Kuwait

Kuwait is a small country with an outsized presence. Sitting at the tip of the Persian Gulf, this city-state-sized nation holds roughly 6% of the world's oil reserves and has the highest-valued currency on Earth. But before oil transformed everything in the 1950s, Kuwait was a society built on pearl diving, seafaring, and trade. The old dhow harbors and traditional souks still whisper of those days, even as gleaming skyscrapers and luxury malls define the modern skyline.

What surprises most visitors is the warmth. Kuwaiti hospitality is intense and genuine - an invitation to a Kuwaiti home means a feast, and the diwaniya tradition of evening gatherings for conversation, coffee, and debate is central to social life. The culture values generosity deeply, a trait that predates the oil wealth by centuries. Kuwait was also the first Gulf state to establish a constitution and elected parliament, giving it a political culture distinct from its neighbors. The summer heat is brutal - temperatures routinely exceed 50 degrees Celsius - but the spirit of this compact, prosperous nation is anything but dry.