Kuwait: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Kuwait

Kuwait is a small country at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It is mostly flat, sandy desert with very hot summers. It was once a centre for pearl diving and boatbuilding, and today it is known for oil.

About Kuwait City

Kuwait City lies on the south shore of Kuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbour on the Persian Gulf. Its best-known landmark is the Kuwait Towers, whose spheres are covered in about 41,000 blue, green and grey discs.

Fun facts about Kuwait

1. The Kuwaiti dinar is the world's most valuable currency unit.
2. Kuwait has no permanent rivers, so it turns seawater into fresh water, which it began doing on a large scale in 1951.
3. The main Kuwait Tower is 187 metres tall, and its upper sphere turns all the way around every 30 minutes.
4. On 21 July 2016, Mitribah in Kuwait reached 54.0 °C, the highest temperature ever recorded in Asia.
5. Alexander the Great named Kuwait's Failaka Island 'Ikaros', and Greek temples have been dug up there.
6. Bubiyan Island is home to the world's largest breeding colony of crab-plovers, a black-and-white shorebird.