The state of Kuwait, commonly known as Kuwait (ุงููููุชโ), is located in the northeast of the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia and the northwest coast of the Persian Gulf A monarchy with Saudi Arabia in the south, Iraq in the north, and Iran across the sea. It was a British colony and became independent on June 19, 1961. It was briefly occupied by Iraq from 1990 to 1991. Kuwait is rich in oil and natural gas resources, and its proven oil reserves rank fourth in the world. Therefore, oil and gas exports are an important pillar of the national economy. The countryโs capital, Kuwait City, has the same name as the country.