The Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, passed away on December 16, 2023. He was 86 years old at the time of his death. State television in Kuwait carried the official statement issued by the emir’s office regarding the demise of Sheikh Nawaf.
The Beginnings and the Education
On June 25, 1937, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was born in Kuwait, a British protectorate until 1961. Her birthplace was Kuwait. Sheikh Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 1921 until 1950, was his sixth son. He was also the half-brother of Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 2006 until 2020. He was the sixth son of Sheikh Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah. During his time in Kuwait, he attended the prestigious Mubarakia school for his childhood education.
Job Titles in the Government
Sheikh Nawaf was appointed governor of the Hawalli province in 1962 when he was only 25. He served in this capacity for a total of sixteen years. He was head of the country’s Ministry of Interior from 1978 until 1988. The year 1988 marked his appointment as Minister of Defence. He was in charge of this role during the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990.
Immediately upon the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Sheikh Nawaf assumed the office of Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, a position he remained until 1992. He was Deputy Commander of the National Guard from 1994 to 2003. Between 2003 and 2006, he oversaw the Ministry of Interior once more and held the position of First Deputy Prime Minister that he had previously held.
While in these positions, Sheikh Nawaf was responsible for implementing reforms in the police force, working on the reorganisation and strengthening of the army, sending young personnel abroad for training in military management, implementing a personnel policy to revitalise the ranks of department officials, and contributing to the strengthening of security ties among the countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is a regional organisation that includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.
As Crown Prince and Emir
Sheikh Nawaf was appointed Crown Prince on February 7, 2006, by the decree of Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, who came to power in the same year. This decision was a departure from the customary practice of alternating the rule between representatives of the two branches of the Sabah family, namely al-Jaber and al-Salem. While Sheikh Sabah was receiving medical treatment in the United States beginning in July 2020, Sheikh Nawaf took up the emir responsibilities.
On September 29, 2020, following the passing of Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti Cabinet announced that Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah would succeed Sabah as the newly appointed emir. He became the sixth emir of Kuwait and the oldest monarch in the country’s history when he assumed power on September 30, 2020. He was 83 years old at the time of his assumption of power. Sheikh Nawaf’s decision to allow women to serve in the military services, in medical and support units as junior officers and specialists, in October 2021 was one of the key decisions he made during his tenure as the emir.
New Emir Appointed
Sheikh Mashaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, has been proclaimed the new emir. The Kuwaiti Constitution mandates the succession to the throne upon the demise of the emir. However, the crown prince can only assume authority after undergoing the oath of office in the National Assembly, which functions as a unicameral parliament. A year remains for the new emir to designate an heir.
