Iranian Kuwaitis
Encyclopedia
Iranian Kuwaitis or Persian Kuwaitis (locally referred to as 'Ayam') are part of the continuous and rapid rise in Iranian
immigration to the Arabian Peninsula
.
Most of these ethnic Kuwaitis of Iranian-origin are not recent immigrants, but have lived in Kuwait for many generations. Only 4% of the population are Iranian nationals, but ethnic Iranians who hold Kuwaiti citizenship alone are 30-40% of the Kuwaiti populace. Iranian Kuwaitis mostly come from the Iranian Provinces of Khuzestan, Bushehr
, Lorestan and Baluchistan.
Today, Kuwait
claims to have the highest percentage of citizens of Iranian
origin in the Arabian Peninsula
. The Iran
ian Kuwaiti community has produced a sizeable number of well-known individuals, notable in many fields, including business
, history
, and the country's economic development (in general). Nowadays, they live predominantly in Al Rumaithiya, Mushrif, and Salwa
.
Iranian Kuwaitis are of diverse ethnic backgrounds, the predominant being Lurs
(who are part of a Persian sub-group) and a locally self-identified group called Tarakma, followed by a sizable ethnic Persian
and Balochi
community.
Iranian Kuwaitis have raised monuments in Kuwait
, such as the Marafi
Hussainia
in Kuwait City
— that was built as a worship place for Shi'a Muslims (most Kuwaiti Shi'ites are of Iranian origin). The building was founded by descendents of an Iranian merchant
better known as Marafi Behbahani; he was one of the first Iranian immigrants to settle in Kuwait, in the late 18th century.
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
immigration to the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
.
Most of these ethnic Kuwaitis of Iranian-origin are not recent immigrants, but have lived in Kuwait for many generations. Only 4% of the population are Iranian nationals, but ethnic Iranians who hold Kuwaiti citizenship alone are 30-40% of the Kuwaiti populace. Iranian Kuwaitis mostly come from the Iranian Provinces of Khuzestan, Bushehr
Bushehr
Bushehr Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast of southwestern Iran. It is the chief seaport of the country and the administrative centre of its province. Its location is about south of Tehran. The local climate is hot and humid.The city...
, Lorestan and Baluchistan.
Today, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
claims to have the highest percentage of citizens of Iranian
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
origin in the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. The Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian Kuwaiti community has produced a sizeable number of well-known individuals, notable in many fields, including business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, and the country's economic development (in general). Nowadays, they live predominantly in Al Rumaithiya, Mushrif, and Salwa
Salwa
Salwa is a suburb of the, Hawalli Governorate in Kuwait, bordering Rumaithiya to the north and Messila to the south. To the east , it overlooks the Persian Gulf...
.
Iranian Kuwaitis are of diverse ethnic backgrounds, the predominant being Lurs
Lurs
Lurs are an Iranic people living mainly in south-western Iran. Their population is estimated at above two million. They occupy Lorestan, Bakhtiari, and Kuh-Gilu-Boir Ahmed. "....
(who are part of a Persian sub-group) and a locally self-identified group called Tarakma, followed by a sizable ethnic Persian
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
and Balochi
Baloch people
The Baloch or Baluch are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Iranian peoples. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Balochistan region and Sistan and Baluchestan Province in the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Western Asia....
community.
Iranian Kuwaitis have raised monuments in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, such as the Marafi
Marafi
Marafi Behbahani , also written as Ma'arafi, Marafie, or Ma'arafie. He was Mohammad-Rafie Mohammad-Zaman Behbahani, the founder of the currently known Marafi/Marafie Family of Kuwait. He was born in the Iranian city of Behbahan . He migrated from Behbahan to Kuwait due to many reasons; the one...
Hussainia
Hussainia
A Hussainia, also known as an Ashurkhana or Imambargah, is a congregation hall for Shia commemoration ceremonies, especially those associated with the Remembrance of Muharram. The name comes from Husayn Ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad and an Imam of the Shia. Hussain was killed by Yazid I in...
in Kuwait City
Kuwait City
-Suburbs:Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:Al-Salam ""السلام"" -Economy:...
— that was built as a worship place for Shi'a Muslims (most Kuwaiti Shi'ites are of Iranian origin). The building was founded by descendents of an Iranian merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
better known as Marafi Behbahani; he was one of the first Iranian immigrants to settle in Kuwait, in the late 18th century.