The city of Kuwait is located on the south shore of Kuwait Bay in the Persian Gulf. It is the capital of the country of Kuwait. The name comes from the Arabic word kut, meaning “fort.” Although the modern city was never a military fortress, it was attacked in 1990. Troops from Iraq invaded and occupied the city during the Persian Gulf War.

Places of interest

Kuwait city has many luxurious homes, as well as a number of parks and gardens. Both men and women attend Kuwait University. The city has a historical museum that exhibits artifacts from the surrounding region.

Economy

Kuwait city is the home of government, business, and banking offices. The city and its neighboring suburbs also maintain a large oil and chemical industry.

History

In the early 1700s a group of Arab tribesmen moved from the inland desert areas of the Arabian peninsula to the coast. Their search for a better location led to the founding of Kuwait city. For centuries, the city's people supported themselves by fishing, searching for pearls, and trading by sea.

Kuwait city's modern history is based on the discovery of oil. The oil industry developed quickly after the end of World War II. Profits from the sale of oil were used to modernize the city. In the 1950s, high-rise buildings began to replace the city's mud-walled structures.

In 1990, Iraqi forces seized Kuwait city. The Iraqis took everything of value, including the city's food supplies. Many citizens fled the country. After Iraq's defeat in 1991, Kuwaitis returned to the city and repaired the damage. Population (1995 census), 28,859.