Kuwait Kuwait City
Britain oversaw foreign relations and
defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899
until independence in 1961. 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 liberated Kuwait in four days.
Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil
infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between
Iraq and Saudi Arabia |
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Ethnic groups:
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Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian
4%, other 7% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu,
Parsi, and other 15% |
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Languages:
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Arabic (official), English widely spoken |
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Currency:
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Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
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Currency code:
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KWD
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Exchange rates:
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uwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3075 (January 2002),
0.3066, (2001), 0.3067 (2000), 0.3044 (1999), 0.3047
(1998), 0.3033 (1997) |
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