Kuwait’s tribes in profile: Degrees of influence and demographics

Tribes play an important role in Kuwaiti political life – not least because the largest of them are generally pro-opposition. However their influence is not always readily apparent to outside observers. The tribes are spread around the country with no real geographic focus and most are a mix of Sunni and Shia. The largest is the Al-Awazem, whose prominent members include the recently ousted National Assembly (parliament) member Bader Dahome.