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People spend time on a beach during a heat wave in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait
Image: Asad/Xinhua News Agency/picture alliance Image: Asad/Xinhua News Agency/picture alliance

Kuwait

Kuwait is a small country, population 4.3 million, that sits between Iraq and Saudi Arabia on the Persian Gulf. It is a constitutional monarchy, with some of the trappings of democracy, led by the Al Sabah family.

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All Content on this topic

Ägypten Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Präsidentenwahl Bekanntgabe der offiziellen Ergebnisse 03.06.2014

Confirmation: El-Sissi wins

Egypt's electoral commission has declared ex-army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi the outright winnier of last week's presidential poll - with 96.9 percent of the vote. Despite extended voting, turnout was a low 47 percent.
June 3, 2014
Arabische Liga Gipfeltreffen 25.03.2014 Kuwait

Arab League summit opens

Members of the Arab League have gathered in Kuwait City for the organization’s annual summit. The Syrian civil war and political turmoil in Egypt are to dominate the agenda for the one-day meeting.
March 25, 2014
12.2012 DW Shift Ranking

Shift Ranking of March 21: Countries with the most Twitter users per capita

1. Kuwait / 2. Netherlands / 3. Brunei / 4. UK / 5. USA / Source: Northeastern University
March 21, 2014

Diplomats recalled from Qatar

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have said they are withdrawing their ambassadors from Qatar over its alleged breach of a regional security deal not to interfere in each other's internal affairs.
March 5, 2014
A Syrian woman and children at a refugee camp Photo: ZAC BAILLIE/AFP/Getty Images

Humanitarian crisis

Over 100,000 people have died in Syria's civil war and millions have been driven from their homes.
January 16, 201401:23 min
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Half of Syrians in urgent need of aid

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says half of the Syrian population is in urgent need of aid. His comments come as delegates from nearly 70 countries attend a donor conference in Kuwait. So far they've pledged almost a billion euros worth of aid. But that's only one fifth of what the UN says Syria needs.
January 15, 201401:30 min

$2.4 billion pledged to Syria

Donors, including the United States and wealthy Gulf Arab countries, have pledged $2.4 billion for United Nations humanitarian efforts in Syria. The appeal for aid is the largest in the history of the UN.
January 15, 2014
A Syrian women with her children in a refugee camp

Who should get the aid?

The UN has raised $2.4 billion at the second Syria donors' conference, but who's it for?
January 15, 2014
Kurdish Syrian refugees in Kurdistan-Iraq

NGOs pledge aid to Syria

NGOs have pledged $400 million (292 million euros) in aid to assist in the humanitarian crisis stemming from Syria's ongoing civil war. The promise came at a conference of charitable organizations being held in Kuwait.
January 14, 2014
Syrien Frau mit Kindern im Flüchtlingslager Bab al-Salam

Syrian women seek peace role

Syrian women activists meeting in Geneva are demanding they be given a key role at peace talks set to begin in Switzerland next week. The UN says massive funds are needed to aid Syrians affected by three years of war.
January 13, 2014

US, UK suspend some FSA aid

The US and Britain have suspended nonlethal aid to rebels in northern Syria after Islamists overran a border crossing. In Kuwait, Arab states demanded that foreign militias withdraw from Syria.
December 11, 2013
African-Arab leaders at a summit in Kuwait Photo:REUTERS/Stringer

Africa-Arab summit in Kuwait

African and Arab leaders call for stronger economic ties and closer counter-terrorism links
November 20, 2013
Picture of the Kuwait parliament. EPA/RAED QUTENA +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Kuwait's Shiites lose out

Final results from Kuwait's elections show Shiite candidates losing more than half their seats, while liberals made a slight gain. The poll was the second in eight months after a court ruled a December vote invalid.
July 28, 2013
Reham Al-Jlewi, candidate from Third District meets a supporter in her campaign tent, Kuwait City, July 26, 2013. Al-Jlewi is one of 6 female candidates out of a total of 306 candidates. Kuwait holds a parliamentary election for the second time in eight months using new voting rules after its top court threw out legal challenges against them, ruling that the last election was legally flawed and ordered a new poll. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed (KUWAIT - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS)

Kuwait opposition boycotts polls

Voting has begun in the oil-rich Gulf nation of Kuwait, in the country's second general election in eight months. The opposition has called for a boycott of the poll.
July 27, 2013
A general view of the nearly empty Kuwaiti Parliament during a session in Kuwait City, Kuwait, 31 July 2012. Media reports state that Parliament session was postponed to 07 August 2012 after opposition members boycotted it. The session was expected to witness the swearing-in of the new government. The Parliament was reinstated in June by a Constitutional Court decision. EPA/RAED QUTENA

Kuwaitis to vote - again

Voters in Kuwait are set to go to the polls to elect a new parliament. This is just the latest development in a row over changes to the country's election rules that were implemented last year.
June 20, 2013
Deutsche Welle Arabic's Emad Ghanim. Photo: DW/Per Henriksen

Memories of Desert Storm

DW editor Emad M. Ghanim witnessed the first Gulf War as a 15-year-old boy in southern Iraq.
May 29, 2013
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Syrian refugees in Lebanon

Hundreds of thousands have fled the civil war in Syria. Most are in camps in neighboring countries, such as Lebanon.
January 31, 201301:31 min
Representatives from member states, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations pose for a group photo at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. The U.N. chief made a dramatic appeal Wednesday for a major boost in relief aid for Syria, calling for an end to the fighting "in the name of humanity" as an international conference opened in Kuwait with both foes and backers of President Bashar Assad. (Foto:Gustavo Ferrari/AP/dapd)

Donors pledge $1.5bn to Syrians

World leaders at a conference in Kuwait have met their target pledge of $1.5 billion (1.1 billion euros) to Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called on the Syrian government to bring an end to the war.
January 30, 2013
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Kuwait: Donor conference for Syrian refugees

Kuwait is hosting an international donor conference to secure aid for Syrian refugees. The UN says it needs at least one billion dollars over the next six montnhs.
January 30, 201301:39 min
Kuwaiti opposition supporters (photo: REUTERS/ Jamal Saidi)

Election boycott

The recent vote in Kuwait could spark sectarian violence and more political conflict.
December 3, 2012
Newly-elected Member of Parliament Adel al Khorafi is carried by supporters, after final results of the election was announced, in Kuwait City (Photo: REUTERS/Jamal Saidi)

Kuwait elects new parliament

Kuwait's minority Shiite Muslims have gained one-third of the parliament in early polls boycotted by majority Sunni candidates. The opposition has vowed to continue protests until the new parliament is abolished.
December 2, 2012
A Kuwaiti woman casts her ballot (Photo: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images)

Kuwait counts ballots

Kuwait's Shiite minority appeared to have made gains in the country's second parliamentary election in the space of a year. Opposition representatives have said turnout was low after an appeal to boycott the vote.
December 1, 2012
The Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Kuwaitis vote under new rules

Voters in Kuwait are going to the polls in parliamentary elections. The previous one saw opposition parties win a majority - but a court annulled the results. This time the opposition are calling for a boycott.
December 1, 2012

Tear gas fired at Kuwait rally

Kuwaiti security forces have fired gas at thousands of opposition supporters gathered for an unauthorized demonstration against new voting rules. Electoral law was altered ahead of next month's parliamentary elections.
November 5, 2012
Kuwaiti demonstrators clash with police during an anti-government protest in front of the parliament in Kuwait City, October 15, 2012. (photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Jassim)

Kuwait stifles opposition

Kuwaiti police have used teargas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrations against election-law changes after previous unrest. The opposition said that amending the rules amounted to a coup against the constitution.
October 21, 2012
epa03107358 A general view for the first session of Kuwait's 14th National Assembly (parliament) in Kuwait City, Kuwait, 15 February 2012. The Islamist-led opposition won 34 of the 50 parliamentary seats in a snap election held on 02 February. EPA/RAED QUTENA +++(c) dpa - Bildfunk+++

Kuwait in crisis

Kuwait's Islamist-led opposition has called for mass demonstrations this weekend, in response to the government's decision to amend an electoral law before the December parliamentary elections.
October 20, 2012
A general view of the nearly empty Kuwaiti Parliament during a session in Kuwait City, Kuwait, 31 July 2012.

Kuwaiti parliament dissolved

The Emir of Kuwait has dissolved parliament, paving the way for snap elections. The move was widely expected as parliament failed to hold a single meeting in the three months since it was reinstated by a Kuwaiti court.
October 7, 2012
Source News Feed: EMEA Picture Service ,Germany Picture Service Relatives of the 11 Lebanese Shi'ite pilgrims that were abducted in Syria burn tires and block the main road leading to Beirut airport August 15, 2012. An air strike on the northern Syrian town of Azaz on Wednesday wounded seven Lebanese hostages being held there, with four others still missing, a rebel commander said. A local doctor in Azaz said 30 people were killed and scores wounded when a government fighter jet bombarded the town where Syrian rebels were holding 11 Lebanese hostages. REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) // eingestellt von se

Arab evacuations from Lebanon

Five Gulf countries have started evacuating their citizens from Lebanon after Shiite gunmen kidnapped Syrian nationals in retaliation to the abduction of one of its members in Syria.
August 16, 2012
US-Soldaten in Afghanistan (Foto: dapd)

Suspect 'upset' at redeployment

The US soldier accused of murdering 16 Afghan civilians in southern Afghanistan was distraught about being unexpectedly deployed a fourth time, but his family is "totally shocked" by the slaughter, his lawyer says.
March 16, 2012
A Kuwaiti citizen casts his vote at a polling station

Kuwait election

Islamist-led opposition secures parliament majority after a snap election in Kuwait.
February 3, 2012
Demonstrators protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad

Heading home

Six Gulf countries pull their observers from the Arab League monitoring mission in Syria.
January 24, 2012
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Pressuring Assad

Syria's president vows to keep fighting protesters, despite Turkish pressure to end crackdown.
August 9, 2011
An actor, his back facing the audience

Soldiers' war

A German theater production takes a close-up look at soldiers returning from war zones.
June 24, 2011
The Siemens logo outside a building

Corruption probe

Police investigate another alleged corruption case at engineering firm Siemens, this time in Kuwait.
June 10, 2011
Leaders of the six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries

Selective intervention

Internal fears are dictating the level of intervention by Gulf states in restive Arab nations.
April 20, 2011
German President Christian Wulff

Tightrope walk

German President Christian Wulff sets off on a visit to the Gulf states Kuwait and Qatar.
February 26, 2011
The sun rises on the Arabian Gulf

Rearming the Gulf

Proposed US arms deals in the Persian Gulf come with huge risks as well as huge profits.
October 19, 2010
US war palnes fly over burning oil wells in Kuwait after Desert Storm.

Invasion anniversary

On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The knock-on effects can still be felt in the Middle East.
August 2, 2010
Dealers at the Kuwait Stock Exchange

Kuwait Investment Boss Slams German Restrictions

High oil prices enhance the role of the Gulf States on the global economic playing field. But the head of Kuwait Investment Authority said he doesn't like German plans to restrict acquisitions by state funds like his.
May 18, 2008

Bush in Kuwait/Bahrain

George Bush continued his Middle East tour on Saturday with visits to Kuwait and Bahrain. He met with American military commanders and rank and file troops telling them they will win the war in Iraq.
January 12, 2008

Economics Minister: "Germany Has Good Ties to Arab Markets"

Germany's trade with the Middle East is thriving, said Economics Minister Michael Glos. He spoke with DW-WORLD.DE about investment on both sides, rumors about plans for a new Transrapid train, and visa problems.
September 8, 2006

German Foreign Minister Urges Flexibility to End Iran Stand-off

Iran should be more flexible in negotiations aimed at ending an international stand-off over its nuclear program, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Sunday during a visit to Kuwait.
May 22, 2006

Schröder Urges Arabs to Forgive Iraq Debt

March 1, 2005

Schröder Wants Oil Price Stemmed

Continuing his tour of the region, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Monday called on the Persian Gulf countries to stop oil price increases by pumping more.
February 28, 2005

Schröder Starts Gulf Tour

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder began a seven-country tour of the Persian Gulf region on Sunday. While he'll promote German business interests, Iran, Iraq and the Mid East peace process are also high on the agenda.
February 27, 2005

Germany in Brief

Train accident kills five; Germany's environment minister in crisis talks on the new can deposit law; German is said to be al Qaeda leader; and German troops withdraw from Kuwait.
June 11, 2003

Memories Still Painful for First Gulf War POWs

American servicemembers say they experienced torture and death threats during their captivity in the last Gulf War. Iraq also has failed to reveal the fate of 600 missing from Kuwait since 1990.
March 24, 2003

News of Oil Fires Brings Back Visions of First Gulf War

Fears are rising that economic, environmental and health disasters to compare with the end of the first Gulf War are on the horizon of the latest conflict as reports come in of burning oil fields in southern Iraq.
March 22, 2003

German Soldiers Bound for Kuwait to Protect Americans

Germany has sent further soldiers to Kuwait to protect American and Kuwaiti installations from chemical and biological attacks. The government has stressed that they will have nothing to do with the ongoing war in Iraq.
March 22, 2003

Nations Pulling Diplomats From Middle East

The United States, Germany and other countries are working to get their citizens and diplomats out of Iraq. France remains steadfast to any resolution authorizing a war against Iraq.
March 17, 2003