Based on a wide range of official and private papers, this study examines the development of relations between Kuwait and Britain during the reign of Shaikh Abdullah Salim - a period of spectacular expansion in oil production. Of particular concern are Kuwait's role in the post-war British economy, the survival of the al-Sabah ruling family in an era of unprecedented change, and the interaction of Kuwait with the Arab world. This volume is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the background to the politics of the Gulf.