Kuwait is your prototypical oil-rich state, and travellers
looking for a relaxed entry into the Muslim world can look forward
to wandering around mosques, souks and other sandy traces of
bygone Bedouin days. Behind the glitz of open opulence lies
a deep sense of traditional values and warm Arabian hospitality.
When Iraqi troops were driven out in early 1991 and reconstruction
work began in the ruins of Kuwait City, the government became
obsessed with meticulously re-creating the country's pre-invasion
appearance - right down to the pink marble steps at the entrance
to the city's leading five-star hotel.
Full country name: The State of Kuwait
Area: 17,800 sq km
Population: 2.2 million
People: Kuwaiti (45%), other Arab (35%), Asian (9%)
Language: Arabic, English
Religion: Muslim (85%), Christian, Hindu
Government: nominal constitutional monarchy
Head of State: Prime Minister Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
GDP: US$43.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$22,700
Annual Growth: 3%
Inflation: 1%
Major Industries: Petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination
Major Trading Partners: Japan, India, US
