Kuwait: A Historical Overview

The area now occupied by Kuwait City was a settlement 300 years ago. In early 18th century it was just a small cluster of few tents around a storehouse cum fort. Gradually the families living around the fort divided responsibilities and the Al-Sabah family (whose descendant now rules Kuwait) took care of local law and order. By 1760 the settlement had grown into a town and its first wall was built. Kuwait’s fleet of 800 vessels and caravans travelled regularly to Baghdad and Damascus.

Early 19th century established Kuwait as a prosperous trading port. The Kuwaitis managed to steer clear of the Ottoman Turks and prevent their absorption into the Ottoman Empire. Shaikh Mubarak al- Sabah al- Sabah, known as Mubarak the Great (reigned 1896-1915), was the central figure in the history of modern Kuwait. He negotiated naval support from the British.

In 1934, after Kuwait granted an oil concession to a US and British joint venture known as Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), it was discovered that Kuwait was rich in oil. But it was only in World War II that operations could be carried out and Kuwait’s economy boomed. Shaikh Abdullah al-Salem al-Sabah (reigned 1950-65) was the first oil Shaikh who spent the newly acquired wealth in developing his country’s economy. Kuwait became prosperous and health care, education and the general standard of living improved remarkably.

Kuwait became an independent state on 19th June 1961. In mid 1990, just when Kuwait’s (and the Gulf’s) economic prospects were improving, Kuwait and Iraq went to war over Iraq’s false accusations against Kuwait. The Allies got involved  and Saddam Hussain’s (Iraq’s ruler) army was destroyed and the Kuwaitis were finally rescued in Feb 1991, but not before Saddam had torched much of Kuwait and its oil reserves.

Though the Al Sabah family still holds the reins of the country, the National Assembly ratifies all major decisions. If the Emir dissolves the Assembly for any reason, the constitution says elections have to be held within 90 days of dissolution. This, however, has not always been upheld. Voting is restricted to Kuwaiti male adults. Lately, the matter of extending franchise to all Kuwaitis, especially women, is being hotly debated.