Kuwaiti Americans

Kuwaiti Americans

Total population
(3,162 (Kuwaiti ancestry. US Census of 2000)[1] 25,735 (Kuwaiti-born, 2014) [2])
Languages
American English, Arabic
Religion
Islam

Kuwaiti Americans are an ethnic group of citizens or residents of the United States with total or partial ancestry from Kuwaiti descent.

Demographics

There are over 2,000 Kuwaiti students studying at universities across the U.S. Many of them want to return home once they finish their studies in the United States. Kuwaiti Students have created communities in certain cities or states. So, states like California (in cities as Fresno), Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have large Kuwaiti populations.^[3] Population estimates are seen to have a very small diaspora, mainly because Kuwait provides them with more than adequate welfare benefits, removing the need to live and work in other developed countries.

Organizations

The government of Kuwait and other prominent individuals and organizations in Kuwait supports to Kuwaiti students in the United States, through of NUKS, the National Union of Kuwaiti Students.^[4] This association, among other things, organizes and sponsors activities for students from entire U.S., says the concerns and problems of the Kuwaiti students in United States to Kuwaiti authorities and helps to students, especially freshmen, to adapt to the American life. The students vote by his representatives, many of them in the same place. There are usually two parties between which the students can vote: Al-Wihda (United) and Al Mustaqbal Al Tulaby (Student Future). Although both parties work for send to largest number of Kuwaiti students to United States, Student Future is a conservative party that aims to strengthen, among students, the idea of keeping religion and Yemeni traditions, having even an own magazine, while that United is a liberal party that supports the integration of students in American society.^[3]

Other Kuwaiti American association is the Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF), established in Washington D.C. in 1991. The association is inspired in the fight for Kuwait's liberation, that was exerted by Allied Coalition forces in the Gulf War. The association is grateful for the American help during the Gulf War and reinforces ties among the two countries. However, the association mainly is dedicated on education, cultural exchange and programs for youth and disadvantaged persons.^[5]

Notable Kuwaiti-Americans

• Dina Al-Sabah

References

1. "Table 1. First, Second, and Total Responses to the Ancestry Question by Detailed Ancestry Code: 2000". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
2. "PLACE OF BIRTH FOR THE FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES, Universe: Foreign-born population excluding population born at sea, 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
3. Kuwaiti in America.
4. National Union of Kuwaiti Students - USA Branch. Nuks: Career & Internships.
5. Kuwait American Foundation (KAF).