Kuwait Tourist Guides — History

Kuwait's modern history dates back to the year 1710 when a number of clans of Anaiza founded Quarain (Little Fort). To escape a drought, they wandered north from Nejd to Qatar and finally settled along the northern shores of the Persian Gulf. However, they eked out a living by pearling and sea trading.

Three families of Kuwait mainly ruled the country. These are: al-Jalahimas, al-Khalifas, and al-Sabahs. While al-Jalahimas were mostly involved in sea-trade, the al-Khalifas in local commerce, the al-Sabahs handled the government work. In 1752, Sheikh Sabah bin Jaber initiated the al-Sabah dynasty. Now their descendants rule Kuwait. Initially they used to look after the law and order problem. Soon a small settlement came up in existence. In 1960, when the first wall was erected in the town, Kuwait had already acquired a fleet comprising 800 ships. It also possessed a big caravan, which traveled to Baghdad and Damascus on regular basis.

In the early 19th century, Kuwait emerged as a big trading port. Often there was confusion whether Kuwait was a part of the Ottoman Empire. However, the official history never subscribed to this view. It believed in the independent rule of the Sheikh dynasty. In the latter part of the century, they managed to accept the Ottomans. They kept them at bay from the Ottomans as the Turks consolidated their hold over the eastern Arabia (Al-Hasa). They however agreed to accept the role of provincial governors of Al-Hasa.

It was this decision that finally paid dividend. It paved the rule of Sheikh Mubarak al-Sabah, popularly known as Mubarak the Great, who ruled from 1896 to 1915. He actually sensed that Turks had been nursing the secret ploy of annexing Kuwait. He dethroned his brother and murdered him. Then he ascended the throne and held reins of the country. In 1899, he entered into an agreement with the British that in exchange of their navy's protection, he would neither part with his territory, nor take support from or negotiate with any other foreign country without Britain's consent. In fact, Britain's intention was to keep Germany, the main patron of Turkey, at bay from the Gulf. His claim of sovereignty over Kuwait notwithstanding, Ottoman now failed to enforce it in the changed circumstances.

In the early 1020s, Kuwait fought the army led by Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, known to be the architect of modern Saudi Arabia. The battle, however, ended in 1923 by the British intervention. This followed an oil concession granted to a US-British joint venture Kuwait Oil Company in 1934. In 1938, the oil exploration revealed that Kuwait (KOC) had a phenomenal oil reserve under its soil. It caused a sudden spurt the country's economy, although the oil export business stopped at the outbreak of World War II. As the business again picked up after the war ended, Kuwait's economy boomed enormously. Overnight, the country became affluent with improved healthcare, education and general standard of living.

Finally, Kuwait emerged as an independent state on 19th June 1961. The country went for first election to the National Assembly. Thereafter, it experienced occasional political turmoil in the following years until it locked itself in a war with Iraq in April 1990. Iraq accused that Kuwait was unlawfully stealing oil from Iraqi positions of the oil field bordering the country and exceeded the OPEC quota. However, soon after the Iraqi crackdown on Kuwait, the emir and his cabinet members fled to Saudi Arabia. Then in November 1990, USA and UK managed to secure a UN resolution authorizing them to intervene with military operation to flush out the Iraqi invaders. After a brief military intervention, Kuwait was freed. But it was too costly. The retreating Iraqi army set the oil installations on fire in revenge. Kuwait had then a trying time in extinguishing the devastating fire.

The war being over, Kuwait embarked on the task of rebuilding the country to return to its pristine glory. The United Nations also came forward to help generously. It granted US$ 5.9 billion as subsidy for removing land mines planted by Iraqi forces and other environmental cleaning. Now Kuwait is on the road to prosperity.

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