Kuwait Economy and Way of Life before & after the Discovery of Oil

By Fajer AlAbdelrazaq and Ala’a AlMulla

Kuwait UniversityELU-Science College

English 090/60

11/27/2010 1Kuwait-Korea Videoconference

Kuwait Pearl divingPearl Diving was one of the main

occupations of Kuwaiti people in the early days and before the oil was discovered

Pearling proved to be very beneficial for the economy of Kuwait in the past

11/27/2010 2Kuwait-Korea Videoconference

Pearl diving• Pearl Diving has become an

integral part of the Kuwaiti culture• Pearling was a major source of

wealth•Moreover, the Kuwait pearl

diving reflects an important aspect of the Kuwaiti culture (this item is the same as the first one above)11/27/2010 3Kuwait-Korea Videoconference

Kuwait Trading and fishing

• Fifty years ago Kuwait was self sufficient in marine foods and despite a 20-fold increase in population, fishing still provides 50% of the country’s seafood requirements.

• But stocks are being depleted through overfishing and the breeding grounds are being polluted by increased sediment due to marsh-draining in southern Iraq (no need for this part Group 3 might talk about it)

• Kuwaitis used to travel to the harbors of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean to transport goods and conduct trade, which was known as traveling.(give examples of some goods)

11/27/2010 4Kuwait-Korea Videoconference

• Kuwaiti merchants would sail to distant locations in locally built sailing dhows.

• Many were involved in pearl diving, boat building and general trading. • Fishing provided an essential food for the locals. (please add names of

some famous dhows)

Kuwait Trading and fishing

11/27/2010 5Kuwait-Korea Videoconference