Getting Lost In The Opulence of Kuwait

Kuwait is one the historical places in Asia that has been inhabited by people for a long period of time now. It’s not a large state, located in the north-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. Originally the main sources of income here were fishing and pearls, but ever since the oil fields were discovered, Kuwait has become one of the richest countries in the world. The first city built in the territory of the country was the current capital and main port Kuwait City, which was built by Arabs. The county is so rich that it offers free education and healthcare and even the income is not taxed. A large part of the country’s income is being spent upon making Kuwait a better place with a large number of oasis regions.

The location of the country is not something great, as there are no water sources in its territory; it’s just a low desert plateau, gradually lowering to the east. The north of Kuwait is all a flat stony desert, while the central and southern parts are slightly hilly sandy deserts.

The neighboring states of the country are Iraq in the north and north-western part, Saudi Arabia in the south and south-west, while the eastern part of the country is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf. And for those who think that Kuwait is a continental state, then they should consider the islands of Failaka, Bubiyan, Warbah and a few more, which are all part of the state.

The capital of the country is Kuwait City. It might sound strange but it’s the only major city in the country. The first inhabitants of the city were Bedouins and merchants, who were using the good location for trading. This is why it was known to be the home for entertainment, commercialization and cultural events organized in the territory. Fishing, pearls and trading were the main ways for getting in touch with the outer world, including India and East Africa.

The architecture of Kuwait suffered greatly during the war with Iraq, which is why most of the buildings in the city are modern and there are only a few remains of old buildings, which are left to attract more attention of tourists. The center is hosting the official residence of the Emir, departmental and ministerial institutions. Next to the governmental buildings, there’s the rich neighborhood of the elite businesses, including shopping centers, banks and luxury hotels. The design and the architecture here does not lag behind the European one and even there’s no chance to realize where you are if you have a look at the travel pictures of Kuwait. The main sites of the country are the main mosque and the palace of the city, Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait Towers, the National Museum, where you can have a glance at the rich collection of archaeological and ethnographic treasures. Among the other places worth visiting in Kuwait is the Museum of Islamic Art. Near the city, on the island of Failaka, you can wander in the ruins of a Greek temple dating back to the IV century.

Az Zour beach is one of the few places outside of the actual coast of Kuwait City, which is not occupied with private villas and estates. This is one of the best beach zones in the Gulf coast, and is ideal not only for swimming, but also various types of sports, including kayaking, surfing and much more.

Another appealing substitute and alternative to Az Zour is the Khiran Resort. This is the largest and the best public beach for the state. The infrastructure is well-developed here with outstanding service of rental of all sort of equipments, as well as for hosting various entertainment cafes and hotels nearby.

Those who are looking for a way to get acquainted with the history of Kuwait should visit Salmiya. There is a large number of pearl markets here, where you can have a look at the charming creatures, choose something to take as a gift or simply talk to the sellers about the ways of catching pearl. For those who are a bit more outrageous and courageous, there’s also an opportunity of going “pearl hunting” with the pearl divers. This is a good chance to observe the process and to be able to have a look at the amazing sea creatures.

Failaka is an outstanding island. It’s now considered to be an archaeological reserve having a history of inhabitation dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.