Al Asimah Governate

Al Asimah (The Capital) Governorate is Kuwait's political and commercial nucleus—a 200 km² territory centered on Kuwait City that houses government ministries, the Amiri Diwan (royal court), the National Assembly, major banks, and the historic souk districts. The governorate was one of the original three established by Emiri Decree No. 6 of 1962 following independence from British protection. With approximately 262,000 residents, Al Asimah has the lowest population among Kuwait's governorates but the highest concentration of political and economic power. The Shuwaikh Industrial area within the governorate serves as Kuwait's primary port and manufacturing zone, linking domestic commerce to global shipping lanes. Kuwait City's skyline reflects the oil wealth transformation: the Kuwait Towers (1979) and Liberation Tower (1993) punctuate a cityscape rebuilt after Iraqi invasion damage. The governorate's relatively small resident population belies its daily influx—hundreds of thousands commute from outer governorates to work in Al Asimah's offices, ministries, and commercial establishments, creating massive source-sink population flows.