Economy of Kuwait
Currency | Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) |
---|---|
1 April – 31 March | |
Trade organisations | WTO, OPEC and GCC |
Country group | |
Statistics | |
Population | 4,268,873 (2022)[3] |
GDP | |
GDP rank | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita | |
GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector | agriculture (0.4%), industry (58.7%), services (40.9%) (2017 est.)[5] |
3.6% (2023)[4] | |
Unemployment | 5.2% [5] |
Main industries | petroleum, petrochemicals, steelmaking, cement, shipbuilding and repair, desalination, food processing, construction materials |
External | |
Exports | $40.16 billion (2020 est.)[7] |
Export goods | oil and refined products, acyclic alcohols, motor cars and other motor vehicles, lightvessels, floating cranes, floating docks, dredgers.[8] |
Main export partners | India(+) 1.6% UAE(+) 1.1% Iraq(+) 0.9% Saudi Arabia(+) 0.8% (2020 est.)[8][9][10][11] |
Imports | $28.34 billion (2020 est.)[7] |
Import goods | food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing |
Main import partners | China(-) 16.7% United States(+) 8.7% UAE(+) 8.6% Japan(+) 5.9% (2020 est.)[8] |
Gross external debt | $48.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[5] |
Public finances | |
13.74 (2021 est.)[12] | |
Revenues | $24.97 billion (2020 est.)[5] |
Expenses | $71.58 billion (2020 est.)[5] |
Economic aid | N/A |
Standard & Poor's:[13] AA- (Domestic) AA- (Foreign) AA+ (T&C Assessment) Outlook: Stable[14] Moody's:[14] Aa2 Outlook: Stable Fitch:[14] AA Outlook: Stable | |
All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars. |
The economy of Kuwait is a wealthy petroleum-based economy.[15] Kuwait is one of the richest countries in the world.[16][17][18] The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest-valued unit of currency in the world.[citation needed] According to the World Bank, Kuwait is the fifth richest country in the world by gross national income per capita.[19]
Energy
[edit]Petroleum and natural gas
[edit]In 1934, the Emir of Kuwait granted an oil concession to the Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC), jointly owned by the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later British Petroleum Company) and Gulf Oil Corporation In 1976, the Kuwaiti Government nationalized KOC.
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), an integrated international oil company, is the parent company of the government's operations in the petroleum sector, and includes Kuwait Oil Company, which produced oil and gas; Kuwait National Petroleum Co., refining and domestic sales; Petrochemical Industries Co., producing ammonia and urea; Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co., with several concessions in developing countries; Kuwait Oil Tanker Co.; and Santa Fe International Corp. The latter, purchased outright in 1982, gives KPC a worldwide presence in the petroleum industry.
KPC also has purchased from Gulf Oil Co. refineries and associated service stations in the Benelux nations and Scandinavia, as well as storage facilities and a network of service stations in Italy. In 1987, KPC bought a 19% share in British Petroleum, which was later reduced to 10%. KPC markets its products in Europe under the brand Q8 and is interested in the markets of the United States and Japan.
Kuwait has about 94 billion barrels (14.9 km3) of recoverable oil reserves. Estimated capacity, before the war, was about 2.4 million barrels per day (380×10 3 m3/d). During the Iraqi occupation, Kuwait's oil-producing capacity was reduced to practically nothing. However, tremendous recovery and improvements have been made since. Oil production was 1.5 million barrels per day (240×10 3 m3/d) by the end of 1992, and pre-war capacity was restored in 1993. Kuwait's production capacity is estimated to be 2.5 million barrels per day (400×10 3 m3/d). Kuwait plans to increase its capacity to 3.5 million barrels per day (560×10 3 m3/d) by 2005..
As part of Kuwait Vision 2035, Kuwait aims to position itself as a global hub for the petrochemical industry.[20][21] Al Zour Refinery is the largest refinery in the Middle East.[22][23][24][25][20] Al Zour Refinery is a Kuwait-China cooperation project under the Belt and Road Initiative.[26]
Renewable energy
[edit]As part of Kuwait Vision 2035, Kuwait inaugurated its largest renewable energy park, Shagaya Renewable Energy Park, which includes concentrated solar power, solar photovoltaic, and wind power plants.[27][28][29][30] The park consists of four phases with a target capacity of 4,000 MW.[31][28][32] It is set to be one of the largest renewable energy parks in the world.
Steel manufacturing
[edit]Steel manufacturing is Kuwait's second biggest industry.[33] United Steel Industrial Company (KWT Steel) is Kuwait's main steel manufacturing company, the company caters to all of Kuwait's domestic market demands (particularly construction).[34][35][36][37] Kuwait is self-sufficient in steel.[34][35][36][37]
Agriculture
[edit]In 2016, Kuwait's food self-sufficiency ratio was 49.5% in vegetables, 38.7% in meat, 12.4% in diary, 24.9% in fruits, and 0.4% in cereals.[38] 8.5% of Kuwait's entire territory consists of agricultural land, while arable land covers 0.6% of Kuwait's entire territory.[39][40] Historically, Jahra was a predominantly agricultural area. There are currently various farms in Jahra.[41]
In 2017, agriculture (including fisheries) accounted for almost 0.4 percent of the gross domestic product.[5] Around 4 percent of the economically active population works in agriculture, almost all foreigners.[42] The majority of farm owners are investors.[43] The total agricultural land covered 1,521 sq km in 2014.[43]
The agriculture industry is hampered by the limited water and arable land. The government has experimented in growing food through hydroponics and carefully managed farms. However, most of the soil which was suitable for farming in south central Kuwait was destroyed when Iraqi troops set fire to oil wells in the area and created vast "oil lakes". Fish and shrimp are plentiful in territorial waters, and largescale commercial fishing has been undertaken locally and in the Indian Ocean.
Finance
[edit]Kuwait has a leading position in the financial industry in the GCC.[44] The Emir has promoted the idea that Kuwait should focus its energies, in terms of economic development, on the financial industry.[44]
The historical preeminence of Kuwait (among the Gulf monarchies) in finance dates back to the founding of the National Bank of Kuwait in 1952.[44] The bank was the first local publicly traded corporation in the Gulf.[44] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, an alternative stock market, trading in shares of Gulf companies, emerged in Kuwait, the Souk Al-Manakh.[44] At its peak, its market capitalization was the third highest in the world, behind only the U.S. and Japan, and ahead of the UK and France.[44]
Kuwait has a large wealth-management industry.[44] Kuwaiti investment companies administer more assets than those of any other GCC country, save the much larger Saudi Arabia.[44] The Kuwait Financial Centre, in a rough calculation, estimated that Kuwaiti firms accounted for over one-third of the total assets under management in the GCC.[44]
The relative strength of Kuwait in the financial industry extends to its stock market.[44] For many years, the total valuation of all companies listed on the Kuwaiti exchange far exceeded the value of those on any other GCC bourse, except Saudi Arabia.[44] In 2011, financial and banking companies made up more than half of the market capitalization of the Kuwaiti bourse; among all the Gulf states, the market capitalization of Kuwaiti financial-sector firms was, in total, behind only that of Saudi Arabia.[44] In recent years, Kuwaiti investment companies have invested large percentages of their assets abroad, and their foreign assets have become substantially larger than their domestic assets.[44]
Kuwait is a major source of foreign economic assistance to other states through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, an autonomous state institution created in 1961 on the pattern of Western and international development agencies. Over the years aid was annually provided to Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization. In 1974, the fund's lending mandate was expanded to include all developing countries in the world.
Reserve funds
[edit]The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund specializing in foreign investment. The KIA is the world's oldest sovereign wealth fund. Since 1953, the Kuwaiti government has directed investments into Europe, United States and Asia Pacific. In 2021, the holdings were valued at around $700 billion in assets.[45] It was the 3rd largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.[45][46]
The KIA manages two funds: the General Reserve Fund (GRF) and Future Generations Fund (FGF).[47] The GRF is the main treasurer for the government.[47] It receives all state revenues and all national expenditures are paid out of this fund.[47] The KIA does not disclose its financial assets in public, but it is estimated that the KIA has $410 billion in assets as of February 2014.
The KIA was the main source of capital for the Kuwaiti government during the Gulf War. The Kuwaiti government relied on the KIA to pay for coalition expenses and postwar reconstruction.[48] The KIA was worth $100 billion prior to 1990, KIA funds were depleted to $40–$50 billion after the Gulf War.
In July 2023, Kuwait plans to create a new sovereign fund, Ciyada, in partnership with the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA). While the value of the fund has not been specified, the KIA, which currently manages over $800 billion in assets, will play a significant role in studying and implementing the proposed fund. The aim is to develop the local economy, attract foreign investment, and finance major projects to promote economic diversification in Kuwait.[49]
- Future Generations Fund
The Future Generations Fund (FGF) was created in 1976 by transferring 50% from the general reserve fund at that time. The FGF is a saving funds for future generations. 25% of all state revenues are annually transferred to the fund.[50]
All of the FGF is invested abroad, with an estimated 75% invested in the US and Europe and the rest in emerging markets, mainly China and India.
Health
[edit]Kuwait has a state-funded healthcare system, which provides treatment without charge to Kuwaiti nationals. There are outpatient clinics in every residential area in Kuwait. A public insurance scheme exists to provide reduced cost healthcare to expatriates. Private healthcare providers also run medical facilities in the country, available to members of their insurance schemes. As part of Kuwait Vision 2035, many new hospitals have opened.[51][52][53] In the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuwait invested in its health care system at a rate that was proportionally higher than most other GCC countries.[54] As a result, the public hospital sector significantly increased its capacity.[53][51][52] Kuwait currently has 20 public hospitals.[55][52] The new Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital is considered the largest hospital in the Middle East.[56] Kuwait also has 16 private hospitals.[51]
Entrepreneurship
[edit]In the past five years, there has been a significant rise in entrepreneurship and small business creation in Kuwait.[57][58] The informal sector is also on the rise,[59] mainly due to the popularity of Instagram businesses.[60][61][62] In 2020, Kuwait ranked fourth in the MENA region in startup funding after the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.[63]
Many Kuwaiti entrepreneurs use the Instagram-based business model.[64]
Tourism
[edit]In 2020, Kuwait's domestic travel and tourism spending reached $6.1 billion (up from $1.6 billion in 2019) with family tourism a rapidly growing segment.[65] The WTTC named Kuwait as one of the world's fastest-growing countries in travel and tourism GDP in 2019, with 11.6% year-on-year growth.[65] In 2016, the tourism industry generated nearly $500 million in revenue.[66] In 2015, tourism accounted for 1.5 percent of the GDP.[67][68]
In 2023, there was a rise in the spending of Kuwaiti citizens on tourism and travel, recorded to be 4.39 billion dinars, marking an increase of 9.2% from the 4 billion dinars recorded in 2022. The surge in tourism expenditures is largely attributable to the introduction of new travel destinations, expanded offerings from airlines catering to family travel, and an increase in interest in events like the Riyadh Season and other festivities. The first quarter of 2023 saw the highest spending (1.36 billion dinars), followed by the second (1.01 billion dinars), third (1.15 billion dinars), and the fourth (870 million dinars), making it the year with the highest spending on travel by Kuwaiti citizens since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, spending by foreign tourists in Kuwait increased by approximately 60%, reaching 533.3 million dinars by the end of 2023, up from 332.6 million dinars in 2022.[69]
The Amiri Diwan recently inaugurated the new Kuwait National Cultural District (KNCD), which comprises Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre, Al Shaheed Park, and Al Salam Palace.[70][71] With a capital cost of more than US$1 billion, the project is one of the largest cultural investments in the world.[71] In November 2016, the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre opened.[72] It is the largest cultural centre and opera house in the Middle East.[73][74] The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of the Global Cultural Districts Network.[75] The annual "Hala Febrayer" festival attracts tourists from neighboring GCC countries,[76] and includes a variety of events including music concerts, parades, and carnivals.[76][77][78] The festival is a month-long commemoration of the liberation of Kuwait, and runs from 1 to 28 February. Liberation Day itself is celebrated on 26 February.[79]
Science and technology
[edit]According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Kuwait registered 448 patents as of 31 December 2015,[80][81][82][83] In the early to mid 2010s, Kuwait registered the largest number of scientific publications and patents per capita regionally.[84][85][86][87][88] The Kuwaiti government has implemented various programs to foster innovation resulting in patent rights.[84][88] The WIPO Global Innovation Index found that Kuwait ranks relatively high for its innovation efficiency ratio (which shows how much innovation output a country is getting for its inputs).[89]
Kuwait was the first country in the region to implement 5G technology.[90] Kuwait is among the world's leading countries in 5G penetration.[90][91] The Chinese company Huawei has a $1.7 billion investment license in Kuwait to develop the country's ICT sector in line with the Kuwait Vision 2035 strategy.[92]
Space
[edit]Kuwait has an emerging space industry driven by the private sector.[93]
- Kuwait's first satellite
Kuwait's Orbital Space in collaboration with the Space Challenges Program[94] and EnduroSat[95] introduced an international initiative called "Code in Space". The initiative allows students from around the world to send and execute their own code in space.[96] The code is transmitted from a satellite ground station to a cubesat (nanosatellite) orbiting Earth 500 km (310 mi) above sea level. The code is then executed by the satellite's onboard computer and tested under real space environment conditions. The nanosatellite is called "QMR-KWT" (Arabic: قمر الكويت) which means "Moon of Kuwait", translated from Arabic.[97]
QMR-KWT launched to space on 30 June 2021[98] on SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket and was part of the payload of a satellite carrier called ION SCV Dauntless David by D-Orbit.[99] It was deployed into its final orbit (Sun-synchronous orbit) on 16 July 2021.[100] QMR-KWT is Kuwait's first satellite.[98][101][97]
- Um Alaish 4
Seven years after the launch of the world's first communications satellite, Telstar 1, Kuwait in October 1969 inaugurated the first satellite ground station in the Middle East, "Um Alaish".[102] The Um Alaish satellite station complex housed several satellite ground stations including Um Alaish 1 (1969), Um Alaish 2 (1977), and Um Alaish 3 (1981). It provided satellite communication services in Kuwait until 1990 when it was destroyed by the Iraqi armed forces during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.[103] In 2019, Kuwait's Orbital Space established an amateur satellite ground station to provide free access to signals from satellites in orbit passing over Kuwait. The station was named Um Alaish 4 to continue the legacy of "Um Alaish" satellite station.[104] Um Alaish 4 is member of FUNcube distributed ground station network[105] and the Satellite Networked Open Ground Station project (SatNOGS).[106]
- Kuwait Space Rocket
The Kuwait Space Rocket (KSR) is a Kuwaiti project to build and launch the first suborbital liquid bi-propellant rocket in Arabia.[107] The project is divided into two phases with two separate vehicles: an initial testing phase with KSR-1 as a test vehicle capable of reaching an altitude of 8 km (5.0 mi) and a more expansive suborbital test phase with the KSR-2 planned to fly to an altitude of 100 km (62 mi).[108]
- TSCK experiment in space
Kuwait's Orbital Space in collaboration with the Kuwait Scientific Center (TSCK) introduced for the first time in Kuwait the opportunity for students to send a science experiment to space. The objectives of this initiative was to allow students to learn about (a) how science space missions are done; (b) microgravity (weightlessness) environment; (c) how to do science like a real scientist. This opportunity was made possible through Orbital Space agreement with DreamUp PBC and Nanoracks LLC, which are collaborating with NASA under a Space Act Agreement.[109] The students' experiment was named "Kuwait’s Experiment: E.coli Consuming Carbon Dioxide to Combat Climate Change".[110] The experiment was launched on SpaceX CRS-21 (SpX-21) spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) on 6 December 2020. Astronauts Shannon Walker (member of the ISS Expedition 64) conducted the experiment on behalf of the students.
- National satellite project
In July 2021, Kuwait University announced that it is launching a national satellite project as part of state-led efforts to pioneer the country's sustainable space sector.[111][112]
Transport
[edit]Kuwait has a modern network of highways. Roadways extended 5,749 km (3,572 mi), of which 4,887 km (3,037 mi) is paved. There are more than 2 million passenger cars, and 500,000 commercial taxis, buses, and trucks in use. On major highways the maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph). Since there is no railway system in the country, most people travel by automobiles.
The country's public transportation network consists almost entirely of bus routes. The state owned Kuwait Public Transportation Company was established in 1962. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait as well as longer distance services to other Gulf states.[113] The main private bus company is CityBus, which operates about 20 routes across the country. Another private bus company, Kuwait Gulf Link Public Transport Services, was started in 2006. It runs local bus routes across Kuwait and longer distance services to neighbouring Arab countries.[114]
There are two airports in Kuwait. Kuwait International Airport serves as the principal hub for international air travel. State-owned Kuwait Airways is the largest airline in the country. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of the Kuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air Force Museum. In 2004, the first private airline of Kuwait, Jazeera Airways, was launched.[115] In 2005, the second private airline, Wataniya Airways was founded.
Kuwait has one of the largest shipping industries in the region. The Kuwait Ports Public Authority manages and operates ports across Kuwait. The country’s principal commercial seaports are Shuwaikh and Shuaiba which handled combined cargo of 753,334 TEU in 2006.[116] Mina Al-Ahmadi, the largest port in the country, handles most of Kuwait's oil exports.[117] Mubarak Al Kabeer Port in Bubiyan Island is currently under construction. The port is expected to handle 2 million TEU when operations start.
Macro-economic
[edit]The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.[118]
Year | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDP in $ (PPP) |
45.32 Bln. | 45.49 Bln. | 52.04 Bln. | 94.48 Bln.. | 112.87 Bln. | 187.25 Bln. | 207.52 Bln. | 225.81 Bln. | 235.95 Bln. | 220.92 Bln. | 218.31 Bln. | 247.18 Bln. | 271.51 Bln. | 276.91 Bln. | 283.63 Bln. | 283.83 Bln. | 293.76 Bln. | 291.48 Bln. |
GDP per capita in $ (PPP) |
33,082 | 26,759 | 24,435 | 48,207 | 50,908 | 62,601 | 65,197 | 66,422 | 68,553 | 63,392 | 60,947 | 66,853 | 71,326 | 71,150 | 70,217 | 66,956 | 68,540 | 66,163 |
GDP growth (real) |
−20.4% | −4.3% | −26.6% | 1.7% | 4.7% | 10.1% | 7.5% | 6.0% | 2.5% | −7.1% | −2.4% | 10.9% | 7.9% | 0.4% | 0.6% | −1.0% | 2.2% | −2.5% |
Inflation (in Percent) |
6.9% | 1.5% | 15.8% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 4.1% | 3.1% | 5.5% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.9% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 1.5% |
Government debt (Percentage of GDP) |
... | ... | ... | 78% | 35% | 12% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 10% | 21% |
In 2019, Kuwait's main export products were mineral fuels including oil (89.1% of total exports), aircraft and spacecraft (4.3%), organic chemicals (3.2%), plastics (1.2%), iron and steel (0.2%), gems and precious metals (0.1%), machinery including computers (0.1%), aluminum (0.1%), copper (0.1%), and salt, sulphur, stone and cement (0.1%).[119] Kuwait was the world's biggest exporter of sulfonated, nitrated and nitrosated hydrocarbons in 2019.[120] Kuwait was ranked 63rd out of 157 countries in the 2019 Economic Complexity Index (ECI).[120] Iraq was Kuwait's leading export market in 2019 and food/agricultural products accounted for 94.2% of total export commodities.[121]
According to data from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the level of joblessness amongst the Kuwaiti population continues to rise annually as of 2024.[122] This is predominately due to a surplus of graduates in fields that lack demand within the workforce, as well as a discrepancy between labor market requirements and the skills obtained through certain specializations. Additional issues contributing to the unemployment rate include a lack of emphasis on the private sector and insufficient coordination among related authorities. Until substantial changes are made regarding the quality of educational outputs, the number of graduates in less required fields is likely to keep rising, further exacerbating unemployment issues.[122] Statistics from the Central Statistics Bureau as of November 19, 2023 indicate that there are 8,727 unemployed Kuwaitis, including 4,177 males (approximately 48 percent) and 4,550 females (approximately 52 percent).[122]
According to recent statistics released by the Central Statistics Bureau, the population of Kuwait rose to 4.91 million on January 1, 2024 — an increase of 119,700 from 2024's 4.79 million population. The number of Kuwaiti citizens increased by 28,700, totaling 1.545 million, an increase from the 1.517 million figure from the start of 2023. Notably, the number of male citizens reached 758,700 and female citizens rose to 787,000 in January 2024. Additionally, the expatriate population witnessed a rise by 90,990, reaching 3.36 million, among which the male expatriates accounted for 2.26 million and female expatriates stood at 1.1 million in the same period.[123]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Kuwait's Move from Frontier to Emerging Market". 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". datahelpdesk.worldbank.org. World Bank. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "Population, total - Kuwait | Data". Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. April 2024. Archived from the original on 4 May 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kuwait". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Human Development Report 2023/2024" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Kuwait". IMF.org. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Foreign Trade in Figures". Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
Kuwait exports to a wide number of countries, the main ones being India (1.6%), China (1.3%), United Arab Emirates (1.1%), Iraq (0.9%) and Saudi Arabia (0.8%). Kuwait's largest suppliers are China (16.7%), the United States (8.7%), the UAE (8.6%) and Japan (5.9%).
- ^ "Kuwait: Trade Statistics".
- ^ "Kuwait: Imports and Exports". Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Kuwait, Trade with World" (PDF). European Union. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ^ "Import Partners of Kuwait". CEIC Data. 2018. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ "Sovereigns rating list". Standard & Poor's. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b c Rogers, Simon; Sedghi, Ami (15 April 2011). "How Fitch, Moody's and S&P rate each country's credit rating". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ "Kuwait". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "GDP per capita, PPP (current international $)", World Development Indicators database Archived 30 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine, World Bank. Database updated on 14 April 2015.
- ^ GDP – per capita (PPP), The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency.
- ^ Economic Outlook Database, October 2015, International Monetary Fund Archived 14 February 2006 at Archive-It. Database updated on 6 October 2015.
- ^ Grant Suneson (7 July 2019). "These are the 25 richest countries in the world". USA Today. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ a b Ellie Pritchard (22 June 2021). "Al-Zour: Kuwait's vision of becoming an international hub in the Middle East". Valve World. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "KUWAIT: An Introduction". Chambers and Partners. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Sinopec completes main unit of the Middle East's largest refinery". Hydrocarbon Processing. 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Largest Refinery Project in the Middle East". Process Worldwide. 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Start-up of Kuwait's al-Zour refinery still months off". Argus Media. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Talal Aljiran; Walid Alkandari (13 October 2019). "Site Preparation & Soil remediation for Kuwait's Largest Environmental Friendly oil Refinery, by Utilizing Dredging & Soil Compaction". OnePetro. doi:10.2118/198101-MS. S2CID 210318313. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Feature: Kuwait's refinery project showcases Chinese concept of "win-win cooperation"". Xinhua News Agency. 14 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019.
- ^ "Kuwait launches Phase One of Shagaya Renewable Energy Park". ME Construction News. 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Kuwait Solar Energy Market – Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021–2026)". Mordor Intelligence. 2021. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Shagaya power plant 1st phase launched". Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "First Phase Of Kuwait's Shagaya Renewable Energy Park Launched". Utilities Middle East. 25 February 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "PROJECTS: Kuwait to invite consultancy bids for renewable energy project". Zawya. 18 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Kuwait extends renewable advisory deadline". MEED. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
Various phases of the Shagaya renewable energy project will have a combined capacity of 4GW once completed
- ^ "Faisal Awwad Al Khaldi: Go Big or Go Home". The Business Year. 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "KWT Steel: Our ultimate goal is to become a fully-integrated steel manufacturer". Steel Orbis. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "United Steel Industries covers Kuwait's demand for steel -- Chairman". Kuwait News Agency. 6 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "New rebar capacity coming up in Kuwait". Steel Orbis. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ a b "United Steel Industrial Co. (KWTSTEEL)". Epicos. 19 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Food self-sufficiency ratio in Kuwait in 2016, by type". Statista. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Choi Moon-hee (18 May 2021). "South Korean Companies Building Smart Farms in the Middle East". Business Korea. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ "Land use - The World Factbook - CIA". Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- ^ Farmers of Jahra[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) | Data". data.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ a b "general profile". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Herb, Michael (18 December 2014). Michael Herb (ed.). The Wages of Oil: Parliaments and Economic Development in Kuwait and the UAE. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801454684.
- ^ a b "SWFI". 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ "World's Oldest Wealth Fund Swells to Record and Cracks the Top 3". Bloomberg. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Fund Profile: Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA)" (PDF). pp. 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ "The Vital Role of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the GCC's Future". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Hagagy, Ahmed (16 July 2023). "Kuwait to set up new sovereign fund to develop mega projects and local economy". Reuters. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Kuwait's Future Generations Fund" (PDF). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ a b c "Kuwait 2020 Health Infrastructure Report". 4 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Healthcare Infrastructure in Kuwait: On Solid Footing". 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Mega-projects boost hospital capacity in Kuwait". Oxford Business Group. 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
- ^ "Covid-19 Response Report Kuwait" (PDF). Oxford Business Group. 26 March 2021. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Ali, Hayfaa; Ibrahem, Samaa Zenhom; Al Mudaf, Buthaina; Al Fadalah, Talal; Jamal, Diana; El-Jardali, Fadi (March 2018). "Baseline assessment of patient safety culture in public hospitals in Kuwait". BMC Health Services Research. 18 (1): 5. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-2960-x. ISSN 1472-6963. PMC 5840785. PMID 29510705.
There are 20 public hospitals in Kuwait, however, we selected 16 hospitals as the remaining facilities had only recently been established and as such did not meet our inclusion criteria as detailed below.
- ^ "MidEast's largest hospital to open in Kuwait by end of 2016". 2016. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016.
- ^ Al-Kharafi, Naeimah (12 October 2014). "Encouraging social entrepreneurship in Kuwait – Special report". Kuwait Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- ^ Saltzman, Jason (11 November 2014). "Keeping Up With Kuwaiti Connection: The Startup Circuit In Kuwait Is Up And At 'Em". Entrepreneur Middle East. Archived from the original on 24 November 2014.
- ^ Etheridge, Jamie (27 February 2014). "What's behind the growth of Kuwait's informal economy". Kuwait Times. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- ^ Greenfield, Rebecca (12 July 2013). "In Kuwait, Instagram Accounts Are Big Business". The Wire: News for the Atlantic. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- ^ Kuo, Lily; Foxman, Simone (16 July 2013). "A rising class of Instagram entrepreneurs in Kuwait is selling comics, makeup and sheep". Quartz. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014.
- ^ "Kuwait's booming Instagram economy". kottke.org. 12 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- ^ Chloe Domat (February 2021). "Kuwait: Crisis Complicates Reform". Global Finance. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
- ^ al-Wazir, Yara (23 August 2014). "How Kuwaitis are Instagramming a business revolution". Al Arabiya News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ a b "RLA hailed for expertise on Kuwait development". Hospitality Net. 23 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
In 2020, domestic travel and tourism spending for Kuwait reached $6.1bn, up from $1.6bn, with family tourism a rapidly-growing segment.
- ^ "Kuwait tenth in total Arab countries' tourism revenue". 27 August 2016. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016.
- ^ "Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2015" (PDF). World Travel & Tourism Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Kuwait's investments in travel and tourism sector to grow by 4.3% per annum". BQ Magazine. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016.
- ^ "Kuwaitis shell out 4.39 billion dinars on travel in 2023". 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Kuwait National Cultural District". Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Kuwait National Cultural District Museums Director" (PDF). 28 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Kuwait unveils $775M Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre". 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
- ^ Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre Archived 26 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine New Kuwait.
- ^ "أمير الكويت يدشن أكبر مركز ثقافي في الشرق الأوسط.. و4 جواهر تضيء شاطئ الخليج". Oman Daily (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 29 August 2017.
- ^ "Current Members – Global Cultural Districts Network". Global Cultural Districts Network. 25 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Hala February kicks off with a bang". Kuwait Times. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016.
- ^ "Hala Febrayer 2016 Carnival attracts thousands of participants". Al Bawaba. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016.
- ^ "Ooredoo Sponsors Kuwait's Biggest Annual Festival". 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Flag-hoisting ceremony signals start of Kuwait national celebrations of 2017". Kuwait Times. 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Patents By Country, State, and Year – All Patent Types". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Arab World to have more than 197 million Internet users by 2017, according to Arab Knowledge Economy Report". Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
To date, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have granted 858 patents to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, positioning it 29th in the world. Kuwait is at second place with 272 patents and Egypt at third with 212 patents, so far
- ^ "Arab Economy Knowledge Report 2014" (PDF). pp. 20–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2014.
- ^ "UNESCO Science Report 2005" (PDF). p. 162. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2014.
- ^ a b "Kuwait Sees Fastest Growth of GCC Countries in Obtaining U.S. Patents". Yahoo News. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ^ "Regional Profile of the Information Society in Western Asia" (PDF). p. 53. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Arab states" (PDF). pp. 264–265. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Science and Technology in the OIC Member Countries" (PDF). p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2014.
- ^ a b "A Mixed Bag of Scientific Commitment". MIT Technology Review. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Analysis of Patenting in Kuwait". KFAS. August 2020. p. 5. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b "5G's role in transforming Kuwait into a digital economy". Analysys Mason. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "UK ranked sixth in global 5G market, according to OMDIA". RealWire. 4 June 2020. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Rana Freifer (11 July 2017). "The internet of things is rising in Kuwait". Wamda. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "The Emerging Space Industry in Kuwait". Euro-Gulf Information Centre. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "Space Challenges Program | www.spaceedu.net". Space Challenges. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "EnduroSat – Class-leading CubeSat Modules, NanoSats & Space Services". CubeSat by EnduroSat. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Code In Space!". ORBITAL SPACE. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Orbital Space confirms June 24 launch date for Kuwait's first CubeSat". Arab Space News. 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Kuwait's first Satellite launched into space". Kuwait News Agency. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 June 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ "D-Orbit's Coming Up With A WILD RIDE Via Their ION Satellite Carrier – SatNews". news.satnews.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "WILD RIDE MISSION UPDATES". D-Orbit. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
- ^ "Momentus and EnduroSat sign two launch agreements". SpaceNews. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Kuwait News Agency, KUNA (28 October 2001). "UM AL-AISH" SATELLITE STATION, THE FIRST IN THE MIDDLE EAST". Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Kuwait scraps obsolete satellite station". ArabianBusiness.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Um AlAish 4". ORBITAL SPACE. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Ranking · AMSAT-UK Data Warehouse". warehouse.funcube.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "SatNOGS Network – Ground Station Um Alaish 4". network.satnogs.org. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ "Kuwaiti youth eager to put country on space exploration map". Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 April 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "ناصر أشكناني لـ"السياسة": صاروخ فضائي كويتي يضعنا في الدول المتقدمة". السياسة جريدة كويتية يومية | Al SEYASSAH Newspaper (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ "Space Month". services.tsck.org.kw. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "ExperimentsInSpace". Orbital Space. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Kuwait University reveals work for sustainable space sector". Kuwait News Agency. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- ^ "تمديد التسجيل للدفعة 2 في مشروع القمر الاصطناعي الكويتي إلى 15 الجاري". Al-Anba (in Arabic). 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Public Transport Services". Kuwait Public Transportation Company. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Public Transport Services". KGL. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011.
- ^ "First flight for Kuwait's Jazeera Airways". The Seattle Times. 31 October 2005. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ "Kuwait's ports continue to break records – Transportation". ArabianBusiness.com. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ John Pike. "Mina Al Ahmadi, Kuwait". Globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Kuwait's Top 10 Exports". Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ a b "Kuwait". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Kuwait: Market Profile". Hong Kong Trade Development Council. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ a b c "'Joblessness in Kuwaitis keeps rising yearly'". ARAB TIMES - KUWAIT NEWS. 5 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Kuwait population hits 4.91 mn, compared to 4.79 mn in '23". Arab Times Online. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.