Kuwait's map as displayed in old documents

          The origins of the 'Utub probably go back to the 'Aneza tribe from Najd. Al Sabah belong to the 'Utub. Sabah Ibn Jaber was established as the Shaikh of Kuwait, which became a stopping place for caravans travelling between Aleppo and the east of the Arabian Peninsula. At that time depended on what it earned from maritime trade and from pearl diving expeditions.

Late Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabbah al Salem al Sabbah with the present Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad al Sabbah

          When Sabah Ibn Jaber died in 1762, he was succeeded by his son Abdullah Ibn Sabah. Al Sabah began leading Kuwait forward so that it gained a respected status among the Shaikhdoms of the Arabian Peninsula at that time. This status attracted Britain's interest in establishing close relations with Kuwait in 1775. Until 1779 Kuwait became a center for trade from India going to Baghdad, Aleppo and Constantinople, after the Persians occupied Basra. In the reign of Abdullah Ibn Sabah Kuwait's second wall was built, with eight gates. Previously Kuwait had built its first wall, approximately 750 metres long, around 1760. In 1812 was the accession of Jaber I, who was known to the Kuwaitis as "Jaber the Livelihood" because of his generosity. He was succeeded by Sabah Ibn Jaber, known as Sabah II, who became Ruler in 1859. During the reign of Sabah II the Ottoman state became aware of the geographical importance of Kuwait, and wanted to make it a commercial harbor. After 1866, the year when Sabah Ibn Jaber died, he was succeeded by his three sons, Abdullah, Muhammad and Shaikh Mubarak, in whose reign Kuwait's trade prospered. Its ships went as far as the eastern and southern coasts of Asia, to Ceylon and Malaya, the whole length of the east African coast, Zanzibar, Madagascar and the Cape of Good Hope. After Shaikh Mubarak's soul went to the mercy of his Creator on 21 November 1915, he was succeeded by his son Jaber II, whose reign lasted only a year and two months. The Emirate then passed to his brother Shaikh Salem Al-Mubarak. During his reign the third and last wall was built, to resist attacks by Bedouins against the city whose commercial prosperity had begun to attract attention in the Arabian Peninsula. One of the most important battles of his time was the Battle of Jahra.

Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber al Ahmad while visiting a Diwan

          After his death in 1921 Shaikh Salem was succeeded by Shaikh Ahmad Ibn Jaber II for a period of 29 years. In his reign the oil wealth was discovered, and an Anglo-American company won the concession for it. Schools and hospitals were built, and Kuwait embarked on an era of construction and prosperity. After Shaikh Ahmad's death in 1950, he was succeeded by his cousin Shaikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who followed the course of construction and development. Kuwait came to have much influence in international forums. It joined the League of Arab States and issued its new independent currency. Kuwait secured full national independence in 1961, and Britain recognized its sovereignty over its territory and cancelled the protectorate treaty. The National Petroleum Company was established in 1960. Parliamentary elections were held and the first Constituent Assembly was opened in 1962. The first Constitution in the history of Kuwait was drawn up and is still in force today. When Shaikh Abdullah Al Salem died in 1965, he was succeeded by his brother Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who spared no effort on behalf of Kuwait which continued on its course of prosperity and progress in various fields. During his reign the University of Kuwait was opened in 1966. Kuwait was a founding member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1968.

Sheikh Jaber while delivering His country's speech at the
UN General Assembly during the occpation of kuwait in 1990

          When Shaikh Sabah Al-Salem died on 31 December 1977 he was succeeded by the present Amir, His Highness Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, may God preserve him. In his reign Kuwait has made, and is still making, even more progress, is prospering and has scored many achievements which there is not space to describe adequately here. The technology and sciences of this age have entered Kuwait to make it a modern state. His Highness the Amir has dedicated his life to defending Kuwait and ensure that peace prevails over it. His great efforts and patient struggle in international forums and diplomacy played a major role in freeing Kuwait from the tyrannical occupation.

          A major crisis befell Kuwait, the land of peace and harmony, in August 1990 when the forces of the Iraqi regime its territory. All Kuwaitis rose to defend their country, offering a fine example of sacrifice and struggle to the world. The role of His Highness the Amir came to the fore at that time, in the way the Kuwaitis rallied around him and stood shoulder to shoulder until they were able to liberate Kuwait from the occupiers after suffering various forms of plunder and destruction during the period of oppression during which not only Kuwait suffered an upheaval, but it also went beyond that and cast dark shadows over all Arab countries. With the support of friends and honorable fraternal countries which stood beside kuwait, it was able to regain its lost freedom on 26 February 1991 and begin the process of removing the effects and pollution of aggression on the one hand, and carry out reconstruction on the other, to become again not merely a geographically small spot at the edge of our Arab World, but also to have a position in the heart of this Arab World.