ranch:

High Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none; formation of political parties is in practice illegal but is
not forbidden by law

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: Islamists; merchants; political groups; secular liberals and
pro-governmental deputies; Shia activists; tribal groups

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional members), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO,
G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah K. JONES
embassy: Bayan 36302, Block 13, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the
Bayan palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: [965] 259-1001
FAX: [965] 538-0282

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to
1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Economy
Kuwait

Economy - overview:

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reported
crude oil reserves of about 104 billion barrels - 10% of world
reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export
revenues, and 80% of government income. High oil prices in recent
years have helped build Kuwait's budget and trade surpluses and
foreign reserves. As a result of this positive fiscal situation, the
need for economic reforms is less urgent and the government has not
earnestly pushed through new initiatives. Despite its vast oil
reserves, Kuwait experienced power outages during the summer months
in 2006 and 2007 because demand exceeded power generating capacity.
Power outages are likely to worsen, given its high population growth
rates, unless the government can increase generating capacity. In
May 2007 Kuwait changed its currency peg from the US dollar to a
basket of currencies in order to curb inflation and to reduce its
vulnerability to external