Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Historical and geographical evidence indicates that ancient Kuwaiti trade did not rely heavily on the trade winds. Unlike maritime powers in the Indian Ocean or Atlantic, Kuwait's pre-oil economy was anchored in pearl diving, fishing, and regional coastal trade within the Persian Gulf. The Gulf's relatively enclosed geography and seasonal wind patterns (shamal winds) were more relevant to local navigation than the global trade-wind system. Consequently, Kuwaiti merchants focused on near-shore activities and overland caravan routes rather than long-distance oceanic voyages driven by trade winds.