mammals such as hedgehogs, jerboa, desert rabbits, as well as the endangered red fox and wild cat can be found in the country.

HISTORY and GOVERNMENT

  • Kuwait was founded in the 18th century. Its capital city, Kuwait City, was named by the Bedouin Bani Utub who settled in the area. The name is derived from the Arabic diminutive of the Hindustani ‘kūt’ meaning ‘fort’ as they saw a fortress in the area upon settling there.
  • Bani Utub was a tribe who took advantage of the water unlike their predecessor, the Bani Kahlid. They used the gulf as a waterway for trading goods such as dates and coffee with neighboring countries.
  • By 1756, Kuwait was ruled by the Al Sabah, a ruling family who held high positions in the social strata of the Bani Utub. They established a sheikdom and expanded Kuwait’s fortune through their intelligence in trading and administrative skills. Later on, Kuwait would not be known only as a trading hub but also as the center for boat building.
  • By 1899, Kuwait became a British protectorate due to severe threats from the Ottoman Empire. They signed the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899 in India between the British government and Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah.
  • They remained a protectorate until 1961.
  • Kuwait is also famous due to its efficiency in pearl trading. However, due to the discovery of the cultivation of artificial pearls and the worldwide economic depression, Kuwait’s economy collapsed. Furthermore, Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia imposed a trade block against the country due to territorial disputes. Due to British interference, the Uqair Protocol of 1922 was signed which defined the territorial borders between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait.
  • By the 1930s, Kuwait’s economy boomed due to the discovery of oil. It became the largest oil exporter in West Asia by 1953, but still shared revenues with British oil companies. The Kuwaiti government only gained full control in the oil industry in 1976.
  • Following the Iraq-Iran War, Kuwait was invaded by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1990. The occupation ended in 1991 after the United States intervened through its military forces.
  • Kuwait is the first Persian Gulf Arab country to gain its independence and promulgated its constitution in 1962.
  • Kuwait practices a semi-democratic political system with the Emir as the head of state. The country has elected officials as well as appointed ones.
  • Kuwait’s justice system was heavily influenced by the Shariah Law and also borrows from European law as well as from the Ottoman Empire.

PEOPLE and CULTURE

  • In terms of ethnic composition, 60% (est. 2013) are Arabs while 40% (est. 2013) are Africans and Asians.
  • Kuwait’s native official language is Arabic.
  • The majority of the people in Kuwait are practicing Sunni Islam while a small portion is Shia. The expatriates commonly practice Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.
  • Kuwait’s culture is conservative mainly due to its Arab-Islamic heritage.
  • Kuwait observes Islamic holidays such as Ramadan and the two Eids: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
  • Part of Kuwaiti customs is the Diwaniyah (diwāniyyah), a gathering of men in a tent or separate chamber in which they gather to enjoy music, games, or food. It is considered part of a man’s social life.
  • Gargee’an (Qarqe’an) is another important celebration in Kuwait. On the 15th night of Ramadan, children dress up in traditional costumes and go to the neighbors to receive sweets while singing traditional songs.
  • Kuwaiti cuisine is a mixture of Arabian, Indian, Persian, and Mediterranean cuisine. Its prominent dishes are machboos, a rice-based cuisine seasoned with spices, and chicken or mutton; and hamour, a grouper paired with rice, and saffi, a rabbitfish.
  • While folk art (Bedouin art) is held important, modern arts and popular arts can also be seen in their theatrical plays, dances, music, television, and soap operas.
  • Sadu House is a popular institution in Kuwait as it highlights Al Sadu weaving, a Bedouin type of weaving.
  • In terms of sports, football is the most popular sport, followed by basketball and ice hockey.
  • In media, Kuwait is frequently regarded as having great press freedom when compared with other Arab states.

Kuwait Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Kuwait across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kuwait worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the State of Kuwait is a sovereign country in West Asia on the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf. Situated in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait has a desert topography; however, despite having the least-hospitable desert, the country is rich in oil.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Locating Kuwait
  • Governorates of Kuwait
  • Correct Me If I’m Wrong
  • Kuwait’s Popular Culture
  • A Glimpse of Kuwait’s History
  • National Emblem
  • Kuwait’s Economic Resources
  • The Latest from Kuwait
  • Exploring Kuwait
  • Kuwait’s Legacy

 

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Link will appear as Kuwait Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 11, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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