The capital of Kuwait is Kuwait City. It is a sovereign Arab emirate bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. Kuwait has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and is the fourth richest country in the world per capita.
The CIA Factbook of Kuwait. And the history, geography, government, and culture.
Oprah Winfrey interviews Zain Al Sabah
Zain Al Sabah
Thirty-year-old Zain Al Sabah was born into Middle Eastern royalty—her great uncle is the Emir, the current ruler, of Kuwait. And Zain created a stir when she announced she wanted to marry a commoner instead of following the old Kuwaiti tradition of marrying your cousin to preserve the family name and wealth. Now Zain lives in a stunning home with her husband's parents, which is common for young married couples here, but she is building her own home, complete with a pool, gym, tennis court and theater.
In this tiny, oil-rich country, wealth is not reserved just for royals. Zain explains Kuwaiti citizens get free education through college, free medical care and they don't pay taxes! When a Kuwaiti couple gets married, the Emir gives them a $12,000 wedding gift! Most native Kuwaitis also enjoy extravagant lifestyles—mansions, servants and lots of shopping. For example, Zain says her friends fly to Paris and Milan just to buy their wedding dresses. "You don't have to worry about your college education, so why not spend that money on your daughter's wedding gown?"
There are freedoms that Kuwaiti women do not enjoy. Though it's considered one of a few democracies in the Middle East, women do not have the right to vote. "There's nothing I can tell you right now that can justify that," Zain says. "It's a basic, civil, human right. We're considered to be a democratic country. Obviously that democracy is kind of lopsided. I don't mind at all taking it one step at a time. Because, you know what? When the women come on the scene, it's going to be amazing."
* Gained it's independence from Britain on July 20, 1961.
* It's a constitutional monarchy, governed by the al-Sabah family.
* Oil was discovered there in the 1930s, and Kuwait proved to have 20% of the world's known oil resources. Since 1946 it has been the world's second-largest oil exporter.
President Obama meets with the Amir of Kuwait on 8/3/09.
