Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, aged 86, has passed away, as confirmed by the royal court. The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed, although he had been admitted to the hospital last month for an emergency health problem.
Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, aged 83, is the designated successor and has been Kuwait’s de facto ruler since 2021. Sheikh Nawaf assumed the role of Emir in September 2020, succeeding his brother, Sheikh Sabah, who had ruled for over a decade.
Despite diplomatic challenges and a standoff between the government and elected parliament during his reign, Sheikh Nawaf was considered a consensus builder. The recent return to consensus between the government and parliament marked progress after hindrances to key structural reforms in the oil-rich Gulf state.
With Kuwait’s balanced foreign policy, fostering ties with neighboring countries, the nation faces a period of transition. According to Kuwait’s constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes the emir, but the assumption of power requires taking an oath in parliament. The new emir has up to a year to name an heir, signaling a potential period of changes in leadership for Kuwait.
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