Kuwait

State-owned enterprises have been an important feature of the Kuwaiti economy since the establishment of the nation state. As highlighted in this chapter, their importance in the Kuwaiti economy has only increased over the years, and today they play an important role in the provision of basic services, employment and fiscal revenue. This analysis outlines the development of the state-owned sector in Kuwait, in order to situate the current structure of the sector and its governance practices in a historical context. Following the introduction of the privatisation legislation in Kuwait in 2010, the privatisation process, which until now has been slow, is expected to accelerate with the initial disposal of a stake in the Kuwaiti Airways Corporation.

By global standards, Kuwait has been late to implement measures that grant women equal protection. Education and employment opportunities opened up for Kuwaiti women in the 1960s. Kuwait’s family law discriminates against women in the social sphere, as do customary traditions. However, unlike most of the countries of the Gulf region, Kuwaiti women have been able to vote and run for office since May 2005.