About Kuwait

Kuwait Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
Total Lland: 17,820 sq km

Area—comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 464 km
border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline: 499 km

Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Currency : 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 3.37 US Dollar (USD)

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt

Data code: KU

Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy

National capital: Kuwait

Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legan System : civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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TRANSPORT :

Kuwait has a well developed road system, but there are no trains and public transport is limited to buses and taxis. In the near future a rapid transit system serving the coastal corridor, with direct access into Kuwait City using fixed track vehicles or automated buses, may be created. A proposed GCC-Railway may have terminals in Shuaiba and Shuwaikh. Future plans also include passenger ferries linking the City to Faylaka Island, and to mainland Subiya and Bubiyan Island, and a bridge linking Shuwaikh to Subiya.

THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Kuwait International Airport is in Farwaniyah, about 16.5km from the centre of Kuwait City, a fast 20-minute drive. Operated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, it is considered one of the safest airports in the world. It is the only civilian airport in the country. Aeroplane fuel (Jet A-1) is provided by Kuwait Aviation Fuelling Company (KAFCO) and aircraft catering by Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO). Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) has its operational headquarters at Kuwait International Airport and hangarage for private aircraft is available through KAC. The airport has two terminals. The old Terminal One is used for short-haul passenger flights and freight, and has nearby cargo handling and storage facilities. Just east of this terminal is Terminal Two, the main passenger terminal. All long distance flights depart from and arrive at Terminal Two, which is built in the shape of an aeroplane, its arrival and departure areas forming the wings of a long fuselage which contains the aircraft access gates. Passenger facilities reach international standards and include automatic baggage handling, TV monitors for flight information, a bank, post office, restaurant and buffets, hotel reservations and airline ticketing, shops, a mosque, a transit zone with duty free area, as well as an express courier centre and transit hotel. A two-year $39 million project is launched in September 2000 to expand the country's only international airport to double its capacity to six million passengers a year. The project includes car park, shops, airline offices, restaurants etc. A new terminal is also in the planning which will be executed on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.

LOCATING AN ADDRESS
Getting around Kuwait is easy and quick provided you know your way, as the whole of the Metropolitan Area is laid out in a conical grid-like pattern of main roads, feeder roads and local roads. In addition, most road signs are in English as well as Arabic, though many streets are not sign-posted.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Vehicle number plates are coloured white on private cars, blue on government vehicles, reddish orange on commercial vehicles, and a sort of dun colour on military vehicles.

Taxis
There are several types of taxis: call taxis, orange cabs, and wanettes.
Call taxis are radio controlled 24-hour cabs which are booked by telephoning the company's office. Fares, based on distance, are cheap, a standard KD1 for a trip originating and ending within the same area. Fares get progressively more expensive as trips extend across area boundaries. Fares also increase substantially late at night. The actual fare for a trip is decided by the driver's controller over the radio, either when the cab is booked or at the end of the trip. Regular clients can usually negotiate a discount and credit may be given. Orange cabs are of two types. The first type operate from ranks where they pick up several passengers going to a particular area and then follow set routes. Fares are 150fils a person inside the City, 250fils each (five sharing) from the City to Salmiya, and 500fils from the City to Fahaheel. The orange cabs also operate from outside the main hotels and the airport, where they can be hired without sharing. Fares start from about KD1/250, and are negotiable. Wanettes (pick-up trucks) with red number plates are only authorized to transport goods and to carry passengers accompanying goods.

Public Transport: Bus Services
The Kuwait Transport Company (KTC) has a monopoly on public bus services. KTC has over 30 routes in operation and coverage of the Metropolitan Area is comprehensive. There are two types of buses, ordinary and air-conditioned. The minimum fare on an ordinary bus is 150fils, while the cost from the City to Salmiyah is 200fils. The fare on an air-conditioned bus is 250fils but for certain short distances it is 150fils. KTC is however introducing air-conditioned buses on many routes, replacing the ordinary buses, the fares remaining same as the ordinary buses. Season tickets, which are economical for regular frequent traveller, are available from main bus stations. KTC's buses front seats are always reserved for women. Route maps are available from the KTC terminal in Mirgab. KTC also operates international bus services to several cities in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Special Umrah tours (to Mecca) are also offered by KTC.

DRIVING LICENCES
A GCC national may drive a car in Kuwait on his home country licence. Non-GCC nationals may not drive on a GCC licence. An expatriate on a visit visa may only drive on an international driving licence for the period of validity of his visa and any extension and a licence issued in his home country is not acceptable. Foreign nationals with residence permits can only drive on a Kuwaiti licence.

Car Hire & Leasing
There are plenty of car hire firms in Kuwait. To rent a car, foreigners on visit visas need an international licence, and foreign residents must have a Kuwaiti licence. Hire rates, sometimes a combination of time and distance with the first 150km a day free. Charges are based on a 24-hour day and an hourly charge (excess hours) for late returns is made. Special weekend rates are available. Insurance maybe included in the hire rates. But those using an international licence must have their licence validated through a local insurance company, at a cost of KD9 a month, the minimum period. The hire rates shown in the box are based on current models available from major companies. There are also plenty of hire firms which hire out three to four year old small cars for as little as KD3/500 a day, including insurance, or less than KD100 a month, down to as low as KD65 a month for six month periods.

Distances
Road distances in Kuwait are measured in Kilometers. As a rough ready-reckoner, to convert kilometres to miles, divide by eight and multiply by five, and to convert miles to kilometers, divide by five and multiply by eight.

CULTURE :

Lifestyle:

The lifestyle of Kuwait's society must be understood within a framework of Muslim religion, Arabic tradition and local customs. The process of modernization has made inroads into certain aspects of housing, occupations, dress and handicrafts but other aspects of the Kuwaiti lifestyle have stood the test of time. The changes brought about by the discovery of oil and the subsequent modernization have not in any way undermined Kuwaiti people's distinct identity.

The pivot around which everything revolves continues to be the family. The typical, large Kuwaiti family sitting together for a meal is the preferred way to dine. It is a time to relax and enjoy the food with the family, but if a guest joins in, he is warmly welcomed. Gatherings and lunches with the extended family and friends are a regular affair. The men of the family and neighborhood socialize in the diwaniyas just as their forefathers did.

Global influence is most apparent in areas like Salmiya and Gulf Road where shopping complexes and restaurants are crowded on weekend nights. Coffee is made at home in traditional utensils, but today it may also be enjoyed at Starbucks! For a Kuwaiti cup of coffee though, people of all ages gather at the traditional coffee shops known as 'maqahas'. Kuwaiti women enjoy shopping at the new fancy malls as much as they do at the covered markets or 'souks'. They wear western clothes or the 'dara'a', just as the men choose between western wear and the 'dishdasha'. Shopping for gold ornaments in the magnificently laid out markets is another favourite pastime of Kuwaiti women.

Nomadic life holds a special charm for the town dwellers and they go camping to relax and enjoy the desert. The black tents of their forefathers have been replaced by canvas ones. Electricity, hot water and other comforts are provided inside the 'tent'. Mobile phones hooked on to the batteries of their cars keep them in touch with the city.

Another fascinating Bedouin tradition is falconry. Falcons are intelligent and easy to train. An understanding develops between the master and his falcon within a matter of two to three weeks. Many Kuwaitis breed falcons and keep them for hunting or as a mark of tradition. The exemplary lifestyle of Kuwaiti society is a blend of the old and the new, of modernity and tradition.

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Art & Craft:

Literature
Kuwaiti society bases much of its culture on the country's ancient folklore, which is replete with land and sea tales, riddles and proverbs. In 1956, the Folklore Preservation Centre was established to collect, record, and classify Kuwaiti folklore. Songs based on these tales are sung on public and private occasions.

Theatre
Kuwaiti drama troupes have won numerous prizes and awards all over the world, and several theatrical companies exist throughout the country. Some examples of these are the Gulf Theatre, the Popular Theatre, and the Kuwaiti Theatre. In 1973, the Ministry of Information established the Higher Institute for Theatrical Arts to prepare future artists in the field of theatrical arts and ethics, and to promote widespread theatrical awareness and appreciation.

Music
The music of Kuwait is a reflection of its diverse heritage. Kuwaiti traders brought back music from East Africa and India. Traders from foreign shores left their music behind too. The result is the rich and vibrant sound of Kuwaiti music.

A traditional musical instrument of the Bedouin is the single-string 'Rubabah', made of parchment wrapped round a wooden frame. Other popular instruments are the 'Oud' (a lute), 'Al-mirwas' (small drums), 'Al-habban' (a bagpipe) and 'Al-tanbarah' (a string instrument). Songs are an integral part of dances that are performed at weddings and other celebrations.

Dance
Traditional dance is an important part of feasts and celebrations. The Ardah dance is performed by men at feasts and weddings. Dancers carry swords while dancing to the rhythm of folk music played on drums and tambourines. The Samiri , Fraisah, Al Zifan, Khamari, and Tanboura are dances that are performed by women at family and social gatherings.

Films
The first film shot in, and about, Kuwait was a documentary called Sons of Sinbad' in 1930. Till the mid-1960s, most films were made by foreigners. The entry of Kuwaitis in the fields of production, direction as well as technical areas, was a turning point. Today, video production, television and advertising are popular avenues for young Kuwaitis.
A major breakthrough was achieved when Kuwait's very first feature film, Bas Ya Bahar made in 1972, won nine international film festival awards!

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CUISINE :

The polytechnic diversity of the population ensures that a vast range of foodstuff is available in Kuwait. The staples of the Arabian, Western, Indian and Far Eastern diets are sold in the supermarkets. Up-market specialty shops offer specialties from Lebanon and Europe. Small groceries supply the soul foods of Arabia and the Eastern Mediterranean, Pakistan, Baluchistan, India, Sri Lanka, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand - everything from fragrant rice to fresh fish. This phenomenal choice is visible on private dinner tables and in Kuwait's innumerable restaurants. Kuwait is a food lover's paradise.

Kuwaiti Food
Native cooking reflects Kuwaiti history, its tribes and immigrants, and its international desert and marine trading traditions. It is a unique mélange of Bedouin, Persian, Indian and Eastern Mediterranean influences.

In the early tabeekh (Bedouin way of cooking), the whole meal is cooked in a single large pot over charcoal. Meat or fish, vegetables and spices are first browned at the bottom of the pot. Rice or wheat and water are then added, and the pot is covered and left to simmer for some time. This method is still used in Kuwaiti homes to make meat porridges and some traditional prawn and vegetable dishes.

In a more complicated method known as marag, which was introduced under Indian and Persian influences, the meal is also cooked in a large pot, but the ingredients are first fried or boiled separately before being combined and steamed together. Various kinds of fish and meat marags are very popular in homes and diwaniyahs.

To satisfy the sophisticated native palate, savoury dishes must be spiced and the blending of spices is a highly-sophisticated local art form. However, no two chefs in Kuwait will agree on the exact blend of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper and paprika found in Baharat, the most common spice-mix.

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Kuwait National Museum :

The first museum founded in Kuwait was inaugurated on 31st December 1957. It was located at Sheikh Abdullah al-Jaber al-Sabah palace in Dasman area, which was under the Department of Education back then. It was a simple museum, including few traditional materials. In 1959, some archaeological finds, which were excavated at Failaka Island were added to the ethnographical materials already in the museum.

The museum along with all the antiquities was transferred to the Ministry of Information in the 1970s, where it remains today. Subsequently, all the contents of the museum were transferred and displayed at Beit al-Bader, an old traditional Kuwaiti house situated on the Arabian Gulf Street near the National Assembly (Parliament).

The re-location of the artifacts was a temporary step towards the building of a museum located behind Beit al-Bader. The new Kuwait National Museum, designed by Michel Ecochard, was inaugurated on February 24th, 1983; the planetarium was opened on February 16, 1986. This cultural institution continued to serve its goals and duties in maintaining heritage and culture in Kuwait until the 2nd of August 1990 when Kuwait was occupied by the Iraqi regime.

The museum complex still shows the last remnants of the Iraqi destruction. However, the ‘Culture Museum’ has recently opened. It is a view of the typical old Kuwaiti village. As you walk through, each room depicts a different aspect of life in Kuwait before the discovery of oil, including life-size figures enacting various daily tasks. This exhibition was created especially to give visitors to Kuwait and young students an insight into Kuwaiti traditions. Hours: 08:30-12:00 & 16:30-19:00, closed on Saturday, subject to change.

The Planetarium is also within the KNM grounds, offering a unique experience in space discovery. For more information please call 2451195/6/7 or 2456534.

Under the auspices of the National Council of Culture, Arts & Letters (NCCAL), the museum complex also houses Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI), the private Islamic art collection of Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah. Although unable to display the collection because of the destruction, under the directorship of Sheikha Hussah, DAI along with NCCAL and KNM are working diligently with UNESCO to rebuild the museum.

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TOURISM :

Places of Interest :

With a history of more than 380 years and a rapid pace of development, which never lost sight of its heritage, Kuwait has many places of interest for both the young and the old.

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah (DAI), The Islamic Art Museum, is a public institution based on the private collection of Islamic art formed by Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah since 1975. It was loaned to the State of Kuwait in 1983 to be exhibited at Kuwait National Museum.

Over 30,000 objects of art from the 8th to the 18th century AD covering all the Islamic lands from al-Andalus, Spain to the boarders of China constitute the core of Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, around which a variety of cultural activities revolve.

Public lectures, seminars, art courses, archaeological field trips, musical recitals and audio-visual programmes are introduced annually in Kuwait, to enhance the public awareness and appreciation of Islamic history, art, architecture and archaeology, along with in-house publications on objects from the collection and other areas of knowledge.

DAI also publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, Bareed ad-Dar and Hadeeth ad-Dar, a quarterly journal. Outside of Kuwait, travelling exhibitions from the DAI collection are hosted in the some of the most prominent museums in the world.

The Iraqi invasion in 1990 looted and then destroyed Kuwait National Museum and Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, almost completely. However, Kuwaiti resilience to the loot and plunder has emerged the winner; the museum is in the process of being restored.

Under the auspices of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, DAI hosts a series of lectures on Islamic history, art, architecture and archaeology given by internationally know scholars at al-Maidan Cultural Centre (within the Abdullah Salem School in Maidan Hawally) every Monday at 7pm from September to June, except during the holy month of Ramadan. Most lectures are in English and admittance is free to the public. Please call or email for more information on 563-6561 / 6528 or info@darmuseum.org.kw.

The Arab Organizations Headquarters Building
The Arab Organizations Headquarters Building, situated outside Kuwait City in Shuwaik, blends modern architectural techniques with traditional artisan crafts. Completed in 1994, it is home to four major Arab organizations: the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries), the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation and the Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company.

Designed to exclude the heat while retaining as much natural light as possible, a considerable challenge, the Arab Organizations Headquarters Building stands as one of the most exciting examples of innovative architecture to emerge in Kuwait. Careful study was made of the angle of the sun's rays throughout the year in order to calculate the shape and depth of the windows in each direction. The artificial lighting has been specially designed to give the effect of daylight, adding to the overall brightness of the space.

The interior of the building reveals a treasure trove of Arab artisan crafts and design.

Considered one of the most acclaimed buildings in the Middle East, it draws thousands of visitors from across the globe.

The Liberation Tower
The symbol of Kuwaiti liberation, the unmistakable sign of the country's resurgence, the Liberation Tower is one of the tallest telecommunications towers in the world.

HH the Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, inaugurated this telecommunications tower in Kuwait City on March 10, 1996. This 372-metre structure is about 40 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower! It was named after the multinational coalition that liberated the nation from seven months of Iraqi occupation during the Gulf War. The tower has now become a symbol of resurgent Kuwait. The structure uses ceramic tiles on the facade from the base to the first mezzanine level, which is about 308 metres above the ground. Three light natural shades provide a geometric design from the base.

The tower and the telecommunications complex is divided into three working areas,
A public communications centre; the revolving observation level and restaurant at 150 meters; and the adjacent plant and equipment structure.

There are 18 elevators, two of which are glass enclosed and can accommodate 21 passengers each. They are also among the fastest in the world at 6.3 meters per second. Above the revolving mezzanine, six floors of offices with a total floor space of 12,000 sq m rise up and out in a section encased in anodised aluminium, designed to withstand Kuwait's extreme temperatures.

Kuwait Towers
One of Kuwait's most famous landmarks, the Kuwait Towers are situated on Arabian Gulf Street on a promontory to the east of the City centre in Dasman. The uppermost sphere of the largest tower (which is 187 meters high) has a revolving observation area and a restaurant with access by high speed lifts. The entrance fee is 350 fils per person, or free if lunch or dinner has been reserved. Cameras with zoom lens are forbidden. The middle tower contains 1 million gallons of water.

Mosques
The pyramid-shaped mosque in Ras Salmiya and the Fatima Mosque in Abdullah Al-Salem are fine examples of modern architecture. The Grand Mosque, opposite the Seif Palace, is an example of several traditional Islamic styles using modern technology while retaining the local characteristics of Kuwait as well as preserving the Islamic tradition of calligraphy. There are several examples of mosques dating from the last century still in use around Kuwait City.

Amusement Parks and Resorts
The government's success in moulding the harsh desert environment of Kuwait can be seen in public parks as also along the sides on many main roads and boulevards. Many of the parks have amusement centres and children's play facilities. There are also several amusement parks dedicated to keeping children actively enthralled for hours at a time.

Recreational Parks
The Kuwait Touristic Enterprises Company (KTEC) manages three recreational parks: at Shaab, Sabahiya and Jleeb Al-Shyoukh. Each park features rides and amusement activities

Resorts and Chalets
Chalets and other weekend accommodation can be rented in many places along the southern part of the coast. Khiran Resort is a KTEC facility with several hundred chalets and studio flats, a yacht club and a 240-berth fully serviced marina, swimming pools, playgrounds, sports and health facilities, shops, a supermarket and coffee shops.

Sea Clubs
Many of Kuwait's sea clubs offer a wide variety of facilities and activities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, beaches, tennis courts, gymnasiums, bowling and even karate. Five sea clubs -- Ras Al-Ardh, B'neid Al-Gar, Bida, Shaab and Fahaheel -- are run by the KTEC. Each club has a special day or time for women and children only; Ras Al-Ardh is reserved exclusively for women and children.

The Kuwait Sea Sports Club is government-owned and has facilities for all major sea sports. There are also several private sea clubs.

Bayt Al-Badr
An old house located next to Al-Sadu house, Bayt Al-Badr was built between 1838 and 1848. It possesses a fine example of the famous front doors of old Kuwait. Local handicrafts are sometimes displayed here.

Science and Natural History Museum :
The museum contains displays relating to the petroleum industry, natural history, aviation, machinery, electronics, space and zoology, as well as a health hall and a planetarium. Much of the Science and Natural History Museum has been restored since Liberation. Located on Abdullah Mubarak Street, the Science and Natural History Museum is open from 9 am to 12 noon and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm from Saturday to Wednesday. Entrance fees are 150 fils per adult and 100 fils per child.

Liberation Monuments
The site of a bloody battle between the Kuwaitis and the Iraqis just before Liberation, Al-Qurain House is now a museum dedicated to those who laid their lives. It is situated in the new Qurain housing area. A mounted Iraqi tank at the Jahra Gate roundabout at the end of Fahd Al-Salem Street is a reminder of the folly of war. Another such monument, next to the main entrance of the Ministry of Information in Soor Street, has a walkthrough pictorial display of scenes from the Iraqi occupation and is well worth a visit. There are several other such monuments around the City and the country.

Municipal Gardens
The Municipality maintains several public gardens around the country. One of the most popular is in Fahd Al-Salem Street. All the gardens are well designed with naturally shaded areas.

Zoological Park
Located in Omarrya on the Airport Road, the Kuwait Zoo covers 180,000 sq metres of parkland. Very few of the zoo's animals survived the Iraqi occupation but through a dedicated reconstruction programme the zoo reopened in February 1993. Today it houses 65 species of animals, 129 species of birds and five species of reptiles, apart from other animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, zebras, etc.

Musical Fountain
Located near the Ice Skating Rink on the 1st Ring Road, and badly damaged during the Occupation but now fully refurbished, the Musical Fountain provides a unique and delightful sight and sound show of musical fountains, every night during summer from 6 pm to 10 pm. Entry fees are 200 fils per adult; 100 fils per child.

Other Activities
Visitors interested in more intellectual leisure pursuits will find plenty of opportunities in modern Kuwait.

Kuwait Science Club
Open to members of all nationalities, the Science Club is situated on the 6th Ring Road. Managed by a group of enthusiastic amateurs, the Club's amazing range of facilities and the latest in scientific hardware includes the Aujairy Observatory. The Club aims at creating an informal environment where people of all ages, can develop their scientific hobbies.

Art and Artists
The government of Kuwait has, over the years, actively encouraged the development of artistic talent and has provided funding for artists to study abroad.
In Kuwait, the Free Atelier was founded in 1960 to provide technical help and professional instruction to students and its full time artists have their studios on the premises on Arabian Gulf Street. Visitors are welcome between 9 am and 1 pm every day except Thursday and Friday.
There are several commercial international art galleries in Kuwait, notably in Salhiya Complex and in Salmiya. SHE Art Gallery in Salmiya, near the Zahra Complex, displays art works by Jose Fernandez, a Spanish artist and art critic who has several other outlets in major capital cities. Those interested in Arabic themes executed by renowned Spanish, Italian and French artists, such as Marian Ribas, Calderon, Anthonio Arias, Suarez, etc, will find this shop interesting as all works are original and commissions can be accepted to order.

Theatres and Musical Societies
The first amateur plays were performed in Kuwait in 1922. In 1945, the first group of Kuwaiti drama students went to study at the Egyptian Higher Institute for Acting. When they returned, they formed the nucleus of the Acting Society. This in turn became the foundation of an extremely popular form of entertainment, playing in theatres in Kaifan, Shamiya and Dasma. In 1959, the Institute of Theatre Studies was founded in Kuwait. In the 1960s a number of theatrical troupes, such as the Arab Theatre and the Popular Theatre were founded. Today, the continuing popularity of Arab theatre in Kuwait is impressive in view of the strong competition from videos.

Before the invasion there were at least four English language theatres in Kuwait, providing a high standard of plays, pantomimes and musicals.

Established in 1952, the Kuwait Players has resurrected itself very successfully after Liberation, and puts on nine or 10 superb shows (dramas and musicals) each season. These are advertised in the daily newspapers. Established in 1948, the Kuwait Little Theatre in Ahmadi, which produced plays professionally, was almost totally destroyed by Iraqi vandalism in 1990. In 1994, the company rebuilt itself and now, with its premises refurbished, is in a position to produce musicals and dramas throughout the year, as well as its traditional year-end pantomime. The Kuwait Singers is composed of a group of music lovers. With at least a dozen different nationalities in the group at any one time, they perform a series of shows per year, and are always interested in welcoming more singers.
With a small core of active musicians, the Kuwait Folk Club welcomes newcomers. Music played is mainly acoustic European folk music and R&B using guitar, fiddle, harmonics, etc.

Sadu House
Kuwait's roots are entwined with both the sea and the desert. The Bedouins lived a life governed by the rhythm of the seasons. A traditional craft of major importance was Sadu weaving, characterised by geometric designs woven by hand with dyed, spun and coloured wool. Sadu weaving is still alive in the nomadic culture, which gave birth to it.
In 1979, a few citizens got together to form the Al-Sadu Society, dedicated to infusing this part of Bedouin culture with vitality as well as protecting Bedouin crafts from total extinction due to the onslaught of modernisation. In 1980, their efforts led to the establishment of the Sadu House. By the end of 1984, there were nearly 300 Bedouin women registered with the centre producing 70 products a week.

The Scientific Centre
This is the largest Aquarium to be built in the Middle East by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of the Sciences (KFAS). Visitors can focus on the natural habitats of the sea, with underground passages rich in marine life, natural habitats of the coastal edges and the desert of the Arabian Peninsula, watch a motion picture projection in the IMAX Theatre, visit the Dhow Harbour and explore childhood skills in the Discovery Place and take a break at the Scientific Centre restaurant.

The Tareq Rajab Museum
The Museum is the private collection of the Rajab family. The collection was started in the early 1950s and was opened to the general public in 1980. The Museum is divided into two sections. One Section deals with calligraphy, pottery, metalwork, glass, wood, ivory and jade carvings of the Islamic world. Early calligraphy is presented in a separate small room, showing pages from the Holy Qur'an, dating back to the first three centuries of the Islamic period. It also contains an early dated Qur'an written on parchment, dating to 393AH/AD1002. Later examples display calligraphic panels., inscriptions which were cut, or in brail script. The second Section of the Museum deals with the costumes, textiles, embroideries and jewellery of the Islamic world, but also includes relevant objects from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

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IMPORTANT WEBSITE LINKS :

Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait	http://www.crsk.org
Central Bank of Kuwait	http://www.cbk.gov.kw
Kuwait Airways	http://www.kuwait-airways.com
Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry	http://www.kcci.org.kw
Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences	http://www.kfas.com
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development	http://www.kuwait-fund.org
Kuwait Institute for Medical Speciaization	http://www.kims.org.kw
Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research	http://www.kisr.edu.kw
Kuwait International Airport	http://www.kuwait-airport.com.kw
Kuwait Investment Authority	http://www.kia.gov.kw
Kuwait Municipality	http://www.baladia.gov.kw
Kuwait National Assembly	http://www.alommah.gov.kw
Kuwait News Agency KUNA	http://www.kuna.net.kw
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation	http://www.kpc.com.kw
Kuwait Stock Exchange	http://www.kuwaitse.com
Kuwait University	http://www.kuniv.edu.kw
Legal Advice and Legislation	http://www.fatwa.gov.kw
Martyr's Bureau	http://www.martyr.kw
Ministry of Public Works	http://www.mpw.gov.kw
Ministry of Awaqf and Islamic Affairs	http://www.awkat.net
Ministry of Communications	http://www.moc.kw
Ministry of Defense(Kuwait Armed Forces Journal)	http://www.homat-alwatan.org
Ministry of Education	http://www.moe.edu.kw
Ministry of Finance	http://www.mof.gov.kw
Ministry of Foreign Affairs	http://www.mofa.gov.kw
Ministry of Health	http://www.moh.gov.kw
Ministry of Information	http://www.moinfo.gov.kw
Ministry of Interior	http://www.moi.gov.kw
Ministry of Justice	http://www.moj.gov.kw
Ministry of Planning	http://www.mop.gov.kw
National Commiittee for Missing & POW's Affairs	http://www.pows.org.kw
National Council for Culture, Arts & Literature	http://www.kuwaitculture.org
Public Authority of Industry	http://www.pai.gov.kw
Public Authority for Civil Information	http://www.paci.gov.kw
Public Authority for Assessment of Comensation for Damages resulting from Iraqi Aggression	http://www.paac.org
Public Authority for Youth & Sports	http://www.pays.gov.kw
Social Development Office	http://www.sdo.org.kw
State Audit Bureau	http://www.sabq8.org
The Civil Service Comission	http://www.csc.net.kw
The Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the UN	http://www.kuwaitmission.com
The Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs & Fish Resources	http://www.paaf.gov.kw
The Public Authority for Education and Training	http://www.paaet.edu.kw
Zakat House	http://www.zakathouse.org.kw

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