KUWAIT, June 20 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait took precedence in many fields within the region including the introduction and usage of automobiles.
Kuwait introduced cars over a century ago, when camels, horses and donkeys were still used as means for transportation.
In this context, Bassem Abdulaziz Al-Loughani mentioned in his book "Cars in Kuwait's history" that first car appeared in Kuwait was in 1911 and Bahrain followed two years later when Sheikh Eisa Al-Khalifa brought one in 1913.
The first vehicle to enter in Najd region, modern Saudi Arabia, was a gift from the Ottoman Empire to the Amir of Ha'el Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Rashid in 1915.
Al-Loughani emphasized that first car used in Kuwait was a Belgium car from "Minerva" exported by Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, but it did not last long because of breakdowns.
According to a study conducted by writer Yaqoub Al-Ibrahim, the Kuwaiti people called that particular car the "elephant" because it was a giant vehicle.
Second car entering Kuwait was also from Minerva, which Tradesman Jassem bin Mohammed Al-Ibrahim gave to the Amir of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, he added.
The first to acquire private cars were Kuwaiti citizens Hamad Al-Khaled and Shamlan bin Saif, each acquiring a "Ford", while Hilal Al-Mutairi acquired Hudson, and then Hamad Al-Sager and Mulla Saleh bought "Overland".
Sheikha Badriya Saud Al-Sabah was considered as the first Kuwaiti woman to drive a car after her study abroad concluded and she had been appointed a supervisor of the public health in 1947.
British-made "Humber" cars were well-known in the fifties and sixties, Kuwait Oil Company workers used them to cross the dessert in order to reach the oil wells.
In the late 1920s, Ali Al-Kulaib Al-Khalid obtained the right to distribute cars under the agreement with "Chevrolet", "Buick" and "GMC" agents in Iraq, and then in 1936 Hamed Al-Naqeeb obtained the right to distribute Ford cars.
Al-Loughani mentioned that first traffic ticket was recorded was to Al-Sayed Eisa Yousef Abduljaleel in 22nd of September 1938 whereas the first death in Kuwait due to car accident was in 1937.
He added that Mohammed Al-Sayed Omar, Eisa Saleh and Abdullah Al-Saif are the first Kuwaitis to have a driving license, whereas the youngest Kuwaiti to obtain driving license was Sulaiman Al-Othman at age 14. (end) as.gaa