Since the mid‐1940s until about 1970 Kuwait's oil production continued to expand. Although since then it has fallen, the discovery of oil has brought about radical changes to the economy and to Kuwaiti society in general. Not the least of these has been the emergence of western‐type shopping centres — especially district centres which are planned to provide facilities beyond simply shopping. They will include mosques, cultural facilities and sports halls, and their design will combine both western and middle eastern features.