 The State of Kuwait is an independent Arabian country situated at the northwestern head of the Arabian gulf, bordered on its south and south-western sides by Saudi Arabia and on its north and north-western sides by Iraq. It has a total land area of 17,818 sq kms, a coastline of 195 kms and land frontiers of approximately 700 kms. It lies between the latitude 45.28o and 45.30o N and longitudes 30.46o and 30.48oE, and experiences a continental climate typical of other desert regions at these latitudes.
Kuwait's first oil strike was in 1938 and oil exports began in 1946. Whilst oil remains a major source of GDP, manufacturing industries, petrochemicals, foodstuffs, building materials, trade, real estate, communications and transport are all playing increasingly important roles in the national economy. Kuwait has also shared the benefits of its oil wealth with other countries and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has helped many worthwhile development projects.
Kuwait's solid infrastructure, developed as a result of prudent use of its oil revenues, includes over 5,000 kms of high grade roads; over 6,898 megawatts of electricity capacity, and desalination production of more than 234 million imperial gallons per day.
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