Kuwait City: Today marks a significant milestone in Kuwait's history with a series of notable events spanning over a century, reflecting the nation's diverse developments and challenges. From natural calamities to remarkable advancements in education and technology, each of these events has played a role in shaping Kuwait's present.
According to Kuwait News Agency, in 1890, Kuwait experienced a devastating natural event when swarms of locusts invaded the region, causing extensive damage to cultivated fields and contaminating water wells. This year of catastrophe is remembered as the "Al-Debba year." Fast forward to 1977, the establishment of the Kuwait Chess Federation marked a step forward in promoting intellectual sports within the nation.
In 1982, the country faced an economic downturn with the onset of the "Al-Manakh crisis," which saw the crash of an unofficial stock exchange. This financial turmoil persisted until August of the same year. Moving to 1997, the nation mourned the loss of Issa Al-Hamad Al-Mejren, a pioneering figure in sports, who passed away at the age of 67.
The year 1999 saw the Ministry of Interior implement a safety measure prohibiting children under 10 from sitting in car front seats. In 2009, Kuwait bid farewell to Khaled Al-Mudhaf, a co-founder of the Kuwait Teachers Society, who was also a parliament member in 1963 and served as Minister of Social Affairs and Labor from 1967 to 1971.
In 2012, Kuwait demonstrated its commitment to international development by extending a KD 7.5 million loan through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to support Cuba's water system overhaul. The political landscape in 2018 was marked by a series of interpellations involving Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and ministers, with confidence renewed in them following parliamentary debates.
The opening of the Sheikh Jaber causeway in 2019 by Kuwait Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was a monumental achievement, being the fourth longest bridge globally. However, the same year, the Constitutional Court declared law 13 (2018) on conflict of interest unconstitutional.
In a significant political move in 2023, Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved the National Assembly, paving the way for potential political reforms. Most recently, in 2024, Kuwait University made history as the first university team from the Arab world and the Middle East to win the best robot construction award at the VEX robots event in Texas, US, showcasing the nation's growing prowess in technology and innovation.