Kuwait - Overview
Country Description
Kuwait is a small, oil-rich constitutional monarchy with 10% of proven world oil reserves. Foreign workers constitute approximately 80% of the labor force. Kuwaiti citizens constitute only 34% of the country's population of 2.9 million, and enjoy the benefits of a generous social welfare system that guarantees employment, housing, education and medical care. This is a small Middle Eastern country, located on the northwest side of the Persian Gulf. Its area includes nine islands and a coastline that is 290 kilometres long. Saudi Arabia is to the south and southwest and Iraq is to the north and northwest. Conflict with Iraq has been a major factor in Kuwait's history. Its borders have long been in dispute. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have peacefully resolved their border conflicts by creating a Divided Zone. Each country governs one-half of the Zone, but both countries share the territory's resources.
Official Languages: Arabic, English
Official Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KD)
Deployment to any site is an experience that can remain with an individual for many years. Deployment can also provide an individual with "real life" cultural experiences that may change the way a person looks at the world. Deployment itself can be classified as an adventure, especially ASG-Kuwait. (Area Support Group - Kuwait)
Personnel who deploy to Kuwait work directly with all ASG-KU. Personnel in Kuwait serve people from all ranges of the Military. For example: soldiers who are nervous about going up north to Iraq or soldiers who are stationed on one of many ASG-KU installations.
Each installation in Kuwait has its own type of environment. Since the environments differ in all types of ways; each person will gather his or her own general perspective on the living conditions, working conditions and environment. On each installation there are places for soldiers, government services employees and contractors to spend free time. There are local Moral Welfare Recreations, movie theatres, DFACs, food courts, gyms, PXs, and sporting facilities.
Climate
Kuwait is an extremely hot, dry country. The average daily temperature is about 33°C. Temperatures are even higher during the summer months between May and October, while the humidity is very low. It almost never rains during the summer. Temperatures are more moderate in winter. This is when Kuwait receives its annual rainfall of 25 to 175 millimeters. Sandstorms are common and can last several days.
Working Conditions
Kuwait employees work 60 hrs/week (10 hours per day with Thursdays off)
