Arabian Oryx
This elegant white antelope was once hunted to extinction in the wild but has been carefully brought back and is now Kuwait's national animal.
Flag of Kuwait
Field Report
Kuwait is a small country tucked into the northwestern corner of the Persian Gulf, bordered by Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south, with a warm sea coastline to the east. A hundred years ago it was a modest town known for pearl diving and trading, but the discovery of vast amounts of oil underground transformed it into one of the most prosperous nations in the world. Today more than four million people call Kuwait home, and almost all of them practice Islam, which means very few have yet had a chance to hear about Jesus.
From the Field Notebook
Arabian Oryx
This elegant white antelope was once hunted to extinction in the wild but has been carefully brought back and is now Kuwait's national animal.
Socotra Cormorant
Tens of thousands of these dark seabirds nest along Kuwait's coastline each year, making the Persian Gulf one of the most important places on earth for their survival.
Arabian Sand Gazelle
Built for life in the desert, this small, nimble gazelle can go for long stretches without drinking water by getting moisture from the plants it eats.
Machboos
Kuwait's most beloved dish is a fragrant rice cooked with spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and dried limes, usually served with slow-cooked lamb or chicken on top.
Gabout
These small, doughy dumplings are simmered in a spiced meat broth and eaten especially during the cold winter months as a warming family meal.
Khanfaroush
A traditional Kuwaiti sweet made from rice flour and flavored with saffron and cardamom, these small fried cakes are often enjoyed with tea or at celebrations.
Kuwait is smaller than the state of New Jersey, yet it sits on top of some of the largest oil reserves ever discovered, which turned it from a quiet fishing village into one of the wealthiest countries in the world within just a few decades.
Temperatures in Kuwait can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer, making it one of the hottest places on earth where large numbers of people actually live year-round.
More than 70 percent of the people living in Kuwait were not born there — they are workers and families from countries like India, Egypt, and the Philippines who have come to work.
Kuwait has no rivers and almost no natural freshwater, so the country uses enormous machines called desalination plants to remove the salt from seawater and turn it into drinking water for everyone.
Kuwait was the very first country in the Persian Gulf region to publish a newspaper and to establish a public school system, both of which happened back in the early 1900s before the oil boom ever began.
Daily Life
83
Years life expectancy
96%
Can read and write
83%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Kuwait is home to 31 distinct people groups — 17 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
A majority of Kuwait's people follow Islam (71.0%). Evangelical Christians make up about 1.6% of the population.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Arab, Arabic Gulf Spoken
1,543,000 people
South Asian, general
730,000 people
South Asian, Bengali-speaking
350,000 people
Arab, Saudi - Najdi
300,000 people
Muhamasheen, Akhdam
77,000 people
Prayer Journal
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