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URBAN GROWTH & PLANNING
The transformation of Kuwait since the discovery of oil in 1938, goes beyond the urban development of impressive architectural buildings, roads and new townships. It changed the life style once dependent on boat building, fishing and pearl diving into sophisticated modern living with all round advancement in technology, Communication, transport, industry, commerce, financial services, medical facilities and education.
Oil was discovered in 1938 but exports started only in 1946 due to Second World War. The First Master plan, drawn up in 1952 during the reign of the late Sheikh Abdallah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, provided for the development of Kuwait Town within the wall and creation of new residencial suburbs beyond the wall along the coastline. This plan utilised for the first time modern planning techniques, and became the blueprint for the modernisation of Kuwait.
A more comprehensive scientific master plan for urbanisation and metropolitan expansion covering the country as a whole was drawn up in 1970 with the help of an international consultant under the recommendation of the UN. This plan led to infrastructural development of the country based on projected urban growth and projected population increase from 853,000 to around 2 million. The plan led to the development of urban centres along the coast , from Fahaheel and Ahmadi in the south to Jahra in the northwest. However, the population increase was beyond expectation due to influx of foreign labour, and the plan had to be revised after five years.
In December 1996, preliminary details of Kuwait’s third master plan (KMP3) were published. Under this plan the population of Kuwait is expected to grow to just over 3.5 million by 2015, and KMP3 sets out comprehensive integrated policies for land use, natural resources, the environment, population and settlements, employment and commercial centres, recreation, transport, utilities and other national facilities.
The state five-year development plan for 2001-06, which aimed at six major economic reforms and development programmes, including financial reforms, cut in expenditure, investments, activating the private sector, educational and administrative development. The 2006-2010, five-year work plan was reviewed by the cabinet and the Higher Council of Planning and Development in March 2006.The plan will form the basis for development efforts and accomodate the country's political, economic and social aspirations as well as being realistic while achieving its goals.
New Projects
Project of developing Failaka Island into a tourist destination, estimated to be worth $ 2.7 billion, is being discussed and firms are presenting their proposals to the government.
The Bubiyan Island project's study findings and recommendations got approval from the Council of Ministers. The total cost of the port on Bubiyan Island is KD 345 million ($ 1.2 billion). Out of which KD 305 million for infrastructure will be paid by the government and KD 40 million for equipment will be open for bidding for the private sector. The seaport is expected to complete in 2008 and will include the containers station, a free trade zone and a light industries' area.
A new residencial city named after His Highness the Amir, 'Jaber Al-Ahmad City', is expected to be the most modern residential areas to be built north of Amghara area. The city will enjoy integrated infrastructure and services with green areas, playgrounds, car parking etc.
The new town Subiyah will have a Subiyah causeway. The project will provide connection with easy access to main destinations within Kuwait city and reduce travel time.
'Liberation City' project, involving the construction of the highest skyscraperin the world (1,100 meters), is being discussed. The building will be named 'Kuwait Towers' will have 250 floors.
AREAS OF KUWAIT
The City of Kuwait still retains its five original districts - Sharq, Dasman, Mirqab, Salhiya and Qibla, although today it has spread much beyond the boundary of the old surrounding wall. Ninety percent of the population live in the Metropolitan Area, a coastal belt stretching from Jahra, at the western edge of Kuwait Bay, to Mina Abdulla in the south. The rest of the country is very sparsely populated.
Kuwait’s oil wells are located in the oil fields in the heart of the country and are connected by pipelines to the refineries and export facilities in the Ahmadi-Shuaiba area.
Industry is restricted to industrial areas. Shuaiba is the largest and contains most of the country’s heavy industries, many of which are based on raw materials derived from oil. Kuwait’s second industrial area sprawls through Shuwaikh and Al-Rai. Shuwaikh contains many small workshops, several large plants producing construction materials, as well as various wholesale and retail businesses. There is a neatly laid-out light industrial area in Sabhan with mainly assembly-type plants, printing presses, food and beverages factories and warehousing. Several smaller industrial areas are located in Sulaibikhat, Jahra and Ahmadi.
Being a desert country with arid soil, harsh weather and insufficient irrigation water the farming areas, such as Wafra, Sulaibiya and Abdali, use modern desert farming techniques and manage to get good results. Animal husbandary is also given special attention and there are well developed cattle and chicken farms.
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
Kuwait is a fully independent Arab State with a democratic style of government, and has a written constitution which states that sovereignty resides in the people. The constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, some of which are regulated by law. The constitution imposes commitments to social welfare on the state and obliges it, in particular, to care for the young, the ill and the old, to safeguard public health, to promote education, to encourage science, letters and the arts, to protect the heritage of Islam and the Arabs, and to endeavour to make work available for all citizens. The pillars of the Constitution are the sovereignty of State, public freedom and equality before the law.
The Head of State
The Amir is the head of state. He must be a male descendent of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah.
The Crown Prince, the Amir’s successor, is chosen by the Amir himself but his choice must be approved by the National Assembly. If approval is not given, the Amir nominates three descendants of Sheikh Mubarak from whom the Assembly chooses the Crown Prince. When an Amir dies, the Crown Prince automatically becomes the new Amir who takes oath in front of National Assembly.
The Legislative Process
Legislative power is vested both in the Amir and the National Assembly, and either have the power to propose laws. To become law, a bill must usually be passed by the Assembly and sanctioned or ratified by the Amir. The Amir then promulgates the law, ie proclaims it publicly. A new law is published in Al-Kuwait Al-Youm, the official gazette, within two weeks of being promulgated and it usually comes into force one month later.
When the National Assembly is not in session or is dissolved, the Amir may issue laws by decree. Detailed regulations under specific laws are often made by Amiri decree, or by ministerial resolution where a particular law allows this. Much of Kuwait’s detailed administrative, social and commercial regulations are issued as ministerial resolutions.
The National Assembly
Democratic style of Government existed in some form in much earlier times but the first parliamentary elections in Kuwait were held in 1963. Kuwait’s National Assembly consists of 50 elected members plus any government ministers who are not elected members. Elections are held every four years. Annual sittings begin in October and recess in late summer. Kuwait is divided into 25 constituencies: each constituency elects two members. A draft law submitted by a government affiliated ministerial committee has proposed to cut down the number of electrol constituencies to 10. It may be cut down to 5 or settle to just one constituency concept. Kuwaiti citizens of age 21 and above have the voting rights. Kuwaiti women were given full political rights to vote and to participate in the country's political life in May 2005. Kuwaiti women got their first chance to vote and run for the parliament on June 29, 2006, a year earlier, due to dissolution of the parliament by the Amir.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is the executive authority in Kuwait. The chairman of the council is the Prime Minister used to be generally the Crown Prince, appointed by the Amir who is the head of Government. However, in July 2003 by an Amiri decree the post of Prime Minister is delinked from the position of Crown Prince to have a Prime Minister appointed by the Amir to shoulder the responsibilities. By Amiri decree the First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah was appointed as the Prime Minister. Government ministers do not have to be members of the National Assembly but upon appointment they become ex-officio members. It is the Amir who appoints them on the Prime Minister’s recommendation and the Assembly has no role in choosing the executive, though the Assembly has the right to accept or reject the recommendations. The total number of ministers cannot be more than one-third of the total number of members of the Assembly. The Prime Minister presides over meetings of the Council of Ministers (the cabinet), which are held in secret.
Higher Advisory Councils
There are various higher or supreme advisory councils to assist the government in formulating long-term policies in particular areas. For example, the Supreme Petroleum Council is responsible for the State’s oil policies, and the Higher Advisory Committee for Labour Affairs advises the Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour on labour issues. The composition of these councils reflects a cross-section of specialists and groups with interests in a particular area. Their members are appointed by the Amir.
The Governorates
The State of Kuwait is divided into six governorates: the Capital, Hawally, Ahmadi, Jahra, Farwaniyah and Mubarak Al-Kabir. Each is headed by a governor, a representative of the Amir, who is supported by a council for the governorate. Governors are usually members of the ruling family or closely allied to it. Membership of the councils is by appointment.
The roles of the governors and their councils are related to social and security aspects. These include ‘supervising the implementation of state policies, assessing the need for public utilities, responding to the problems of citizens and encouraging cultural and sporting activities’. They act as channels of communication between the centre and the grass-roots. They also oversee local security.
Each governorate is divided into districts or areas, eg, Jabriya, Khaldiya, etc. Each district is headed by a mayor or chief (Mukhtar) who is responsible to the Ministry of Interior.
The Municipality
Kuwait Muncipality was established in 1930. There is only one Municipal Council for the entire state. The Council has 16 members, of whom 6 are appointed by the Amir and 10 elected by those eligible to vote in National Assembly elections.
The Municipality is responsible for a variety of functions, including the usual municipal services such as town cleaning and refuse collection, and food and restaurant inspection. It has far-reaching executive powers in commercial licensing, health and safety at work, land acquisition, urban organisation and planning and the approval of infrastructural projects. It is responsible for issuing building licenses in the Metropolitan Area.
E-government Project
To exploit the potentials brought by the information revolution to enhance the standards of services, boosting efficiency and accuracy, Kuwait’s Cabinet approved in August 2000 the setting up of the Supreme National Committee which will be in charge of incorporating the latest in information technology in all stages of government work. The realisation of the e-government project will simplify work procedure, facilitate transfer and sharing of information which will lead to conserving efforts and resources.
Services offered by eight state institutions would be available to public through automated systems and the internet. Automated services by the ministries of Interior, Education, Justice and health as well as the Civil Service Commission, the Public Authority for Civil Information, Kuwait Municipality and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) are now available.
The Ministry of Interior has begun executing the major components of the Ministry’s database which is linked through high speed fibre optic network to all the Ministry’s service centres, the Ministry of Communications’ central computer and the databases of seven other government bodies.
Another government body on the frontline of the modernisation process is the Civil Service Commission (CSC) which claims to allow access to 764 government services through a single ‘Portal’ through the CSC website: www.CSC.net.kw.
A recent development in this direction is the introduction of the ‘smart ID card’ by The Public Authority For Civil Information (PACI)for renewal of ID cards without any paper work involved.
The first issue of "Kuwait e-bulletin" was broughtout by the Central Technical Body for Implementing Information Technology in June 2005. Kuwait signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Singapore in September 2004 to acquire the latest technologies for implementation in Kuwait to simplify all procedures and transactions at the ministries. The key priorities for the development of the e-government site have been agreed upon. The site will enable all state institutions to provide their services seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
THE LAW & COURT SYSTEM
The independence of the judiciary and the right of recourse to the courts for all persons is guaranteed in the constitution. Kuwaiti Courts have the power to decide all cases, including commercial disputes with the government.
The court system is divided into six main divisions: family, criminal, civil, commercial, leases and administrative. There are three levels of tribunal: The Courts of First Instance, The Higher Court of Appeal, and The Court of Cassation.
All cases are first tried in a court of first instance in the appropriate division — the Commercial Court, for example, considers commercial matters. The main courts of first instance are located in the Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, but there are also local courts in other areas for settling disputes between individuals where the value of a claim does not exceed KD 5,000. There are also special courts of first instance, such as the labour court and the traffic court, for deciding particular types of cases.
There are three ways in which a court judgement may be appealed: to the higher court of appeal, by cassation, and by a request for a rehearing. In the higher court of appeal, the whole case is tried again. In the court of cassation the case is not tried again but a petition is made to have the verdict set aside on the grounds that it was wrongly rendered or that the law was incorrectly applied. A request for a rehearing is a petition to have a case sent back to the court where it was originally heard so that mistakes of fact or law may be corrected.
THE SECURITY FORCES
Kuwait has an array of security forces. The Ministry of Defence is responsible for external security and its army, navy and airforce are among the most comprehensively equipped in the world. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for internal security. Other security forces include the National Guard which defends establishments of a sensitive nature and provides assistance to the military and the security forces, and the Amiri Guard which is responsible for the safety of the Amir.
Each area has a police station and the general police uses cars with black and white colours and the traffic police has white and blue cars.
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Kuwait is served by a variety of public authorities and there is also a wide range of public institutions which provide various services to citizens and residents. These bodies can be contacted at the telephone numbers shown in KPG Useful Telephone Numbers.
The Central Bank of Kuwait (CB) acts as banker and financial advisor to the government, directs monetary and credit policies, supervises the banking system, as well as issuing and controlling the Dinar.
The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) maintains a comprehensive database on citizens and expatriates. PACI issues the civil ID card which must be carried by all residents.
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) promotes applied research in areas closely connected with Kuwait’s development needs. It includes the National Scientific & Technical Information Centre (NSTIC) which supplies scientific data to public and private clients.
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) is a funding agency for the promotion and support of scientific research throughout the world. It sponsors research in pure and applied sciences, engineering, health, food and socio-economic sciences worldwide and awards prizes for scientific achievements beneficial to Kuwait.
The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is the government’s main investment agent both overseas and locally. It operates from the Ministries complex in Kuwait City but has several overseas offices.
The Government Audit Bureau is responsible for auditing the accounts of ministries and public establishments. The Bureau has wide powers of investigation and submits an annual report to the National Assembly and the Government.
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) transmits to local and foreign subscribers in Arabic and English and exchanges news with 30 international and regional news agencies. Its news gathering centre in Vienna transmits the news of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) in English to European countries.
The Public Authority for Industry (PAI) is responsible for promoting and developing local industry. It also issues industrial licences and supervises industrial activities.
The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has overall responsibility for the development of ranching, agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries in Kuwait, and provides financial and technical assistance to private companies.
The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA) administers Shuaiba Industrial Area and leases plots to factories and companies at nominal annual rents. The SAA’s functions are being taken over by the PAI.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) provides development loans to Arab and non-Arab lesser developed countries (LDCs) on a politically neutral basis, taking the social benefits of schemes into account. Loans are given without any linkage to exports from Kuwait or to opportunities for Kuwaiti contractors. KFAED also provides grants to enable LDCs to conduct feasibility studies for development projects and macro-economic planning and related activities, and contributes the Kuwaiti share of a number of multilateral institutions such as the Arab Fund for Economic Development and the African Development Bank.
NON-GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ORGANISATIONS
There are several non-government organisations which greatly influence the country's political and business life. They advise the government on commercial matters, and have official and quasi-judicial roles in the organisation and control of business activities.
The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry
The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) is the main business organisation in Kuwait. The KCCI has several quasi-governmental roles:
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All Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti agents, firms and businesses operating in Ku- wait must be registered with the KCCI.
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Only KCCI members may obtain import licences.
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Only KCCI members may bid for government contracts, and
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Agency agreements must be registered with the KCCI before they can be registered with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The KCCI also has two quasi-judicial roles:
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It maintains an official court of arbitration for resolving business disputes, and
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It is involved in standard setting and defining customary practices in commercial matters.
The KCCI must, by law, be consulted when legislation concerning industry, commerce and finance is being considered, and the Chamber has been very successful in representing the business communities' views on matters affecting the economy. The KCCI publishes the Kuwaiti Economist, a widely read monthly magazine in Arabic, and pamplets on local business regulations. It is active internationally and has strong links with Gulf, Arabic, Islamic and International chambers of commerce.
The Kuwait Society of Engineers
The Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) is a club for engineers and architects. Its main functions are:
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advising the government on urban planning and architecture,
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providing an arbitration service in dis putes of a technical nature under con struction contracts,
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Providing expert witnesses on con- struction matters in court cases,
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Organising seminars on engineering and architectural topics, and
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Organising architectural competitions.
Membership of the KSE is restricted to those with engineering or similar degrees, but is mandatory for persons taking up certain government appointments.
The Kuwaiti Industries Union
The Kuwait Industries Union (KIU) is a general union for industrialists, which:
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Promotes industrial development in Kuwait,
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Carries out technical and economic studies on industrial matters,
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Advises the government on industrial issues,
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Provides its members with an information exchange on technical, industrial and legislative matters, and
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Organises lectures and training courses on industrial technology.
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Prints a monthly magazine 'Al- Senaee'.
Membership is mandatory for all persons and companies licensed to operate factories in Kuwait.
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Several inter-Arab organisations have their headquarters in Kuwait. This is partly because Kuwait helped to found them, and partly because it was one of the few places in the region with an established infrastructure and reasonably reliable transport and telecommunications links when they were being founded.
These organisations include the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries(OAPEC), the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development (AFESD), the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation (IAIGC), the Arab Planning Institute (API), and the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO). Many are located in the Arab Organisations Building, a new triumphal edifice in Shuwaikh.
The Gulf Cooperation Council
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political, defence and economic alliance, established by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia in 1981, which is moving gradually but cautiously towards a form of federation based on its members’ common cultural roots. Though its political and security aspects are the most publicly prominent, the charter is primarily an economic instrument designed to establish a Gulf Common Market. The GCC’s head-quarters are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and its six members control 45% of the world’s oil reserves.
In order to enhance their economic ties, the six member states signed a Unified Economic Agreement (UEA) in 1982, which provides for free trade, the free movement of labour and capital, the coordination of economic policies, and cooperation in transport, utilities and communications between GCC member countries.
THE ECONOMY
Kuwait's economy is totally based on its oil revenues. The non-oil revenues contribute only to the extent of about eight per cent. All companies involved in oil, natural gas and petrochemicals production are state owned.
The form of the Kuwaiti economy may be described as paternal capitalism. The economy has five main characteristics:
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It depends on oil for a large portion of national income.
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It relies on imports to satisfy most of its requirements for goods and services.
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There are few trade barriers between it and the outside world.
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It has limited domestic investment opportunities, and
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It incorporates a high level of welfarism.
The most important economic activity in Kuwait is the transformation of mineral wealth into disposable funds which are then deployed to attain social, political and economic ends. Local production of crude oil, gas and refined products accounts for nearly half of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and more than 94% of exports. Kuwait also has substantial overseas investments, both privately and publicly owned, which provide substantial income. Non-oil development depends on revenues generated from these sources.
The economy has four main sectors; the dominant public sector of government institutions and state-owned oil companies, the private sector controlled mainly by local merchant families, the joint sector in which business enterprises are owned by a mix of public and private interests, and the consumer cooperative sector in which the local 'co-op' supermarkets are owned by Kuwaitis residing locally.
Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals
Kuwait has abundant reserves of crude oil. But it has a relative shortage of natural gas.
The State of Kuwait owns all mineral wealth within the territory of Kuwait including its offshore reserves, and a half-share of the reserves in the Partitioned Neutral Zone (PNZ). The industry is wholly-owned and firmly controlled by the state through:
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The Supreme Petroleum Council
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The Ministry of Oil
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Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
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KPC's Operating Subsidiaries
The Supreme (or Higher) Petroleum Council is responsible for the country's overall oil policy. The Ministry of Oil regulates the industry, and directs political relationships with other producing countries, international organi-sations such as OPEC and OAPEC, and major consuming entities.
THE PEOPLE & THE CULTURE
The post-oil boom era of over four decades transformed Kuwait not only in its physical infrastructure, the population structure also changed completely with the huge influx of manpower for the development.
Population Summery 2005 |
Total Population |
2,866,888 (100.0%) |
Kuwaitis |
973,283 (34%) |
Expatriates |
1,893,602 (66%) |
Gender (Men:Women) ratio approx: |
Overall |
3:2 |
Kuwaitis |
0.96:1 |
Expatriates |
2:1 |
The Work Force
Employment in Kuwait falls into three categories: the public sector (ministries, other public authorities and the state-owned oil companies), the private sector, and domestic service.
The state employs about 93.7 per cent of Kuwaitis in the work force who enjoy relatively high salaries and generous benefits compared with the private sector.
The government’s role as the dominant employer of national manpower is due to several factors: the state’s perceived duty to provide jobs for all citizens and the high salaries paid in the public sector.
The number of Kuwaitis working in both the public and private sectors had increased by the end of 2004. However, 93.7 per cent of the Kuwaiti working population still remains employed by the public sector and 93.4 percent of expat labour force is in the private sector.
To increase Kuwaiti nationals’ employment in the private sector, the government has implemented certain measures such as extending social allowance to Kuwaitis in the private sector and initiating training sessions to prepare Kuwaitis for work demands of the private sector. The sessions are financed by a 2.5 per cent tax placed on listed companies on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.
A further scheme was implemented in September 2002, whereby the government has placed mandatory limits on employment quotas for Kuwaitis in private sector companies. The new Labour Market Law insists on a certain percentage of of Kuwaiti employees in the private sector firms. The percentage differs from sector to sector, but can reach up to 39 per cent in the communications sector with general requirements in most sectors not exceeding a 10 per cent limit.
POPULATION (December 2005)
Breakdown by age groups
| Age group |
Kuwaitis |
Expatriates |
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Below 5 |
71,031 |
68,992 |
140,023 |
43,408 |
40,604 |
84,012 |
5 - 9 |
67,469 |
64,229 |
131,698 |
42,129 |
39,705 |
81,834 |
10 - 14 |
60,911 |
58,618 |
119,529 |
37,196 |
32,035 |
69,231 |
15 - 19 |
53,326 |
52,239 |
105,565 |
40,269 |
33,673 |
73,942 |
20 - 24 |
44,703 |
44,779 |
89,482 |
104,483 |
59,172 |
163,655 |
25 - 29 |
37,160 |
39,206 |
76,366 |
225,696 |
90,136 |
315,832 |
30 - 34 |
32,646 |
35,624 |
68,270 |
225,333 |
83,698 |
309,031 |
35 - 39 |
28,359 |
31,747 |
60,106 |
207,186 |
73,891 |
281,077 |
40 - 44 |
23,140 |
26,505 |
49,654 |
151,022 |
54,026 |
205,048 |
45 - 49 |
16,740 |
21,589 |
38,329 |
110,832 |
33,820 |
144,652 |
50 - 54 |
12,472 |
16,303 |
28,775 |
65,882 |
17,867 |
83,749 |
55 - 59 |
8,425 |
12,313 |
20,738 |
34,441 |
9,213 |
43,654 |
60 - 64 |
7,190 |
9,048 |
16,238 |
14,966 |
4,789 |
19,755 |
65 + |
13,635 |
14,878 |
28,513 |
11,338 |
6,792 |
18,130 |
TOTAL |
477,216 |
496,070 |
973,286 |
1,314,181 |
579,421 |
1,893,602 |
Source: The Public Aithority for Civil Information |
Population Rise in 2005
According to a report issued by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), in December 2005, the total population of Kuwait has reached 2,866,888 rising by 8.5 per cent over 2004. At the end of 2005 the number of Kuwaitis increased to 973,286 and the non-Kuwaitis number has also increased to 1,893,602.
Nationality |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Percentage |
Kuwaitis |
477,216 |
496,070 |
973,286 |
34.0 |
Non- Kuwaitis |
1,314,181 |
579,421 |
1,893,602 |
66.0 |
Total |
1,791,397 |
1,075,491 |
2,866,888 |
100 |
The Culture
The culture of the Kuwaiti people is very rich and variegated and, like most cultures that thrive, it is undergoing continuous change. Because the country has experienced several hundred years of continuous immigration, the sources of Kuwaiti culture are very diverse.
The Kuwaiti of the pre-oil era survived, in the harshness of the desert or sea, through a mix of finely-honed skills and a highly developed social organisation based on family, clan and tribe, which provided the economic and political support necessary for survival. In return for this support, the individual gave unquestioning service and loyalty to his group. This gave rise to clan-based networks which are still extremely strong and provide the basis of social relations between Kuwaitis today.
The Diwaniyah
The diwaniyah, has existed in Kuwait since time immemorial. The term originally referred to the section of a bedouin tent where the menfolk and their visitors sat apart from the family. In the old City of Kuwait it was the reception area where a man received his business colleagues and male guests. Today the term refers both to a reception hall and the gathering held in it, and visiting or hosting a diwaniyah is an indispensable feature of a Kuwaiti man’s social life.
As a social event, a diwaniyah takes place in the evening in a special room or annex which is usually separate from the rest of a man’s house. Only men are present and they sit around on soft benches or cushions, conversing casually, smoking, nibbling snacks and relaxing over beverages such as tea, coffee or the like. Relatives and friends come and go throughout the evening. The host’s job is to be hospitable and entertain his guests.
There are also more formal diwani-yahs which specialize in particular interests, such as politics or science.
The diwaniyahs are the core of Kuwait’s social,business and political life, the places where topics of interest are discussed, associates introduced, alliances formed, and similar networking activities undertaken. Formal diwaniyahs may be convened to discuss particular topics, sometimes with invited guest speakers. They are also called for particular purposes, such as election campaigns. Formal diwaniyahs are the root of Kuwait’s consensual political system.
Kuwaiti Male Attire
Most Kuwaiti men wear a dishdasha, a floor length robe with a centre front opening which is put on over the head.
The headdress of the Kuwaiti male consists of three parts. The gutra is a square piece of cloth which is folded into a triangle and then placed centrally on the head so that the ends hang down equally over the shoulders. It is held in place by an ogal, a double circlet of twisted black cord, which is placed firmly over the head. Often a gahfiya, a close-fitting skull cap, is worn under the gutra to stop it from slipping.
Kuwaiti Female Attire
Many Kuwaiti women dress in western clothes. However their traditional clothing, such as the thob (a straight-sided long overdress), is still used on festive occasions.
When in public many local women cover their chic western clothing with an aba, a head-to-toe silky black cloak. Bedouin women may also wear a burga, a short black veil which leaves the eyes and forehead exposed, or occasionally a bushiya, a semi-transparent veil which covers the entire face.
The hijab, or Islamic headscarf, which conceals the hair while leaving the face unveiled, is worn by many Kuwaiti and expatriate muslim women.
Marriage
Social status, financial standing and religious sect are some of the important considerations. Some marriages are still arranged in Kuwait. However there is no coercion and both partners are free to accept or reject their parents’ choice. If no marriage partner could be found by parents among their extended family or close acquainted families, services of a female go-between (Khataba) is sought.
Once an agreement to marry has been reached, the contract is signed according to Islamic law fixing an amount of mahr or dowry which the man must pay. This is followed by a public announcement and then separate wedding receptions are held for the woman and the man. Both are extremely lavish. Weddings are major social occasions.
Births
Lavish Kuwaiti hospitality prevails on the birth of a child, more so if the infant is a son. The baby, whether a boy or girl, will receive presents of gold jewelry. Traditionally the mother will stay at home for 40 days after the birth eating special foods, such as gabout (a type of mutton stew), to restore her strength.
Once his first-born son has been named, a father will be addressed by his son’s name prefixed with ‘Abu’, meaning ‘the father of’’.
Deaths
Since death is regarded as God’s will, excessive display of grief is considered evil and elaborate ceremonies are regarded unnecessary. When a person dies, according to Islamic rites,the body is buried before sundown on the day of death. It is usually accompanied to the graveyard by male relatives only. The family of the deceased stay at home for a period of three days following the funeral to receive condolences. Each morning for three days, the men of the family hold a condolence diwaniyah and even casual acquaintances will come to pay their respects. The men of the family sit in a row with their elders in the middle. But they all stand when a visitor arrives. The visitor goes down the line shaking hands and murmuring condolences, then sits quietly for a while before leaving.
Women receive condolences separately. A widow observes idda (strict seclusion) for four lunar months and ten days after her husband’s death.
Cooking
Because of Kuwait’s coastal location seafood is prominent in the local diet. Bedouin influence has given a special place to Kharoof (mutton), tamar (dates) and laban (yoghurt). Ancient trading links with India have influenced the variety of spices used. Immigrants from Iran and, more recently, expatriates from Lebanon have added their culinary input. The influence of the Far East is also discernible in modern Kuwaiti cooking. Kuwaiti cuisine is a synthesis of the various techniques and ingredients that traders, travellers and immigrants have brought to Kuwait, a synthesis which is unique and recognisably Kuwaiti.
THE ARTS AND FOLK SCENE
Kuwait has persistantly paid special attention to refining and preserving the folk arts. In 1956 the “Folklore preservation Centre” was established and in 1982 folklores were included within the curriculums of teaching the folklore subject for students of music, theatre and fine arts.
Kuwait has a long tradition of story telling, poetry, folk dancing and music. Local folklore and traditional music centre on tales of the desert and the sea, children’s stories, riddles and proverbs. Poetry, with historical and modern themes, is still written in Kuwait.
Kuwaiti males excel in lilth-like dancing which they perform on special family and social occasions. The well-known Ardah is a very graceful slowish dance performed by groups of men gently swinging swords to the sound of drums, tambourines and sung-poetry. Other popular rhythmic dances are the Samri, Khamari, and the Tanboura which are performed at family gatherings, social occasions and wedding celeberations.
Kuwait Television has formed the Kuwait Television Folklore Troupe which presents Kuwaiti folklore abroad at various world festivals.
Beduine art is the most prominent expression of Kuwaiti folk arts and is best illustrated by ‘SADU’weaving, creating rugs with beautiful geometric designs from hand-dyed and spun wool. To keep the craft alive the government opened Al-Sadu House on the Gulf road in Kuwait city.
ARCHITECTURE
Kuwait city today exhibits modernity in every aspect, especially the architecture. Kuwait has fostered a renaissance in Arabian urbanism and architecture and has created a new local idiom. The themes used by the later architects, many from America, Japan and Scandinavia, were inspired by Kuwaiti history, life styles and customs. Tent shapes, links with camels and oasis, boats and the sea, and the geometry and colour of Islamic culture, have created a new architectural imagery in keeping with the climate and the traditional solutions to its harshness.
The groups of flat-topped mushroom shaped water towers sited in the suburbs evoke the image of palm trees around an oasis. The interior of the international airport and the two vast exterior white roofs of the National Assembly are clear reminders of the shapes of tents. The cool marble hall of the Central Bank, with offices to the side, is inspired by the courtyards flanked by rooms found in traditional houses. Through the windows and colonnades of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the flashes of bright tiles lining the walls evoke the mosaics of Islamic art. And in today’s suburbs there is a wide variety of impressive villas, many with Morrocan, Spanish, and Indian influences.
The mosques of old Kuwait, like the homes and buildings, were simple, with low minarets and little decoration. Today there is an exquisite mosque in every street, some in traditional, many in ultra-modern, Islamic styles.
ROADS & PORTS
There are no railways, but Kuwait’s working and living areas are linked by a well designed road system. A series of radial roads fan out from Kuwait City. These are bisected by transverse roads known as ring roads. Kuwait’s third master plan contains proposals, including a railway, for upgrading the road system and public transport. A proposal for railway line to connect Kuwait with Europe via Iraq, Iran and the former Republic of Czechaslovakia, has been referred to Ministry of Communication by the Cabinet in April 2004.
Kuwait’s only civilian airport, Kuwait International Airport, is located in Farwaniya, about 16.5km from the centre of Kuwait City. There are two military airports, one near Jahra, the other in the south.
Kuwait exports its oil and refined hydrocarbon products through the ports of Mina Ahmadi, Mina Abdullah, Mina Az-Zoor and Shuaiba. Kuwait also has two commercial sea-ports, in Shuwaikh and Shuaiba, for imports and non-oil exports. These ports handle bulk, containerised, refrigerated and general cargoes and they also have Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) facilities. A third commercial port in Doha is used by dhows and barges carrying light cargoes between Kuwait and Iran and ports lower down in the Gulf.
ELECTRICITY & WATER
Kuwait has five electricity generating stations in operation: Shuwaikh, Doha East, Doha West, Al-Zour, and Shuaiba South. These power stations can run on gas or oil. Energy requirements in Kuwait are relatively high because of the climate and during high summer domestic needs, such as air-conditionning, account for about two-thirds of total demand. This demand for energy is rising due to the continuous increase in the population and an expansion in industry. A new power station being built in Subiya, plus an additional plant planned for az-Zour, should ensure that generating capacity exceeds demand until 2009.
Potable water is produced by desalinating sea-water, to which about 10% brackish water is added to replace minerals and enhance taste. Each power station has an adjacent distillation plant and the production of drinkable water is tied to the generation of electricity. The fresh water is sent from the distillation plants to reservoirs whence it is pumped to groups of elevated cone-shaped towers, notable landmarks in suburban Kuwait, and thence distributed to consumers. The famous Kuwait Towers on the seif (water front) are the reservoirs that supply the City. Subiya water station project is expected to complete in 2007 and will produce 50 million gallons of water per day. The naturally occuring sweet water in Al-Rawdhatain and Umm al-Aish is bottled in a plant that has an annual production capacity of 12m 1.5 litre bottles a year. This could supply about half the annual local demand for bottled mineral water but, to preserve Kuwait’s only strategic reserve of pure water, output is restricted.
There are several major sewage treatment plants. About 75% of treated sewage effluent is discharged into the sea.
RECREATIONAL AMENITIES
Despite its harsh climate, Kuwait is a pleasant place to live in. The country is surprisingly green in parts and contains many fine parks and gardens.
Kuwait has plenty of recreational facilities such as chalets and sea clubs, recreational parks and children’s entertainment centres
THE RELIGION
Article 2 of the Constitution states,”The religion of the State is Islam, and the Islamic Sharia shall be one of the main source of legislation.” The vast majority of Kuwaitis are Muslim, though there are a few Christian Kuwaiti families. Article 35 of the Constitution states that “Freedom of belief is absolute. The State protects the freedom of practicing religion in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict with public policy or morals.” The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has the responsibility of maintaining the spiritual and religious aspects and preserve the Islamic heritage.
Sectarian Divisions
Islam is divided into two main sects- Sunnis and Shias. Majority of the Kuwaiti population is Sunni though Shias form the main minority sect.
ISLAM
Islam means ?peace and submission to the Will of God?. The basic tenets of Islam are: that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the Final Prophet of God.
In Islam, morally correct behavior includes performing the religious duties known as the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj.
Shahada is the profession of faith: ?There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger?. Salat means prayer; a Muslim must face Mecca and recite prescribed prayers five times a day. Zakat is an obligatory property tax on Muslims. Sawm is fasting, (during the month of Ramadan) which entails abstaining from food, drink, tobacco and sexual intercourse between sunrise and sunset. Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca every Muslim must make once in his lifetime provided he is physically and financially capable; Hajj is performed during the 12th month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. In Kuwait, eating, drinking (even water) and smoking in public are strictly prohibited to both Muslims and non-Muslims. People may be fined or imprisoned for violating the prohibition.
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