No Tourism But Lots of Crude
by David Henderson
Kuwait
is not a tourist mecca. In fact, it has virtually no tourism industry
at all. People who fly into Kuwait are there to do business ... mostly
oil business and banking ... in the most capitalistic and western-friendly
nation in the Middle East. I visited Kuwait recently on business, not
oil business or banking. Incidentally, it's a 7-hour airline hop from
London.
Kuwait City -- one of the most modern and affluent places among the Arab nations -- has fabulous, opulent hotels that cater to international business people. It also has dozens of Islamic mosques within easy walking distance. Kuwaiti men take a break from other duties to pray four times each day.
The
people of Kuwait live in the lap of luxury and wealth. Their country floats
on 10 percent of the world's oil supply. Any Kuwaiti who wants a job can
have one. It's the policy of a generous government to create lots of jobs.
Average annual salary is more than $60,000 and ... Kuwaitis pay no income
tax. Behind the policy is a laudable Islamic principle of equity.
There are just 600,000 Kuwaitis, most of them still feeling indebted to the United States for saving them from the Iraqi bad guys during the Gulf War in 1991. And they are enjoying undreamed-of riches, courtesy of a government that decided to distribute the wealth from oil to the population.
So,
it's not surprising that you will see more Mercedes, BMWs and LandRovers
there than in Bel Air. And, no one is concerned about the price of gasoline
-- it's only about 35¢ a gallon!
What struck me most during a week in Kuwait City (incidentally, "Kuwait" means "little fort" in the Arab language) was how the people cherish and celebrate their families. Each family member is treated with respect and honor, from children to the elderly.
There
are strict cultural and religious rules about dating so young Kuwaiti
stay at home each evening rather than cruising the malls. In fact, there
are NO malls or cineplexes in Kuwait and virtually no place to go in the
evenings but home and the family and chatting online and widescreen TVs.
Everyone's got a cell phone.
Drinking alcohol is forbidden. Kuwaitis drink tea and coffee, and they smoke.
Life revolves around the Islamic religion that teaches a balance of behavior and respect among people.
Yet, among a seemingly narrow, faith-based lifestyle environment are values of free speech, an open press and a richly democratic, capitalistic tradition in one of the Middle East's most powerful nations.
David
Henderson is Founder of BoomerCafé
and a 
in the Washington, DC, area.
His email is 