Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah dies at age 86

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah died on Saturday, the royal court said, after three years in power. He was 86.

“With great sadness and sorrow, we mourn... the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait,” said a statement aired on Kuwaiti state television.

State television had cut its regular programming and switched to a broadcast of Quranic recital before the announcement.

Sheikh Nawaf, who will be laid to rest on Sunday, had been hospitalized in November for an undisclosed “emergency,” but had been said to be in a stable condition.

Kuwait announced 40 days of mourning and a three day closure of official departments.

He will “be remembered for his unique personal attributes: softspoken, devout, modest, low profile,” said Bader al-Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University.

Condolences flooded in from around the world.

Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed wrote on X that Sheikh Nawaf had been a wise leader who played a major role in strengthening Kuwait-UAE relations.

“He served his country for six decades and fulfilled his duty with all sincerity,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, on X, formerly Twitter.

Saudi Arabia’s royal court said the Kingdom “and its people share the sorrows of their brothers in the State of Kuwait.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the sheikh “a great friend of the UK” and a statement by the Kremlin said “he had great authority in the Middle East.”

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, was named as Sheikh Nawaf’s successor.

Sheikh Nawaf ascended the throne in September 2020 after the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Prior to his appointment as emir, Sheikh Nawaf had been Kuwait’s crown prince since 2006, when he was appointed by the late Sheikh Sabah.

Sheikh Nawaf had previously served Kuwait for over 50 years in various positions.

From 1994 until 2003, Sheikh Nawaf was deputy chief of the Kuwaiti National Guard. That year, he was appointed Minister of Interior and the first Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait.

Under Kuwait’s constitution, succession of the emir and crown prince positions are traditionally limited to only the descendants of Mubarak al-Sabah.