Kuwait

Kuwait is a small, oil-rich country located at the northern edge of the Arabian Gulf in Western Asia. Its capital is Kuwait City, and the country has a population of approximately 4.3 million people, though a significant majority are expatriate workers. Kuwait's economy is dominated by the petroleum sector, which accounts for nearly half of GDP, over 90% of export revenues and the bulk of government income. The country holds the world's sixth-largest proven oil reserves, estimated at around 102 billion barrels, and is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Kuwait's currency is the Kuwaiti dinar, one of the highest-valued currencies in the world. The government is a constitutional emirate, with the Al Sabah family holding executive power, though the country has an elected parliament with significant legislative authority. Kuwait is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League and the United Nations. The country was invaded and occupied by Iraq in 1990, leading to the Gulf War in 1991, after which it was liberated by a US-led coalition. Since then, Kuwait has rebuilt its infrastructure and maintained close security and economic ties with Western nations, particularly the United States. Its strategic location, vast hydrocarbon wealth and role as a regional financial centre make it a key player in Middle Eastern energy markets and geopolitics.