Secret documents obtained by Al Majalla reveal that Saddam tried to form a four-way coalition with Jordan, Yemen and Egypt while reaching out to Iran through Arafat.

The human cost and development disasters caused by the August invasion in 1990 remain after Kuwait became hooked on high public spending to recover. Financial and economic reform is needed.

Thirty-three years ago, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. A lot has changed since then, but the profound impact of this historic sin continues to reverberate in Iraq, the region, and the world.

As Gulf states continue to draw inspiration from Kuwait's political system, adopting that which works and avoiding what doesn't, Kuwait can learn from its neighbours' assertiveness and development

A longstanding dispute between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on the one hand, and Iran on the other, has been rehashed after Iran states its intention to start drilling in the Durra gas field

In a country where economic data is sparse, observers look to real estate and stock market performance to assess the overall state of the economy

Another dizzying surge in state spending, not least on a rising number of government employees, raises doubts on the sustainability of the country's finances just as other oil economies are changing

It will take time not legislation to reduce Kuwait's foreign labour force dependence