Kuwait, on the Persian Gulf, is a small, oil-rich monarchy with Kuwait City’s futuristic skyline—think Kuwait Towers—rising from desert sands. Its vast petroleum reserves fund a welfare state with no taxes, fueling luxury malls and a high standard of living, though diversification efforts grow. Bedouin roots blend with modern glitz, while its 1990 Iraqi invasion scars linger. Kuwait’s wealth shines in a strategic, arid corner.