Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah passes away

KUWAIT: Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah died at the age of 91, the Deputy Minister of Amiri Diwan, Sheikh Ali Al-Jarrah Al Sabah, announced on Kuwait TV today.

“With the utmost sadness and grief for the Kuwaiti people, the Islamic and Arab world and people of friendly nations, the Emiri Diwan mourns the death of Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait,” his office said.

رحم الله أب الكويت الحاني..وقلب الخليج النابض..وأمير الإنسانية النبيل الشيخ صباح الأحمد الصباح.. حط رحاله عند رب رحيم كريم عظيم بعد أن خدم وقدّم وأكرم شعبه .. تعازينا لإخوتنا وأحبابنا شعب الكويت..ولكافة الشعوب العربية والإسلامية المحبة لأمير الإنسانية.. إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون pic.twitter.com/wGnBFtkjTO

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 29, 2020

Sheikh Sabah ruled Kuwait since 2006 and steered its foreign policy for more than 50 years. The Emir was admitted to hospital on July 18 for medical checks and then, a day later underwent successful surgery.

On July 23, the Emir was flown to the United States to complete his medical treatment. The Emir’s office did not disclose the reason for the surgery or details of what treatment the Emir was going to receive in the US.

According to a state media report, his 83-year-old half brother and crown prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed is expected to succeed him. 

Dubbed as the “dean of Arab diplomacy” Sheikh Sabah had ruled the Arab country since 2006 and had commandeered its foreign policy for the past 50 years. 

He earned the title “dean of Arab diplomacy” for his efforts to restore relations with states that had unnerved their weight behind Iraq during Gulf War in 1990-91. 

Sheikh Sabah came to power in January 2006 after Emir Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah was deposed on health grounds by the Kuwaiti parliament just nine days into his new role as the Emir. 

During his time as PM of Kuwait under Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, he was considered by many as the de facto ruler of the oil-rich country. 

He also served as Kuwait’s foreign minister from 1963 to 1991 and from 1992 to 2003. The Sabah family has ruled Kuwait for the past 260 years.