eography: Kuwait is a small country with its capital, Kuwait City, located on Kuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbour. Ninety percent of the population lives within the Kuwait Bay coast. The country has nine islands, all of which, with the exception of Failaka Island, are uninhabited. Sand and oil residue reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces. The oil spills during the Gulf War also drastically affected Kuwait’s marine resources. Political system: Constitutional emirate with a parliamentary system Major religions: Islam is the main religion. Kuwait is a very conservative society which enforces strict Islamic customs. However, other religions are respected and expats are free to practise their own religions. Main languages: Arabic (official) but English is widely spoken Money: The currency of Kuwait is the Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD), which is divided into 1,000 fils. There are a number of local and international banks operating in Kuwait and expats are able to open a local account.
Tipping: A service charge of 13 percent is usually added to bills in restaurants and hotels; if not, a tip of 10 percent is acceptable. Additional tipping is only expected in more expensive hotels. Taxi drivers appreciate a small tip for long journeys.