Kuwait - Persian Gulf, Oil, Independence

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The foundation of the autonomous sheikhdom of Kuwait dates from 1756, when the settlers decided to appoint a sheikh from the Ṣabāḥ family (Āl Ṣabāḥ). During the 19th century, Kuwait developed as a thriving independent trading community. Toward the end of the century, one ruler, ʿAbd Allāh II (reigned 1866–92),"/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Kuwait - Persian Gulf, Oil, Independence | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Kuwait - Persian Gulf, Oil, Independence: The origin of the city of Kuwait—and of the State of Kuwait—is usually placed at about the beginning of the 18th century, when the Banū (Banī) ʿUtūb, a group of families of the ʿAnizah tribe in the interior of the Arabian Peninsula, migrated to the area that is now Kuwait. The foundation of the autonomous sheikhdom of Kuwait dates from 1756, when the settlers decided to appoint a sheikh from the Ṣabāḥ family (Āl Ṣabāḥ). 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class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait">Kuwait</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Kuwait">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref45141"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait#ref45141">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45142"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait#ref45142">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248530"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait#ref248530">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248531"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait#ref248531">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45144"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45143"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref45143">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45146"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref45146">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248532"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref248532">Ethnic groups</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248533"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref248533">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248534"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref248534">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45145"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Climate#ref45145">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248535"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Demographic-trends">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref45147"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Demographic-trends#ref45147">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45149"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Demographic-trends#ref45149">Agriculture and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248536"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref248537"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248537">Oil</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref248538"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248538">Natural gas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref248539"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248539">Water</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248540">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45151"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref45151">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248541"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248541">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Resources-and-power#ref248542">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation">Labour and taxation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45152"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref45152">Transportation and telecommunications</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref93652"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref93652">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref248544">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref248545">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref248546">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Labour-and-taxation#ref248547">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref93654"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Health-and-welfare">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248548"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Health-and-welfare#ref248548">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref93655"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Health-and-welfare#ref93655">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref93656"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248549"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life#ref248549">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248550"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life#ref248550">The arts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248551"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life#ref248551">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248552"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life#ref248552">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref248553"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/Cultural-life#ref248553">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref93657"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref45155"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/History#ref45155">Early settlers</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref93658"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/History#ref93658">Iran-Iraq War</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref282001"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/The-Persian-Gulf-War-and-its-aftermath">The Persian Gulf War and its aftermath</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref282002"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Kuwait/The-Persian-Gulf-War-and-its-aftermath#ref282002">Political conflict and reform in the early 21st century</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Kuwait">Facts & Stats</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/images-videos">Images, Videos & Interactives</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kuwait/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Kuwait</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Kuwait/345721" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuwait - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Kuwait/275337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kuwait - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Dawlat al-Kuwayt, State of Kuwait</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Dawlat-Ahmed-Sadek/2561" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Dawlat Ahmed Sadek</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Chairman of the Geography Department, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Dawlat Ahmed Sadek</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/John-Duke-Anthony/3342" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">John Duke Anthony</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">President and CEO, National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations; Secretary, U.S. Gulf Cooperation Council Corporate Cooperation Committee. Author of <em>The United Arab Emirates: Dynamics of State Formation....</em></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> John Duke Anthony</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-19T00:00:00CST" >Feb 19, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/saudi-arabias-acwa-power-buy-engies-share-kuwait-bahrain-assets-2025-02-19/" rel="nofollow">Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to buy Engie's share in Kuwait and Bahrain assets</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 18, 2025, 6:23 PM ET (Reuters) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/02/15/lao-pm-holds-talks-on-ties-with-uae-kuwait-counterparts-and-vietnam-dpm-in-dubai" rel="nofollow">Lao PM holds talks on ties with UAE, Kuwait counterparts and Vietnam DPM in Dubai</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 15, 2025, 2:13 AM ET (The Star) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-841050" rel="nofollow">US State Dept approves possible sale of military-related services to Kuwait</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 6, 2025, 8:36 AM ET (Jerusalem Post) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-03/blackrock-said-to-explore-office-in-kuwait-deepening-gulf-ties" rel="nofollow">BlackRock Said to Explore Office in Kuwait, Deepening Gulf Ties</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 3, 2025, 3:04 AM ET (Bloomberg) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-02/kuwait-forecasts-6-3-billion-dinar-deficit-for-next-fiscal-year" rel="nofollow">Kuwait Forecasts 6.3 Billion Dinar Deficit for Next Fiscal Year</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 2, 2025, 9:49 AM ET (Bloomberg) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><span class="marker h7"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref93657"> <section data-level="2" id="ref45155"> <h2 class="h2">Early settlers</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The origin of the city of <span id="ref484475"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kuwait-capital" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kuwait</a>—and of the State of Kuwait—is usually placed at about the beginning of the 18th century, when the <span id="ref484477"></span>Banū (Banī) ʿUtūb, a group of families of the ʿAnizah tribe in the interior of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arabia-peninsula-Asia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Arabian Peninsula</a>, migrated to the area that is now Kuwait. The foundation of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="autonomous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autonomous" data-type="MW">autonomous</a> sheikhdom of Kuwait dates from 1756, when the settlers decided to appoint a sheikh from the <span id="ref484478"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sabah-dynasty" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ṣabāḥ family</a> (Āl Ṣabāḥ). During the 19th century, Kuwait developed as a thriving independent trading <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="community" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community" data-type="MW">community</a>. Toward the end of the century, one ruler, <span id="ref484479"></span>ʿAbd Allāh II (reigned 1866–92), began to move Kuwait closer to the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ottoman-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ottoman Empire</a>, although he never placed his <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> under Ottoman rule. That trend was reversed with the accession of <span id="ref484480"></span>Mubārak the Great, who came to power by assassinating his brother ʿAbd Allāh—an act of uncustomary political violence in Kuwait. Ottoman threats to annex Kuwait prompted Mubārak to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cultivate" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultivate" data-type="MW">cultivate</a> a close relationship with <span id="ref484481"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Britain</a>. An 1899 treaty basically granted Britain control of Kuwait’s foreign affairs. Following the outbreak of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">World War I</a> (1914–18), Kuwait became a British protectorate.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">At the 1922 <span id="ref484482"></span>Conference of Al-ʿUqayr, Britain negotiated the Kuwait-Saudi border, with substantial territorial loss to Kuwait. A memorandum in 1923 set out the border with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Iraq" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Iraq</a> on the basis of an unratified 1913 convention.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The first <span id="ref484483"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Iraq" class="md-crosslink ">Iraqi</a> claim to Kuwait surfaced in 1938—the year oil was discovered in the emirate. Although neither Iraq nor the Ottoman Empire had ever actually ruled Kuwait, Iraq asserted a vague historical title. That year it also offered some <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="rhetorical" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetorical" data-type="MW">rhetorical</a> support to a merchant uprising against the emir. Following the failure of the uprising, called the <span id="ref484484"></span>Majlis Movement, Iraq continued to put forth a claim to at least part of Kuwait, notably the strategic islands of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bubiyan" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Būbiyān</a> and Al-Warbah.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">On June 19, 1961, Britain recognized Kuwait’s independence. Six days later, however, Iraq renewed its claim, which was now rebuffed first by British and then by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arab-League" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arab League</a> forces. It was not until October 1963 that a new Iraqi regime formally recognized both Kuwait’s independence and, subsequently, its borders, while continuing to press for access to the islands.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> </section> <section data-level="2" id="ref93658"> <h2 class="h2"><span id="ref484485"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-Iraq-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iran-Iraq War</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Iran-Iraq-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iran-Iraq War</a> of 1980–88 represented a serious threat to Kuwait’s security. Kuwait, fearing Iranian <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="hegemony" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemony" data-type="MW">hegemony</a> in the region, saw no <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alternative" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative" data-type="MW">alternative</a> to providing Iraq with substantial financial support and serving as a vital <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conduit" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conduit" data-type="MW">conduit</a> for military supplies. <span id="ref484486"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Iran" class="md-crosslink ">Iran</a> attacked a Kuwaiti refinery complex in 1981, which inspired subsequent acts of sabotage in 1983 and 1986. In 1985 a member of the underground pro-Iranian Iraqi radical group <span id="ref484487"></span>al-Daʿwah attempted to assassinate the Kuwaiti ruler, <span id="ref484488"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sheikh-Jabir-al-Ahmad-al-Jabir-al-Sabah" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="209451" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/181085-050-0B087956/Pres-George-HW-Jabir-al-Ahmad-al-Jabir-al-Sabah-September-28-1990.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/325644/209451"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/181085-050-0B087956/Pres-George-HW-Jabir-al-Ahmad-al-Jabir-al-Sabah-September-28-1990.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/181085-050-0B087956/Pres-George-HW-Jabir-al-Ahmad-al-Jabir-al-Sabah-September-28-1990.jpg?w=300" alt="George H.W. Bush and Sheikh Jābir al-Aḥmad al-Jābir al-Ṣabāḥ" data-width="1600" data-height="1082" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/85/181085-050-0B087956/Pres-George-HW-Jabir-al-Ahmad-al-Jabir-al-Sabah-September-28-1990.jpg" data-href="/media/1/325644/209451">George H.W. Bush and Sheikh Jābir al-Aḥmad al-Jābir al-Ṣabāḥ</a><span>U.S. Pres. George H.W. Bush meeting with the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jābir al-Aḥmad al-Jābir al-Ṣabāḥ, at the White House, Washington, D.C., September 28, 1990.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">In September 1986 Iran began to concentrate its attacks on gulf shipping, largely on Kuwaiti tankers. This led Kuwait to invite both the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Soviet-Union" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Soviet Union</a> (with which it had established diplomatic relations in 1963) and the <span id="ref484489"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-United-States" class="md-crosslink ">United States</a> to provide protection for its tankers in early 1987. The effect of the war was to promote closer relations with Kuwait’s <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conservative" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservative" data-type="MW">conservative</a> gulf Arab neighbours (Saudi Arabia, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bahrain" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bahrain</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Qatar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Qatar</a>, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Arab-Emirates" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Arab Emirates</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Oman" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Oman</a>), with whom Kuwait had formed the <span id="ref484490"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gulf-Cooperation-Council" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gulf Cooperation Council</a> (GCC) in 1981 in order to develop closer cooperation on economic and security issues. With the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations began to deteriorate. On August 2, 1990, Iraq unexpectedly invaded and conquered the country, precipitating the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Persian-Gulf-War" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Persian Gulf War</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> </section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":8,"pagesTotal":9,"pageId":325644,"pageLength":595,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":8,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Kuwait - Persian Gulf, Oil, Independence | Britannica