Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has died at 86.
Authorities gave no cause of death.
Kuwait’s deputy ruler and his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is believed to be in line to take over as ruler, although no official announcement has yet been made.
Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in in September 2020 after the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, in the United States at the age of 91.
Sheikh Nawaf held high office for decades before he took power. Named heir apparent in 2006, he was serving as defence minister when Iraqi troops invaded the oil-rich emirate in 1990. He also worked as interior minister in the face of challenges from armed groups.
Popular within the ruling al-Sabah family, he had a reputation for modesty, and largely maintained a low profile.
On becoming emir, Sheikh Nawaf had to steer Kuwait’s economy through a crisis caused by a fall in oil prices that saw the country’s credit rating cut by international agencies in 2020.
Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler from 1921 to 1950 Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
He received secondary schooling in Kuwait but did not go on to higher education.
He started his political career at 25 as governor of Hawalli province.
