AREAS
OF KUWAIT
The City of Kuwait still retains its five original
districts - Sharq, Dasman, Mirqab, Salhiya and Qibla,
although today it has spread much beyond the boundary
of the old surrounding wall. Ninety percent of the
population live in the Metropolitan Area, a coastal
belt stretching from Jahra, at the western edge
of Kuwait Bay, to Mina Abdulla in the south. The
rest of the country is very sparsely populated.
Kuwait's oil wells are located in the oil fields
in the heart of the country and are connected by
pipelines to the refineries and export facilities
in the Ahmadi-Shuaiba area.
Industry is restricted to industrial areas. Shuaiba
is the largest and contains most of the country's
heavy industries, many of which are based on raw
materials derived from oil. Kuwait's second industrial
area sprawls through Shuwaikh and Al-Rai. Shuwaikh
contains many small workshops, several large plants
producing construction materials, as well as various
wholesale and retail businesses. There is a neatly
laid-out light industrial area in Sabhan with mainly
assembly-type plants, printing presses, food and
beverages factories and warehousing. Several smaller
industrial areas are located in Sulaibikhat, Jahra
and Ahmadi.
Being a desert country with arid soil, harsh weather
and insufficeent irrigation water the farming areas,
such as Wafra, Sulaibiya and Abdali, use modern
desert farming techniques and manage to get good
results. Animal husbandary is also given special
attention and there are well developed cattle and
chicken farms.
SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
Kuwait is a fully independent Arab State with a
democratic style of government, and has a written
constitution which states that sovereignty resides
in the people. The constitution guarantees fundamental
rights and freedoms, some of which are regulated
by law. The constitution imposes commitments to
social welfare on the state and obliges it, in particular,
to care for the young, the ill and the old, to safeguard
public health, to promote education, to encourage
science, letters and the arts, to protect the heritage
of Islam and the Arabs, and to endeavour to make
work available for all citizens. The pillars of
the Constitution are the sovereignty of State, public
freedom and equality before the law.
The Head of State
The Amir is the head of state. He must be a male
descendent of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah.
The Crown Prince, the Amir's successor, is chosen
by the Amir himself but his choice must be approved
by the National Assembly. If approval is not given,
the Amir nominates three descendants of Sheikh Mubarak
from whom the Assembly chooses the Crown Prince.
When an Amir dies, the Crown Prince automatically
becomes the new Amir who takes oath in front of
National Assembly.
The Legislative Process
Legislative power is vested both in the Amir and
the National Assembly, and either have the power
to propose laws. To become law, a bill must usually
be passed by the Assembly and sanctioned or ratified
by the Amir. The Amir then promulgates the law,
ie proclaims it publicly. A new law is published
in Al-Kuwait Al-Youm, the official gazette, within
two weeks of being promulgated and it usually comes
into force one month later.
When the National Assembly is not in session or
is dissolved, the Amir may issue laws by decree.
Detailed regulations under specific laws are often
made by Amiri decree, or by ministerial resolution
where a particular law allows this. Much of Kuwait's
detailed adminis-trative,social and commercial regulations
are issued as ministerial resolutions.
The National Assembly
Democratic style of Government existed in some form
in much earlier times but the first parliamentary
elections in Kuwait were held in 1963. Kuwait's
National Assembly consists of 50 elected members
plus any government ministers who are not elected
members. Elections are held every four years. Annual
sittings begin in October and recess in late summer.
Kuwait is divided into 25 constituencies: each constituency
elects two members. Kuwaiti males of age 21 and
above have the voting rights. An Amiri decree enfranchised
Kuwaiti women in 1999 and so the Kuwaiti women may
have the right to vote if the National Assembly
approves. Only original Kuwaiti nationals of age
over 30 are eligible to contest the assembly seat.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is the executive authority in Kuwait.
The chairman of the council is the Prime Minister,
generally the Crown Prince, appointed by the Amir
who is the head of Government. Government ministers
do not have to be members of the National Assembly
but upon appointment they become ex-officio members.
It is the Amir who appoints them on the Prime Minister's
recommendation and the Assembly has no role in choosing
the executive, though the Assembly has the right
to accept or reject the recommendations. The total
number of ministers cannot be more than one-third
of the total number of members of the Assembly.
The Prime Minister presides over meetings of the
Council of Ministers (the cabinet), which are held
in secret.
Higher Advisory Councils
There are various higher or supreme advisory councils
to assist the government in formulating long-term
policies in particular areas. For example, the Supreme
Petroleum Council is responsible for the State's
oil policies, and the Higher Advisory Committee
for Labour Affairs advises the Ministry of Social
Affairs & Labour on labour issues. The composition
of these councils reflects a cross-section of specialists
and groups with interests in a particular area.
Their members are appointed by the Amir.
The Governorates
The State of Kuwait is divided into six governorates:
the Capital, Hawally, Ahmadi, Jahra, Farwaniyah
and Mubarak Al-Kabir. Each is headed by a governor,
a representative of the Amir, who is supported
by a council for the governorate. Governors are
usually members of the ruling family or closely
allied to it. Membership of the councils is by
appointment.
The roles of the governors and their councils
are related to social and security aspects. These
include 'supervising the implementation of state
policies, assessing the need for public utilities,
responding to the problems of citizens and encouraging
cultural and sporting activities'. They act as
channels of communication between the centre and
the grass-roots. They also oversee local security.
Each governorate is divided into districts or
areas, eg, Jabriya, Khaldiya, etc. Each district
is headed by a mayor or cheif (Mukhtar) who is
responsible to the Ministry of Interior.
The Municipality
Kuwait Muncipality was established in 1930. There
is only one Municipal Council for the entire state.
The Council has 16 members, of whom 6 are appointed
by the Amir and 10 elected from 10 constituencies
by those eligible to vote in National Assembly
elections.
The Municipality is responsible for a variety
of functions, including the usual municipal services
such as town cleaning and refuse collection, and
food and restaurant inspection. It has far-reaching
executive powers in commercial licensing, health
and safety at work, land acquisition, urban organisation
and planning and the approval of infrastructural
projects. It is responsible for issuing building
licenses in the Metropolitan Area.
E-government Project
To exploit the potentials brought by the information
revolution to enhance the standards of services,
boosting efficiency and accuracy, Kuwait's Cabinet
approved in August 2000 the setting up of the
Supreme National Committee which will be in charge
of incorporating the latest in information technology
in all stages of government work.
The realisation of the e-government project will
simplify work procedure, facilitate transfer and
sharing of information which will lead to conserving
efforts and resources.
The Ministry of Interior has begun executing the
major components of the Ministry's database which
is linked through high speed fibre optic network
to all the Ministry's service centres, the Ministry
of Communications' central computer and the databases
of seven other government bodies.
Another government body on the frontline of the
modernisation process is the Civil Service Commission
(CSC) which claims to allow access to 764 government
services through a single 'Portal' through the
CSC website: www.CSC.net.kw.
http://www.ekuwait.gov.kw/
THE LAW & COURT
SYSTEM
The independence of the judiciary and the
right of recourse to the courts for all persons
is guaranteed in the constitution. Kuwaiti Courts
have the power to decide all cases, including commercial
disputes with the government.
The court system is divided into six main divisions:
family, criminal, civil, commercial, leases and
administrative. There are three levels of tribunal:
The Courts of First Instance, The Higher Court of
Appeal, and The Court of Cassation.
All cases are first tried in a court of first instance
in the appropriate division ? the Commercial Court,
for example, considers commercial matters. The main
courts of first instance are located in the Palace
of Justice in Kuwait City, but there are also local
courts in other areas for settling disputes between
individuals where the value of a claim does not
exceed KD5,000. There are also special courts of
first instance, such as the labour court and the
traffic court, for deciding particular types of
cases.
There are three ways in which a court judgement
may be appealed: to the higher court of appeal,
by cassation, and by a request for a rehearing.
In the higher court of appeal, the whole case is
tried again. In the court of cassation the case
is not tried again but a petition is made to have
the verdict set aside on the grounds that it was
wrongly rendered or that the law was incorrectly
applied. A request for a rehearing is a petition
to have a case sent back to the court where it was
originally heard so that mistakes of fact or law
may be corrected.
THE SECURITY FORCES
Kuwait has an array of security forces.
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for external
security and its army, navy and airforce are among
the most comprehensively equipped in the world.
The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for
internal security. Other security forces include
the National Guard which defends establishments
of a sensitive nature and provides assistance to
the military and the security forces, and the Amiri
Guard which is responsible for the safety of the
Amir.
Each area has a police station and the police (using
cars with black and white colours) is common for
all purposes i.e.general patrolling, crime control
and traffic control.
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
Kuwait is served by a variety of public authorities
and there is also a wide range of public institutions
which provide various services to citizens and residents.
These bodies can be contacted at the telephone numbers
shown in KPG Useful Telephone Numbers.
The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) acts as
banker and financial advisor to the government,
directs monetary and credit policies, supervises
the banking system, as well as issuing and controlling
the Dinar.
website :
http://www.cbk.com
The Public Authority for Civil Information
(PACI) maintains a comprehensive database
on citizens and expatriates. PACI issues the civil
ID card which must be carried by all residents.
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
(KISR) promotes applied research in areas
closely connected with Kuwait's development needs.
It includes the National Scientific & Technical
Information Centre (NSTIC) which supplies scientific
data to public and private clients.
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement
of Sciences (KFAS) is a funding agency
for the promotion and support of scientific research
throughout the world. It sponsors research in pure
and applied sciences, engineering, health, food
and socio-economic sciences worldwide and awards
prizes for scientific achievements beneficial to
Kuwait.
The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA)
is the government's main investment agent both overseas
and locally. It operates from the Ministries complex
in Kuwait City but has several overseas offices,
the KIO (Kuwait Investment Office) in London being
its main centre abroad. At present, KIA is administering
the privatisation programme.
The Government Audit Bureau is
responsible for auditing the accounts of ministries
and public establishments. The Bureau has wide powers
of investigation and submits an annual report to
the National Assembly and the Government.
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) transmits
to local and foreign subscribers in Arabic and English
and exchanges news with 30 international and regional
news agencies. Its news gathering centre in Vienna
transmits the news of the Federation of Arab News
Agencies (FANA) in English to European countries.
The Public Authority for Industry (PAI)
is responsible for promoting and developing local
industry. It also issues industrial licences and
supervises industrial activities.
The Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs
and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has overall
responsibility for the development of ranching,
agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries in Kuwait,
and provides financial and technical assistance
to private companies.
The Shuaiba Area Authority (SAA)
administers Shuaiba Industrial Area and leases plots
to factories and companies at nominal annual rents.
The SAA's functions are being taken over by the
PAI.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
(KFAED) provides development loans to Arab
and non-Arab lesser developed countries (LDCs) on
a politically neutral basis, taking the social benefits
of schemes into account. Loans are given without
any linkage to exports from Kuwait or to opportunities
for Kuwaiti contractors. KFAED also provides grants
to enable LDCs to conduct feasibility studies for
development projects and macro-economic planning
and related activities, and contributes the Kuwaiti
share of a number of multilateral institutions such
as the Arab Fund for Economic Develop-ment and the
African Development Bank.
NON-GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
ORGANISATIONS
There are several non-government organisations which
greatly influence the country's political and business
life. They advise the government on commercial matters,
and have official and quasi-judicial roles in the
organisation and control of business activities.
The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce
& Industry
The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI)
is the main business organisation in Kuwait. The
KCCI has several quasi-governmental roles:
- all Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti agents,
firms and businesses operating in Ku- wait must
be registered with the KCCI,
- only KCCI members may obtain
import licences,
- only KCCI members may bid for
gov- ernment contracts, and
- agency agreements must be registered
with the KCCI before they can be reg- istered with
the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
The KCCI also has two quasi-judicial roles:
- It maintains an official court
of arbi- tration for resolving business disputes,
and
- It is involved in standard setting
and defining customary practices in com- mercial
matters.
The KCCI must, by law, be consulted when legislation
concerning industry, commerce and finance is being
considered, and the Chamber has been very successful
in representing the business communities' views
on matters affecting the economy. The KCCI publishes
the Kuwaiti Economist, a widely read monthly magazine
in Arabic, and pamplets on local business regulations.
It is active internationally and has strong links
with Gulf, Arabic, Islamic and International chambers
of commerce.
The Kuwait Society of Engineers
The Kuwait Society of Engineers (KSE) is a club
for engineers and architects. Its main functions
are:
- advising the government on urban
planning and architecture,
- providing an arbitration service
in dis putes of a technical nature under con struction
contracts,
- providing expert witnesses on
con- struction matters in court cases,
- organising seminars on engineering
and architectural topics, and
- organising architectural competitions.
Membership of the KSE is restricted to those with
engineering or similar degrees, but is mandatory
for persons taking up certain government appointments.
The Kuwaiti Industries Union
The Kuwait Industries Union (KIU) is a general union
for industrialists, which:
- promotes industrial development in Kuwait,
- carries out technical and economic studies on
industrial matters,
- advises the government on indus- trial issues,
- provides its members with an infor mation exchange
on technical, indus- trial and legislative matters,
and
- organises lectures and training courses on industrial
technology.
- prints a monthly magazine 'Al- Senaee'.
Membership is mandatory for all persons and companies
licensed to operate factories in Kuwait.
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS
Several inter-Arab organisations have their headquarters
in Kuwait. This is partly because Kuwait helped
to found them, and partly because it was one of
the few places in the region with an established
infrastructure and reasonably reliable transport
and telecommunications links when they were being
founded.
These organisations include the Organisation of
Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries(OAPEC), the Arab
Fund for Economic & Social Development (AFESD),
the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation
(IAIGC), the Arab Planning Institute (API), and
the Arab Towns Organisation (ATO). Many are located
in the Arab Organisations Building, a new triumphal
edifice in Shuwaikh.
The Gulf Cooperation Council
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political,
defence and economic alliance, established by Kuwait,
Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia in
1981, which is moving gradually but cautiously towards
a form of federation based on its members' common
cultural roots. Though its political and security
aspects are the most publicly prominent, the charter
is primarily an economic instrument designed to
establish a Gulf Common Market. The GCC's head-quarters
are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and its six members
control 45% of the world's oil reserves.
In order to enhance their economic ties, the six
member states signed a Unified Economic Agreement
(UEA) in 1982, which provides for free trade, the
free movement of labour and capital, the coordination
of economic policies, and cooperation in transport,
utilities and communications between GCC member
countries. The UEA's provisions were not intended
for immediate implementation and many provisions,
such as common customs tariffs, are still being
discussed and negotiated.
THE ECONOMY
Kuwait's economy is totally based on its oil revenues.
The non-oil revenues contribute only to the extent
of about eight per cent. All companies involved
in oil, natural gas and petrochemicals production
are state owned.
The form of the Kuwaiti economy may be described
as paternal capitalism. The economy has five main
characteristics:
- it depends on oil for a large portion of national
income
- it relies on imports to satisfy most of its requirements
for goods and ser- vices
- there are few trade barriers between it and the
outside world
- it has limited domestic investment opportunities,
and
- it incorporates a high level of welfarism.
The most important economic activity in Kuwait is
the transformation of mineral wealth into disposable
funds which are then deployed to attain social,
political and economic ends. Local production of
crude oil, gas and refined products accounts for
nearly half of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and
more than 94% of exports. Kuwait also has substantial
overseas investments, both privately and publicly
owned, which provide substantial income. Non-oil
development depends on revenues generated from these
sources.
The economy has four main sectors; the dominant
public sector of government institutions and state-owned
oil companies, the private sector controlled mainly
by local merchant families, the joint sector in
which business enterprises are owned by a mix of
public and private interests, and the consumer cooperative
sector in which the local 'co-op' supermarkets are
owned by Kuwaitis residing locally.
Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals
Kuwait has abundant reserves of crude oil. But it
has a relative shortage of natural gas.
The State of Kuwait owns all mineral wealth within
the territory of Kuwait including its offshore reserves,
and a half-share of the reserves in the Partitioned
Neutral Zone (PNZ). The industry is wholly-owned
and firmly controlled by the state through:
- The Supreme Petroleum Council
- The Ministry of Oil
- Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)
- KPC's Operating Subsidiaries
The Supreme (or Higher) Petroleum Council is responsible
for the country's overall oil policy. The Ministry
of Oil regulates the industry, and directs political
relationships with other producing countries, international
organi-sations such as OPEC and OAPEC, and major
consuming entities.
THE
PEOPLE & THE CULTURE
The post-oil boom era of over four decades transformed
Kuwait not only in its physical infrastructure,
the population structure also changed completely
with the huge influx of manpower for the development.
Todays population of Kuwait comprises of over
100 nationalities reducing Kuwaiti citizens to
a minority in their own country.
The Kuwaiti population has maintained its growth
rate of 3.2 per cent while the non-Kuwaiti population
registered a growth of 5.8 per cent in 2002.
| Population
Summery 2002 |
| Total
Population |
2,419,928
(100.0%) |
| Kuwaitis |
898,285
(37.1%) |
| Expatriates |
1,521,643
(62.9%) |
| Gender
(men:women) ratio approx: |
| Overall |
3:2 |
| Kuwaitis |
0.99:1 |
| Expatriates |
2:1 |
The Work Force
Employment in Kuwait falls into three categories:
the public sector (ministries, other public authorities
and the state-owned oil companies), the private
sector, and domestic service.
The state employs about 93.7 per cent of Kuwaitis
in the work force who enjoy relatively high salaries
and generous benefits compared with the private
sector.
The government's role as the dominant employer
of national manpower is due to several factors:
the state's perceived duty to provide jobs for
all citizens, the high salaries paid in the public
sector.
The number of Kuwaitis working in both the public
and private sectors had increased by the end of
2002. However, 93.7 per cent of the Kuwaiti working
population stillll remains employed by the public
sector. The number of Kuwaitis working in the
public sector has increased by nearly 11,000 while
that in private sector has increased by only 1,000.
To increase Kuwaiti nationals' employment in the
private sector, the government has implemented
certain measures such as extending social alllowance
to kuwaitis in the private sector and initiating
training sessions to prepare Kuwaitis for work
demands of the private sector. The sessions are
financed by a 2.5 per cent tax placed on listed
companies on the Kuwait Stock Exchange.
A further scheme was implemented in September
2002, where bythe government has placed mandatory
limits on employemnt quotas for Kuwaitis in private
sector companies. The new Labour Market Law insists
on a certain percentage of Kuwaiti employess in
the private sector firms. The percentage differs
from sector to sector , but can reach upto 39
per cent in the communications sector with general
requirements in most sectors not exceeding a 10
per cent limit.
| Estimated
Expat Menpower in Private Sector in
Kuwait in June 2003 |
| Indians |
184,200 |
| Egyptians |
183,000 |
| Bangladeshis |
116,000 |
| Pakistanis |
64,400 |
| Syrians |
42,300 |
| Iranians
|
42,000 |
| Philippinos
|
20,000 |
| Lebanese
|
15,800 |
| Srilankans
|
11,000 |
| Jordanians
|
10,500 |
| Others
|
35,600 |
| Total |
725,000 |
The above figure does not include
expatriates working in the public sector, estimated
at 100,000 and somre 300,000 domestics workers
mostley from India, Srilanka and the Philippines.
POPULATION (December 2002)
Breakdown by age groups
| Age
group |
Kuwaitis |
Expatriates |
| |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| Below
5 |
66,987 |
64,181 |
131,168 |
37,475 |
36,079 |
73,554 |
| 5
- 9 |
65,927 |
63,102 |
129,029 |
36,704 |
34,797 |
71,501 |
| 10
- 14 |
55,223 |
53,542 |
108,765 |
35,116 |
32,507 |
67,673 |
| 15
- 19 |
47,849 |
47,351 |
95,200 |
35,044 |
29,812 |
64,856 |
| 20
- 24 |
39,333 |
39,404 |
78,737 |
62,959 |
51,466 |
114,425 |
| 25
- 29 |
34,725 |
36,041 |
70,766 |
142,949 |
68,760 |
211,709 |
| 30
- 34 |
30,158 |
31,698 |
61,856 |
180,188 |
77,251 |
257,439 |
| 35
- 39 |
25,474 |
27,940 |
53,414 |
157,809 |
60,286 |
218,095 |
| 40
- 44 |
19,169 |
22,656 |
41,825 |
121,590 |
44,505 |
166,095 |
| 45
- 49 |
14,664 |
18,641 |
33,305 |
84,673 |
25,341 |
110,014 |
| 50
- 54 |
9,396 |
13,475 |
22,871 |
49,453 |
12,865 |
62,318 |
| 55
- 59 |
7,763 |
10,484 |
18,247 |
25,002 |
6,914 |
31,916 |
| 60
- 64 |
7,209 |
7,758 |
14,967 |
11,897 |
3,671 |
15,568 |
| 65
+ |
11,975 |
12,425 |
24,400 |
8,280 |
5,332 |
13,612 |
| TOTAL |
435,852 |
448,698 |
884,550 |
989,189 |
489,586 |
1,478,775 |
|
Source:
The Public Aithority for Civil Information |
Population Rise in 2002
According to a report issued
by the Ministry of Planning in May 2002, the population
of Kuwait has reached 2,309,102 rising by 4.1
per cent. At the end of 2001 the number of Kuwaitis
increased to 870,283 and the non-Kuwaitis number
has also increased to 1,438,819. The following
table gives the details of nationalities, males
and females, and the percentages comprising the
total population.
| Nationality |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Percentage |
| Kuwaitis |
442,310 |
455,975 |
898,285 |
37.1 |
| Non-
Kuwaitis |
1,020,913 |
500,730 |
1,521,643 |
62.9 |
| Total |
1,463,223 |
956,705 |
2,419,928 |
100 |
The Culture
History reveals that Kuwait was never a colony
and the Kuwaitis have always been free to manage
their affairs among themselves as they see fit and
to develop their unique cultural characteristics
in their own way. Because the country has experienced
several hundred years of continuous immigration,
the sources of Kuwaiti culture are very diverse.
The culture of the Kuwaiti people is very rich and
variegated and, like most cultures that thrive,
it is undergoing continuous change.
The Kuwaiti of the pre-oil era survived, in the
harshness of the desert or sea, through a mix of
finely-honed skills and a highly developed social
organisation based on family, clan and tribe, which
provided the economic and political support necessary
for survival. In return for this support, the individual
gave unquestioning service and loyalty to his group.
This gave rise to clan-based networks which are
still extremely strong and provide the basis of
social relations between Kuwaitis today.
The Diwaniyah
The diwaniyah, has existed in Kuwait since time
immemorial. The term originally referred to the
section of a bedouin tent where the menfolk and
their visitors sat apart from the family. In the
old City of Kuwait it was the reception area where
a man received his business colleagues and male
guests. Today the term refers both to a reception
hall and the gathering held in it, and visiting
or hosting a diwaniyah is an indispensable feature
of a Kuwaiti man's social life.
As a social event, a diwaniyah takes place in the
evening in a special room or annex which is usually
separate from the rest of a man's house. Only men
are present and they sit around on soft benches
or cushions, conversing casually, smoking, nibbling
snacks and relaxing over beverages such as tea,
coffee or the like. Relatives and friends come and
go throughout the evening. The host's job is to
be hospitable and entertain his guests.
There are also more formal diwani-yahs which specialize
in particular interests, such as politics or science.
The diwaniyahs are the core of Kuwait's social,business
and political life, the places where topics of interest
are discussed, associates introduced, alliances
formed, and similar networking activities undertaken.
Formal diwaniyahs may be convened to discuss particular
topics, sometimes with invited guest speakers. They
are also called for particular purposes, such as
election campaigns. Formal diwaniyahs are the root
of Kuwait's consensual political system.
Kuwaiti Male Attire
Most Kuwaiti men wear a dishdasha, a floor length
robe with a centre front opening which is put on
over the head.
The headdress of the Kuwaiti male consists of three
parts. The gutra is a square piece of cloth which
is folded into a triangle and then placed centrally
on the head so that the ends hang down equally over
the shoulders. It is held in place by an ogal, a
double circlet of twisted black cord, which is placed
firmly over the head. Often a gahfiya, a close-fitting
skull cap, is worn under the gutra to stop it from
slipping.
Kuwaiti Female Attire
Many Kuwaiti women dress in western clothes.
However their traditional clothing, such as the
thob (a straight-sided long overdress), is still
used on festive occasions.
When in public many local women cover their chic
western clothing with an aba, a head-to-toe silky
black cloak. Bedouin women may also wear a burga,
a short black veil which leaves the eyes and forehead
exposed, or occasionally a bushiya, a semi-transparent
veil which covers the entire face.
The hijab, or Islamic headscarf, which conceals
the hair while leaving the face unveiled, is worn
by many Kuwaiti and expatriate muslim women.
Marriage
Social status, financial standing and religious
sect are some of the important considerations. Some
marriages are still arranged in Kuwait. However
there is no coercion and both partners are free
to accept or reject their parents' choice. Marriage
between cousins is normal.
If no marriage partner could be found by parents
among their extended family or close acquainted
families, services of a female go-between (Khataba)
is sought.
Once an agreement to marry has been reached, the
contract is signed according to Islamic law fixing
an amount of mahr or dowry which the man must pay.
This is followed by a public announcement and then
separate wedding receptions are held for the woman
and the man. Both are extremely lavish. Weddings
are major social occasions.
Births
Lavish Kuwaiti hospitality prevails on the birth
of a child, more so if the infant is a son. The
baby, whether a boy or girl, will receive presents
of gold jewelry. Traditionally the mother will stay
at home for 40 days after the birth eating special
foods, such as gabout (a type of mutton stew), to
restore her strength.
Once his first-born son has been named, a father
will be addressed by his son's name prefixed with
'Abu', meaning 'the father of''.
Deaths
Since death is regarded as God's will, excessive
display of grief is considered evil and elaborate
ceremonies are regarded unnecessary. When a person
dies, according to Islamic rites,the body is buried
before sundown on the day of death. It is usually
accompanied to the graveyard by male relatives
only. The family of the deceased stay at home
for a period of three days following the funeral
to receive condolences. Each morning for three
days, the men of the family hold a condolence
diwaniyah and even casual acquaintances will come
to pay their respects. The men of the family sit
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