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العربية
Topic timeline · c. 1700 – today

History of Kuwait

8 events

From a small trading and pearling port on the Gulf to an independent oil state.

Showing 375 years

Key people

Everything that happened

  1. c. 1752Al-Sabah rule begins in KuwaitKuwaitKuwait’s families choose Sabah bin Jaber as their leader, beginning the rule of the Al-Sabah family.
  2. 1899Anglo-Kuwaiti AgreementKuwaitSheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah signs an agreement that places Kuwait under British protection.
  3. 1920Battle of JahraAl JahraThe Battle of Jahra occurred on 10 October 1920 during the Kuwait–Najd War, pitting Sheikh Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait, against the Ikhwan forces led by Faisal al-Duwaish, the sheikh of the Mutayr tribe. The confrontation took place in the village of Al-Jahra, located west of Kuwait City. The battle resulted in a costly defeat for the Ikhwan, who failed to capture Jahra village.
  4. 1938Oil discovered in KuwaitBurgan field, KuwaitDrillers strike oil at Burgan, part of one of the largest oil fields in the world. Commercial production begins in 1946.
  5. 1961Kuwait’s independenceKuwaitOn 19 June 1961 the British protectorate over Kuwait, which began with the 1899 agreement, ends and Kuwait becomes fully independent.
  6. 1982Kuwait plays at the World CupSpainKuwait qualifies for its first and only World Cup so far, playing Czechoslovakia, France and England. Italy wins the tournament.
  7. 1990 – 1991Invasion and liberation of KuwaitKuwaitIraq invades Kuwait on 2 August 1990. A US-led coalition liberates the country on 26 February 1991.
  8. 2009Iraqi invasion of KuwaitKuwaitThe Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, codenamed Project 17, began on 2 August 1990 and marked the beginning of the Gulf War. After defeating the State of Kuwait on 4 August 1990, Iraq went on to militarily occupy the country for the next seven months. The invasion was condemned internationally, and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted numerous resolutions urging Iraq to withdraw from Kuwaiti territory.