Kuwait lifestyle and culture

People from Kuwait only(or if you know the culture) help please?

I need to know the cultures of kuwait...I really need help; it's very important to me. My crush is from Kuwait and I think learning his local language and culture would be a nice thing to do. I need a website or anything that would teach me the local language of Kuwait. I need somebody to explain to me the cultures of Kuwait. How to be with the family in law etc. He studied at British School of Kuwait and I don't know anything about that school, if anybody could helpl; i would be very thankful Thank you

For a country of such small size, Kuwait boasts a very broad and rich culture, containing a particular heritage and encompassing certain trends whose roots are embedded in the cultural traditions of antiquity. Kuwait holds a strong tie to its past, and the government takes pride in its assistance in the retaining of historical artifacts and antiques, as well as in the preservation of the arts and modern cultural endeavors. Today, Kuwaiti society bases much of its culture on the country's ancient folklore, which is a broad-ranging mosaic of emblematic land and sea tales, riddles, and proverbs. In 1956, the Folklore Preservation Center was established in an attempt to collect, record, and classify Kuwaiti folklore, as a way of assuring that this piece of Kuwait's historical culture will forever be maintained and hold a prominent place in the traditions of today. Traditional music in Kuwait is another reflection of the country's diverse heritage. As a trading and pearling center, Kuwait attracted foreigners who left their music with the inhabitants, while the Kuwaiti traders brought back music from East Africa and India. The result was a rich, varied sound full of vitality. Click Here for more information on the unique quality of the traditional music of Kuwait. There are many societal conditions in Kuwait that all seem to have stood the test of time. Some of these social rites include traditional Kuwaiti food, sports, and family life. Other aspects of society, such as national dress, have changed over time, and others, such as society’s leisure activities, seem to fluctuate with each generation. However, through everything that has changed, and with everything that has stayed the same, it is still possible to get a sense of a distinct national identity in Kuwait. The fundamental core of Kuwaiti society is the family. Kuwaiti families are usually quite large, and many different families are interconnected and related to one another through ancestry and marriage. Therefore, there exists a community of interpersonal relationships in which it seems that everybody knows each other through only a couple degrees of separation. Again, this community is founded on the structure of the family. Kuwaitis keep very close family ties, both in the immediate and extended sense. Regular gatherings and lunches are common. There are a couple of other traditions in which families get together as well, although these are held separately in terms of gender. There are other types of activities that are prominent among Kuwaiti social life. The gathering of people of all ages at traditional coffee shops, called maqahas is common. For more information on traditional maqhas . In contrast to these more traditional coffee shops, Internet cafés are also common, which provide Internet access at a rate of around 2KD (approximately $7) per hour. These cafes also offer food, coffee, and a relaxing environment to surf the web, email, or just socialize. Another traditional aspect of society that serves as a break from the rapid modernization presently sweeping the country, and provides more of a glimpse back in time, is the old Kuwaiti souks or covered markets. The large number of clothing stores with names that the people recognize from abroad, from casual to designer, has undoubtedly changed the sense of dress among the Kuwaiti population. Men and women alike are now accustomed to wearing clothes of “western” design. Another custom that is common in Kuwait is sports. One of the most common sports played in Kuwait is soccer. Professional national teams, besides soccer, include basketball, swimming, as well as many others. The Amir of Kuwait also established a Disabled Sports Club in 1977. Its aims are to integrate disabled persons into the society by giving them the opportunity to partake in sport, social, cultural, and other such activities. People of any nationality, both male and female, showing minimal disability are allowed to join the club. Types of sports practiced at the club are track and field, swimming, wheelchair basketball, fencing, and several other sports. Water sports are also very common in Kuwait. Most Kuwaitis spend weekends in the warm seasons at the beach, either in one of the local private or public beach clubs, such as the SAS or Messila Hotel clubs, or at privately owned chalets or beach houses. Many Kuwaiti families own beach chalets of different styles and sizes up and down the coast and tend to use them as an escape on the weekends and holidays. Along with these beach trips comes a wide variety of water sports and recreation. Swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, fishing, and just cruising up and down on different sized boats is common for Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, of all ages. Click Here for more information on similar leisure activities in Kuwait. The population of Kuwait likes to keep up with times, while at the same time sticking to certain customs and traditions that tie them to their heritage and culture. The lifestyle of Kuwait today, however, is also composed of a very lavish artistic tradition, with a foundation dating back to the origins of the country and its society

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Islamic Extremism in Kuwait: From the Muslim Brotherhood to Al-Qaeda and other Islamic Political Groups (Durham Modern Middle East and Islamic World Series)

This book is the first to provide a complete overview of Islamic extremism in Kuwait. It traces the development of Islamist fundamentalist groups in Kuwait, both Shiite and Sunni, from the beginning of the twentieth century. It outlines the nature and origins of the many different groups, considers their ideology and organization, shows how their activities are intertwined with the wider economy, society and politics to the extent that they are now a strong part of society, and discusses their armed activities, including terrorist activities. Although focusing on Kuwait, it includes overage of the activities of Islamist groups in other Gulf States. It also discusses the relation between Ruling Families with Islamist political groups, thereby demonstrating that the intertwining of Islamic ideology and armed activities with politics is not a new development in the region.

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What is the history and culture of Kuwait?

Kuwait is situated northeast of Saudi Arabia at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, south of Iraq. It is slightly larger than Hawaii. The low-lying desert land is mainly sandy and barren. Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy, governed by the al-Sabah family. Arabic is the official language of Kuwait, but English is widely spoken. It is used in business and is a compulsory second language in schools. Among the non-Kuwaiti population, many people speak Farsi, the official language of Iran, or Urdu, the official language of Pakistan. The currency of Kuwait is known as the Dinar. The capital is Kuwait City. The population: 2,257,549 including 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.) Ethnic make-up is Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%. Religions are: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%. CULTURE Kuwaiti food can only be eaten at Kuwaiti homes. the most popular dish is the "Machboos", which is chicken, beef or fish over a specially spiced rice. Lunch is the main meal in Kuwait, and it is extremely important for families to feast together—It is like Thanksgiving everyday. Kuwaiti tea is usually served after lunch. Kuwaiti tea is just regular hot tea, but many families add some flavors to it such as saffron or mint. Arabic coffee is also very important especially when Kuwaitis have visitors. Traditionally, when people visit, the first thing served should be the Arabic coffee. Dinner is most often eaten outside at various restaurants. Kuwaiti men like to hang out in Diwaniah's, which is a gathering place in a house, usually held in the evening, and every group of family members or friends have their diwaniahs in a day of the week. On average, a Kuwaiti man attends at least two diwaniahs a week. Diwaniahs are unique institutions, in that no other Middle Eastern country has it. It is a place where men gather and discuss issues about life, culture, sports and most importantly politics. Talking about politics is what makes it unique, because in almost all other Middle Eastern countries criticizing the government is illegal and could get you in trouble. According to Wikipedia, "Diwaniahs can be called a symbol and proof of Kuwait's democracy where people are free to discuss whatever they like without the fear of persecution" HISTORY Kuwait is believed to have been part of an early civilization in the 3rd millennium B.C. and to have traded with Mesopotamian cities. Archeological and historical traces disappeared around the first millennium B.C. At the beginning of the 18th century, the 'Anizah tribe of central Arabia founded Kuwait City, which became an autonomous sheikdom by 1756. 'Abd Rahim of the al-Sabah became the first sheik, and his descendants continue to rule Kuwait today. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the sheikdom belonged to the fringes of the Ottoman Empire. Kuwait obtained British protection in 1897 when the sheik feared that the Turks would expand their hold over the area. In 1961, Britain ended the protectorate, giving Kuwait independence, but agreed to give military aid on request. Iraq immediately threatened to occupy the area, and the British sent troops to defend Kuwait. Soon afterward, the Arab League sent in troops, replacing the British. Iraq's claim was dropped when the Arab League recognized Kuwait's independence on July 20, 1961. Historically, Kuwait followed a neutral and mediatory policy among Arab states. Oil was discovered in Kuwait in the 1930s, and proved to have 20% of the world's known oil resources. Since 1946 it has been the world's second-largest oil exporter. The sheik, who receives half of the profits, devotes most of them to the education, welfare, and modernization of his kingdom. In 1966, Sheik Sabah designated a relative, Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, as his successor. By 1968, the sheikdom had established a model welfare state, and it sought to establish dominance among the sheikdoms and emirates of the Persian Gulf. In July 1990, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein blamed Kuwait for falling oil prices. After a failed Arab mediation attempt to solve the dispute peacefully, Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990, set up a pro-Iraqi provisional government, and drained Kuwait of its economic resources. A coalition of Arab and Western military forces drove Iraqi troops from Kuwait in a mere four days, from Feb. 23–27, 1991, ending the Persian Gulf War. In 1999, the emir gave women the right to vote and run for parliament, but later that year Parliament defeated the ruler's decree because of the influence of Islamic fundamentalists. In May 2005, Kuwait abandoned its 1999 ban on women's suffrage, and in June a woman was appointed to the cabinet. In April 2006, women voted for the first time.

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I want to know that it is good to do the job in Kuwait.?

Dear all, i want to know that it is good to do a job in kuwait. i am from gujarat, india. And want some link 4 kuwait culture. Thanks in advance.

Just type in: "Kuwait culture" and you'll see all links regarding this subject. Working in Kuwait means to receive a tax free salary. If you will have a good job in Kuwait, I do not know. That depends on your occupation and the company you'll work for. The link giving below might help you out: http://www.justlanded.com/english/Kuwait All the best.

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People from Kuwait(or if you know the culture) help please?

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