Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah died on Saturday at the age of 86, just three years after taking power in the US-allied Gulf oil-producing country, according to the royal court.
The cause of his death was not immediately disclosed. Amir was hospitalized late last month with what the state news agency described at the time as a health emergency, but said his condition was stable.
Crown Prince Sheikh Meshaal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, 83, who has been Kuwait’s de facto ruler since 2021 when the weakened emir handed over most of his duties, was named as Sheikh Nawaf’s successor.
Kuwait declared 40 days of mourning and closed official departments for three days. World leaders paid tribute to Sheikh Nawaf and expressed their condolences to his successor Sheikh Meshaal, the Al Sabah family and the people of Kuwait.