- Until 1962, Kuwait celebrated its National Day on June 19, the anniversary of its independence, but in 1963 it changed it to February 25 to avoid the hot weather of June.
- February 25 was the anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah becoming Emir of Kuwait in 1950. February 26, 2011, was the day Iraq’s occupying forces were driven out of Kuwait.
- Kuwait has the world’s fifth-largest oil reserves.
- The national bird of Kuwait is the falcon.
- There are 1.43 males to every female in Kuwait.
- In 2006, Kuwait became the first country to introduce the sport of camel racing, with remote controlled robot jockeys.
- When Saddam Hussein occupied Kuwait in 1990 and named it the 19th Province of Iraq some dissidents called it “Wimbledon” which is SW19.
- Kuwait has won two Olympic medals, both bronze for Fehaid Al-Dehani at trap shooting.
- Kuwait is the only country in the world with no natural water supply from lakes or reservoirs but it did open its first grass golf course in 2005.
- Eating, drinking, playing loud music and dancing during daylight hours in public are against the law in Kuwait during the month of Ramadan.
- Kuwait comprises of nine islands which are mainly oil-rich desserts. It is officially known as the “State of Kuwait.” Kuwait City is the capital of Kuwait that is situated on Kuwait Bay.
- The majority of the people in Kuwait follow Islam.
- One of the hottest countries in the world especially from June to August. Rainfall averages 2 days in the year. Kuwait has several sandstorms every year.
- The official currency used in the Kuwaiti dinar. The name means “Fortress built near water.”
- Falcon found everywhere and also seen on the currencies and stamps.
- Kuwait has the second-most free economy in the Middle East. It is the fourth-richest country in the world in terms of per capita income.
- Petroleum and petroleum-products made up nearly 85% of export revenues and 80% of government income in Kuwait. Major industries include construction, shipping, cement, water desalination, construction materials, and financial services.
- The main ethnic groups in Kuwait include Kuwaiti, other Arab, South Asian and Iranian.
- Kuwait’s oil fields were discovered and exploited in the 1930s.
- Petroleum and petroleum products make up around 95 percent of export revenues, and 80 percent of government income, in Kuwait.
- The island of Failaka in Kuwait was an ancient trading post.
- Kuwait came under the leadership of the Al Sabah family in 1750s, with semi-autonomy from the Ottomans.
- Kuwait entered the Special Treaty of Friendship with Britain in 1899, to prevent the occurrence of Ottoman direct rule.
- The borders between Kuwait, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were agreed in the 1920s and 1930s.
- Kuwait became a member of the Arab League in 1961 and that of United Nations in 1963.
- Kuwait was the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament.
- Full political rights were granted to women in Kuwait, in 2005.
(Source: Internet)
