Kuwait

Kuwait lies between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at the northern tip of the Arabian Gulf. The shoreline curves into Kuwait Bay, where tidal flats, coral patches, and salt marshes support flamingos, mudskippers, and pearl oysters. Most people live in Kuwait City, a metropolis of shaded boulevards, cultural centers, and waterfront parks anchored by the Kuwait Towers. Beyond the city, the desert stretches as gravel plains and low dunes dotted with hardy shrubs that bloom briefly after winter rains.

Summers are scorching, so engineers design buildings with double-glazed windows, deep verandas, and solar shading to block the sun. Massive desalination plants, aquifers, and water- reuse systems supply homes and farms. Environmental teams monitor oil fields to reduce flaring, track dugongs along offshore islands, and replant native arfaj shrubs to stabilize soil. Kuwaitis launched clean-energy pilot projects that mix photovoltaic canopies with underground thermal storage to cool schools and laboratories.

Kuwait is a constitutional emirate. The Amir serves as head of state and appoints a prime minister, while the National Assembly is an elected parliament that debates budgets, education reforms, and environmental policies. Municipal councils oversee public libraries, parks, and recycling centers. Kuwait joined the United Nations in 1963 and often mediates regional diplomacy through humanitarian aid and dialogue hosted in Kuwait City.

The modern economy was transformed in 1938 when commercial oil was discovered at the Burgan Field, one of the world's largest sandstone reservoirs. Refineries, petrochemical labs, and a sovereign wealth fund continue to invest energy revenue in infrastructure, healthcare, and scholarships. The port of Shuwaikh handles containers, while Mina Al Ahmadi loads tankers with petroleum and liquefied gas headed abroad. Small businesses craft perfumes, trade spices, and design digital apps for the growing creative sector.

Culture draws on seafaring history, poetry, and theater. Families gather for meals of machboos rice, harees wheat porridge, and sweet gahwa coffee spiced with cardamom. Museums along the Gulf Road display shipwright tools, archaeological finds from Failaka Island, and art installations honoring the resilience shown during the 1990–1991 Gulf War. Students attend science fairs, robotics clubs, and desert astronomy nights, reflecting a national commitment to education, innovation, and environmental stewardship.