When Iraqi troops were driven out in early 1991 and reconstruction work began in the ruins of Kuwait City, the government quickly became obsessed with meticulously re-creating the country's pre-invasion appearance - right down to the pink marble steps at the entrance to Kuwait City's leading five-star hotel. With the war a fading memory, Kuwait is once again the prototypical oil state, and travellers looking for a relaxed entry into the Muslim world can expect their share of mosques, souks and other sandy traces of bygone Bedouin days. Kuwait is generally safe and secure, but nevertheless visitors are advised to avoid demonstrations and political gatherings wherever possible.

Full country name: The State of Kuwait
Area: 17,800 sq km (7000 sq mi)
Population: 2.2 million (750,000 Kuwaiti citizens)
Capital city: Kuwait City (pop 238,000)
People: Kuwaiti (45%), other Arab (35%), Asian (9%)
Language: Arabic, English
Religion: Muslim (85%), Christian, Hindu
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Prime minister: Crown Prince Saad al-Abdallah al-Salim al-Sabah
Head of state: The Emir, Sheikh Jabir al-Sabah

GDP: US$43.7 billion
GDP per head: US$22,700
Annual growth: 3%
Inflation: 1%
Major industries: Petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination
Major trading partners: Japan, India, US

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