The State of Kuwait (in Arabic: دولة الكويت, pronounced [Dawlat alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirates bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the north and west. The name is a diminutive of an Arabic word meaning "fortress built near water." has a population of 3.1 million inhabitants and an area of 17,818 km ². Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, with Kuwait as the country's political and economic capital.

The State of Kuwait lies at the northwest corner of the Persian (Arab) Gulf. Kuwait has become part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Towards the end of the Ottoman Empire Kuwait became a semi-autonomous Arab monarchy, with the local administration controlled by the family as-Sabah, who is the reigning dynasty. In 1899, the ruler of Kuwait accepts British protection, surrender control of foreign relations. Kuwait became independent in 1961, when the United Kingdom and Kuwait ended by a treaty in 1899. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded by Iraqi forces, which remain under occupation until February 1991. The capital is Kuwait city. The official language is Arabic.