Kuwait
 

to 3 Nov 1914 (Ottoman Empire)	to 1899	1899 - 29 Jul 1909
29 Jul 1909 - 19 Nov 1914	19 Nov 1914 - 7 Sep 1961	19 Nov 1914 - 7 Sep 1961 Variant
1921 - 7 Sep 1961  Variant	7 Sep 1961  - 8 Aug 1990; Restored 27 Feb 1991	8 Aug 1990 - 27 Feb 1991

Map of Kuwait  Hear National Anthem "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem) Adopted 25 Feb 1978  Former National Anthem "As-salam al-amiri"  (Amiri Salute) (1951-25 Feb 1978)  Constitution    (11 Nov 1962 [partly suspended 1976-1980, 1986-1990, from 10 May 2024]) Capital: Kuwait City (Kadhima  28 Aug 1990 - 26 Feb 1991) Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD); 1959-1961 Persian Gulf Rupee (XPGR); 1899-1959 Indian Rupee (INR)  National Holiday: 25 Feb (1950)  National Day Population: 2,916,467 (2018) immigrants accounting for more than 69.5% GDP: $289.7 billion (2017) Exports: $55.17 billion (2017) Imports: $29.5 billion (2017) Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018) Total Active Armed Forces: 15,500 (2018) U.S. Military Forces: 595 (2023) Merchant marine: 158 ships (2018) Religions: Muslim (official) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 International Organizations/Treaties: ABEDA, ACS (observer), AfDB (nonregional), AFESD, AIIB (signatory), AL, AMF, AOAD, APA, APM, Arabsat, BDEAC, BIS, BTWC, CAEU, CD, CICA, CTBT, CWC, ENMOD, ESCR, FAO, G-77, GAFTA, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, Moon, NAM, NATO (cooperation initiative), NPT, NTBT, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OST, PAM (partner), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SCO (dialogue partner), UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Kuwait Index Chronology 1534                       Part of the Ottoman Empire. 1623 - 1638                Persian occupation. 1710                       Kuwait city founded. 1752                       Al Sabah lineage founds Kuwait (al-Kuwayt). 1871                       Rulers recognize sovereignty of the Ottoman                               Empire (as kazan [district] of Baghdad                              [from 1875 Basra] vilayet [see Iraq]). 23 Nov 1899                U.K.- Kuwait exclusive agreement. 29 Jul 1913                U.K. agrees to recognize Kuwait as an autonomous                              kazan of the Ottoman Empire and Ottomans agree to                              Kuwaiti complete administrative autonomy and U.K.                              agreements with it (in a semicircle with the town                              of Kuwait in the center, the Khawr al-Zubayr at                              the northern extremity and al-Qurrayin at the                              southern extremity including Warba and Bubiyan                              Islands), by the Anglo-Ottoman Convention                              (not ratified).  3 Nov 1914 - 19 Jun 1961  British protectorate (sometimes spelled Koweit).  2 Dec 1922 - 25 Jan 1970  Kuwaiti-Saudi Arabian neutral zone in southern                               border area. 19 Jun 1961                State of Kuwait (Dawlat al-Kuwayt).  1 Jul 1961 - 19 Oct 1961  British forces landed in Kuwait.  4 Oct 1963                Iraq formally recognizes Kuwait.  2 Aug 1990 - 26 Feb 1991  Iraqi occupation.  7 Aug 1990 -  8 Aug 1990  Republic of Kuwait (Jumhuriyat al-Kuwayt)                              (under Iraqi occupation).  8 Aug 1990 - 26 Feb 1991  Annexed by Iraq (from 28 Aug 1990, as its 19th                              province; incorporation rescinded 20 Mar 1991). 26 Feb 1991                State of Kuwait (Dawlat al-Kuwayt)(restored). Historical Maps of Kuwait

Rulers¹ (also 1871 - 3 Nov 1914 Ottoman Kaymakam [district administrators])
c.1752 - c.1756            Sheikh Abu `Abd Allah Sabah I ibn  (b. c.1652 - d. 1758) 
                             Jabir Al Sabah 
c.1756 - Feb 1814          Sheikh Abdullah I ibn Sabah Al     (b. c.1740 - d. 1814)
                             Sabah
Feb 1814 - c.1859          Sheikh Jabir I ibn Abdullah Al     (b. c.1770 - d. 1859)
                             Sabah
c.1859 - 1866              Sheikh Sabah II ibn Jabir Al Sabah (b. c.1784 - d. 1866)
1866 - 29 May 1892         Sheikh Abdullah II ibn Sabah Al    (b. 1814 - d. 1892)
                             Sabah
29 May 1892 - 8? May 1896  Sheikh Muhammad al Sabah Al Sabah  (b. 1831 - d. 1896)
May 1896 - 28 Nov 1915     Sheikh Mubarak al-Lahab ibn Sabah  (b. 1837 - d. 1915)
                             Al Sabah "the Great"
28 Nov 1915 -  5 Feb 1917  Sheikh Jabir II Al Mubarak Al      (b. 1860 - d. 1917)
                             Sabah
 5 Feb 1917 - 22 Feb 1921  Sheikh Salim Al Mubarak Al Sabah   (b. 1864 - d. 1921)
23 Feb 1921 - 24 Mar 1921  Sheikh Abdullah Al Salim Al Sabah  (b. 1895 - d. 1965)
                             (1st time) (deputy ruler)
24 Mar 1921 - 29 Jan 1950  Sheikh Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah     (b. 1885 - d. 1950)
29 Jan 1950 - 19 Jun 1961  Sheikh Abdullah III Al Salim Al    (s.a.)
                             Sabah (2nd time)
Emirs¹
19 Jun 1961 - 24 Nov 1965  Sheikh Abdullah III Al Salim Al    (s.a.)
                             Sabah
24 Nov 1965 - 31 Dec 1977  Sheikh Sabah III Al Salim Al Sabah (b. 1915 - d. 1977)
31 Dec 1977 -  2 Aug 1990  Sheikh Jabir III Al Ahmad Al Jabir (b. 1926 - d. 2006)
                             Al Sabah (1st time)
                             (in at-Ta´if, Saudi Arabia exile 2 Aug 1990 - 14 Mar 1991)
Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces¹ 
 2 Aug 1990 -  4 Aug 1990  Provisional Government of Free Kuwait
 4 Aug 1990 -  8 Aug 1990  Alaa Hussein Ali Al Khafaji Al     (b. 1948?)           Ba'ath/Mil
                             Jabir
Iraqi Governors
 9 Aug 1990 - Nov 1990     Ali Hassan al-Majid "Chemical Ali" (b. 1941 - d. 2010)  Ba'ath/Mil
Nov 1990 - 26 Feb 1991     Aziz Saleh Hassan al-Numan         (b. 1941 - d. 2024)  Ba'ath/Mil
Emirs¹
26 Feb 1991 - 15 Jan 2006  Sheikh Jabir III Al Ahmad Al Jabir (s.a.)
                             Al Sabah (2nd time)
21 Sep 2001 - Jan 2002     Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim   (b. 1929 - d. 2008)
                             Al Sabah -Regent
                             (and military governor 4 Mar - 26 Jun 1991)
15 Jan 2006 - 24 Jan 2006  Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim   (s.a.)
                             Al Sabah 
24 Jan 2006 - 29 Sep 2020  Sheikh Sabah IV Al Ahmad Al Jabir  (b. 1929 - d. 2020) 
                             Al Sabah (acting to 29 Jan 2006)
18 Jul 2020 - 29 Sep 2020  Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jabir     (b. 1937 - d. 2023)
                             Al Sabah -Regent
29 Sep 2020 - 16 Dec 2023  Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jabir     (s.a.)
                             Al Sabah
16 Dec 2023 -              Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jabir    (b. 1940)
                             Al Sabah                    

Prime ministers (Chairmen of the council of ministers)
17 Jan 1962 -  2 Feb 1963  Sheikh Jabir Al Ahmad Al Jabir     (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Al Sabah (1st time) 
 2 Feb 1963 - 30 Nov 1965  Sheikh Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah     (s.a.)               Non-party
30 Nov 1965 -  8 Feb 1978  Sheikh Jabir Al Ahmad Al Jabir     (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Al Sabah (2nd time) 
 8 Feb 1978 - 15 Jul 2003  Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salim   (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Al Sabah
                            (in at-Ta´if, Saudi Arabia exile 2 Aug 1990 - 4 Mar 1991)
15 Jul 2003 - 11 Feb 2006  Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jabir     (s.a.)               Non-party
                             Al Sabah 
11 Feb 2006 -  4 Dec 2011  Sheikh Nasser Muhammad Al Ahmad    (b. 1941)            Non-party
                             Al Sabah 
 4 Dec 2011 - 19 Nov 2019  Sheikh Jabir Mubarak Al Hamad Al   (b. 1942 - d. 2024)  Non-party
                             Sabah
19 Nov 2019 - 24 Jul 2022  Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad    (b. 1953)            Non-party
                             Al Sabah
24 Jul 2022 -  4 Jan 2024  Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al     (b. 1956)            Non-party
                             Sabah
 4 Jan 2024 - 15 Apr 2024  Sheikh Muhammad Sabah Al Salim Al  (b. 1955)            Non-party
                             Sabah
15 Apr 2024 -              Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al  (b. 1952)            Non-party
                             Sabah                             

British (Secret News) Agent
Aug 1899 - Aug 1904        Haji Ali bin Ghulam Riza
British Political Agents (subordinated to the chief political residents of
the Persian Gulf; see under Bahrain)
Aug 1904 - May 1905        Stuart George Knox (1st time)      (b. 1869 - d. 1956)
May 1905 - Oct 1905        Daud al-Rahman (acting)
Oct 1905 - Apr 1909        Stuart George Knox (2nd time)      (s.a.)
Apr 1909 - Jan 1914        William Henry Irvine Shakespear    (b. 1878 - d. 1915)
Jan 1914 - Jun 1916        William George Grey                (b. 1866 - d. 1953)
Jun 1916 - Mar 1918        Robert Edward Archibald Hamilton   (b. 1871 - d. 1950)
Mar 1918 - Sep 1918        Percy Gordon Loch                  (b. 1887 - d. 1963)
Sep 1918 - Feb 1920        Daniel Vincent McCollum            (b. 1886 - d. 1967)
Feb 1920 - May 1920        Louis Michael D'Mello (acting)
25 May 1920 - May 1929     James Carmichael More              (b. 1883 - d. 1959)
Apr 1927 - Oct 1927        Cyril Charles Johnson Barrett      (b. 1884 - d. 1933)
                             (acting for More)
23 May 1929 - Feb 1936     Harold Richard Patrick Dickson     (b. 1881 - d. 1959)
                             (1st time) 
28 May 1931 - 11 Sep 1931  Allan Leslie Greenway (1st time)   (b. 1888 - d. 19..)
                             (acting for Dickson)
17 Jun 1934 – 16 Oct 1934  Ralph Ponsonby Watts               (b. 1892 - d. 1991)
                             (acting for Dickson)
 4 Feb 1936 - May 1939     Gerald Simpson de Gaury            (b. 1897 - d. 1984)
 8 Apr 1937 - 22 May 1937  Andrew Charles Stewart             (b. 1907 - d. 1979)
                             (acting for de Gaury)
23 May 1937 - 11 Jun 1937  Allan Leslie Greenway (2nd time)   (s.a.)
                             (acting for de Gaury)
16 May 1939 - May 1941     Arnold Crawshaw Galloway (1st time)(b. 1901 - d. 1988)
 7 May 1941 - Aug 1941     Harold Richard Patrick Dickson     (s.a.)
                             (2nd time) 
17 Aug 1941 - Sep 1943     Tom Hickinbotham                   (b. 1903 - d. 1983)
Jun 1943 - Aug 1943        Gordon Noel Jackson (1st time)     (b. 1913 - d. 1999)
                             (acting for Hickinbotham)
Oct 1943 - Jun 1944        Cornelius James Pelly (1st time)   (b. 1908 - d. 1985)
Jun 1944 - Apr 1945        Gordon Noel Jackson (2nd time)     (s.a.)
20 Apr 1945 - Mar 1946     Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy     (b. 1912 - d. 1986)
                             (1st time)
Mar 1946 - May 1946        Richard Ernest Rowland Bird        (b. 1912 - d. 1986)
May 1946 - Apr 1948        Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy     (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
1948 -  1 Apr 1949         Arnold Crawshaw Galloway (2nd time)(s.a.)
 1 Apr 1949 - 1949         Gordon Noel Jackson (3rd time)     (s.a.)
1949 - 1953                Herbert George Jakins (1st time)   (b. 1897 - d. 1988)
1953 - 1954                Leslie Frederick Charles Chauncy   (b. 1904 - d. 1986)
1954 - 1955                Herbert George Jakins (2nd time)   (s.a.) 
1955                       Cornelius James Pelly (2nd time)   (s.a.)
1955 - 1957                Gawain Westray Bell                (b. 1909 - d. 1995)
1957 - 1959                Aubrey Seymour Halford-MacLeod     (b. 1914 - d. 2000)
1959 - 1961                John Christopher Blake Richmond    (b. 1909 - d. 1990)
1961                       John Lawrie Christie               (b. 1922 - d. 2001)

  ¹The full style of the ruler:
(a) c.1752 - 19 Jun 1961: Hakim al-Kuwayt ("Ruler of Kuwait");
(b) from 19 Jun 1961: Amir Dawlat al-Kuwayt ("Emir of the State of Kuwait");
(c) 2 Aug 1990 - 8 Aug 1990 (under occupation): 2-4 Aug 1990 Hukumat al-Kuwayt al-Harrah, al-Mu'aqqatah ("Provisional Government of Free Kuwait"); 4-8 Aug 1990 Ra'is al-Wuzara', al-Qa'id al-'Amm lil-Quwat al-Musallahah ("Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces").

Territorial Disputes: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf.

Political parties: (none; while the formation of political parties is not permitted, they are not forbidden by law); Mil = Military;
- Former party: Ba'ath = Hizb al Ba'ath al'Arabiyah al Ishtiraki (Arab Socialist Rebirth Party {Iraqi Baath Party], dictatorial socialist, 8 Aug 1990-27 Feb 1991 only legal party)