Kuwait's emir has appointed Sheikh Sabah Khalid al-Sabah as crown prince the state news agency Kuna said on Saturday Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah became the emir of Kuwait on 16 December following the death of Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah The emir had one year following his accession to the thrown to choose the heir apparent It was also required that the nominee chosen for crown prince be a senior member of the al-Sabah family The former emir appointment as crown prince in 2006 had broken a tradition of alternating the throne between the al-Jaber and al-Salim clans of the royal family The two clans are descendants of Jaber al-Sabah and Salim al-Sabah is considered the founder of modern Kuwait The Kuwaiti constitution dictates that the country's rulers must be descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Kuwait has the only elected parliament in the Gulf but the emir remains the head of state with power over virtually all affairs in the country Last month, the emir dissolved parliament for up to four years in a move that analysts fear could threaten the country's unique semi-democratic political system the emir said that the Gulf state's National Assembly would be suspended as well as several articles of the constitution in order to review the “democratic process” potentially until 2028 The move cames after years of political deadlocks and reshuffles Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker About Search It is with deep regret that I have learned of the death of Shaikh Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah He will be long remembered for the notable progress of his country during the more than 15 years of his leadership and for his wise guidance of Kuwait into the ranks of independent He was highly esteemed and admired in this country Note: The text of the telegram to Shaikh Sabah al-Salim was read by Bill D It was not made public in the form of a White House press release Telegram to the New Amir of Kuwait on the Death of His Brother The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/240972 The American Presidency ProjectJohn Woolley and Gerhard PetersContact Twitter Facebook Copyright © The American Presidency ProjectTerms of Service | Privacy | Accessibility Kuwait University’s Construction Program has enlisted CambridgeSeven and Gulf Consult in order to develop a 74,322 square-meter College of Life Sciences (COLS) at Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah University City which accommodates 3,500 students and faculty and information technology into a collaborative College of Life Sciences Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah University has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies sculpted in response to extensive environmental analysis adapts the ancient science and aesthetics of wind towers The twin atria provide natural ventilation and cooling by drawing warm air up to roof level through their interior conical configurations They form oasis-like interior courtyards that rise from ground level up through the College perforated metal panels that cover the façade filter natural daylight and shade the interior from the harsh sun The color intensity of the golden structure changes with the sun’s movement throughout the day Separating solar control from thermal performance allows the exterior envelope of COLS to optimize performance The perforated diamond-shaped panels are positioned differently for each building’s façade orientation The building’s energy performance is derived from traditional vernacular responses to the intense and harsh climate layered building envelope protects the interior spaces A double-layered roof acts as a thermal heat sink during the day and a thermal radiator by night; it extends to shade the exterior walls It also shades the rooftop mechanical spaces and funnels air from the prevailing winds COLS’s exterior walls slope outward as they rise to shade and reduce solar exposure thus reducing heat loads on the mechanical equipment Additional airflow is supplemented by the discharged air from the building’s mechanical systems A complete digitally controlled building automation system is installed to control the HVAC systems and conserve energy when rooms are not occupied All water fixtures conserve water and hot water heating is harnessed from the sun using rooftop solar panels All internal and external light fixtures are controlled through switches or dimming to provide the greatest design flexibility while maximizing energy efficiency The plants selected are indigenous and do not require large amounts of water The water used for the water features is recycled and the irrigation system uses stormwater and treated wastewater and is programmed with water-saving features that are also responsive to the seasons Project: College of Life Sciences Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah UniversityArchitects: CambridgeSevenAssociate Architects: Gulf ConsultGeneral Contractor: Al-Hani Construction & Trading in J.V with Sinohydro Corp LimitedClient: Kuwait University Construction ProgramPhotographers: Mohammad Ashkanani Input your search keywords and press Enter You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/ Get daily business news from the region delivered straight to your inbox Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah has been appointed as Kuwait’s new prime minister the country’s state news agency reported Kuwait Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Thursday appointed Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah as the country’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah has been the Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah is well known as a politician Al-Sabah is also the son of Sheikh Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Claremont Graduate University as well as a PhD in economics from Harvard He previously served as Kuwait’s ambassador to the US in 1993 His appointment comes after the passing of Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was announced as the Emir of the State of Kuwait READ MORE: Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf passes away at 86, official mourning announced Kuwait Amir appoints Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Sabah PMhttps://t.co/6Qh77hhfTH#KUNA #KUWAIT pic.twitter.com/P6SO9QwXIp — Kuwait News Agency – English Feed (@kuna_en) January 4, 2024 Kuwait faces a new chapter of governance with the appointment of Sheikh Mishal amid a backdrop of political and economic shifts marked the second-shortest reign in the country’s history Sheikh Nawaf was appointed crown prince in 2006 Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Following his brother’s demise in 2020 Sheikh Nawaf assumed the role of emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal has now been appointed as Kuwait’s new emir Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who ruled from 1921 until his death in 1950 Sheikh Nawaf navigated Kuwait through significant domestic political and economic challenges His reign was marked by the coronavirus pandemic These political crises primarily stemmed from issues between the parliament and the government A key member of the Organization of Petroleum Producing Countries with a gross domestic product of $184 billion in 2022 as per official statistics The country exports 2.8 million barrels of oil daily and has a population of about 4.3 million During Sheikh Nawaf’s three-year rule seven different governments were established the Kuwait Supreme Court invalidated the emir’s prior order to dissolve the National Assembly and the preceding council resumed governance Sheikh Nawaf’s passing has given rise to a potential new conflict in Kuwait According to a semiformal constitutional arrangement leadership in Kuwait should alternate between the descendants of Jaber II Al-Sabah and those of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Both were the sons of Kuwait founder Mubarak the Great the last ruler from the sons of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed emir was expected to remain in power until his death just nine days after his appointment as emir in January 2006 the National Assembly transferred his power to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah This decision was due to Sheikh Saad’s poor health and his consequent inability to manage the country’s affairs as crown prince instead of a descendant of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah This move diverged from the expectations set by the Kuwaiti Constitution Following Sheikh Nawaf’s death on Saturday This means that sons of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will rule Kuwait for three consecutive terms Kuwait has yet to appoint a new crown prince with ongoing deliberations about whether the appointee will be a descendant of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah or Jaber II Al-Sabah Sheikh Nawaf’s tenure was marked by internal crises and a more inward focus compared to the era of his brother Kuwait did not play a significant role in the region nor did it attempt to intervene in resolving regional crises Sheikh Nawaf issued an Emiri order on November 15 enlisting Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal to exercise some of the emir’s constitutional powers on his behalf Emir Sheikh Mishal’s most senior role was deputy chief of the National Guard as he had not held other high-ranking state positions Although the Kuwaiti Constitution allows Emir Sheikh Mishal a full year to appoint a new crown prince numerous observers and politicians advocate for prompt action emphasizing the importance of selecting a younger individual for the role Sheikh Mishal will face several problems surrounding Kuwait told The Media Line: “Sheikh Mishal will face several problems surrounding Kuwait Al-Lafi said Kuwaitis anticipated the transfer of pivotal roles including those of the crown prince and prime minister which is among the richest countries in the world is suffering from unjustified crises due to political instability We have a stifling crisis in services and development otherwise the continued loss of state resources is unacceptable,” he said There are several political and economic crises in Kuwait currently in addition to a decline in foreign policy told The Media Line: “There are several political and economic crises in Kuwait currently in addition to a decline in foreign policy.” He added that “Sheikh Mishal has great tasks in the coming period the most difficult of which are certainly the leadership figures starting from the position of crown prince While Sultan acknowledged that Kuwait is one of the countries that exports the most oil per capita and population “there is a need for real and serious reforms the current situation will not lead us to a closed path.” “There must be another arrangement for governance in Kuwait and a new generation of young people must be chosen and they must be according to what is agreed upon in the Kuwaiti Constitution and the applicable regulations.” “There are large issues that must be resolved and I suggest that powers be transferred to a new generation of young people,” he continued a former professor of political science at several Gulf universities “It is expected that Kuwait’s main foreign policy with the Gulf states will remain as it was during the era of Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Sheikh Mishal desires stability for Kuwait and the region “Sheikh Mishal will also have a balanced relationship with the United States of America and with China.” “Sheikh Mishal desires stability for Kuwait and the region Although he has a military background and worked in military positions during his period of assuming government duties on behalf of the late emir he affirmed his commitment to the constitution and not amending it,” concluded Fahd Kuwait�s 91-year-old ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah died 29 September 2020 Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah Sheikh Sabah was the 15th leader in a Kuwaiti family that has ruled for more than 250 years he lived for years in a palace known as Dar Salwa Kuwait acknowledged Sheikh Sabah suffered an unspecified medical �setback� that required he be admitted to hospital Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah died on Saturday aged 86 The announcement was made by the Emiri Diwan of Kuwait in an official statement read out on state television the death of Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al Sabah Emir of the State of Kuwait," the statement read Emir Nawaf was admitted to hospital in late November due to a medical emergency He is set to be succeeded his brother Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah Nawaf became the Gulf monarchy's ruler in 2020 following the death of his half brother His appointment as crown prince in 2006 had broken a tradition of alternating the throne between the al-Jaber and al-Salim clans of the royal family The two clans are descendants of Jaber Al Sabah and Salim Al Sabah The Gulf monarchy has an elected parliament Nawaf was the fifth son of the 10th ruler of the emirate who ruled Kuwait for almost 30 years in the first half of the 20th century He started his political career aged 25 as the governor of Hawalli province before going on to hold various senior cabinet positions throughout his life He lead the ministry of defence during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and later served as the head of interior and social services ministries Kuwait's Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was sworn in as the Gulf monarchy's new emir in parliament on Wednesday, following the death of his half brother pledged to work for the Opec member country's prosperity stability and security after taking the oath of office raising both hands to his head as lawmakers applauded 'Our dear nation today faces difficult situations and dangerous challenges that can only be overcome … by working hard together' "Our dear nation today faces difficult situations and dangerous challenges that can only be overcome … by unifying ranks and working hard together," he told the National Assembly The Kuwaiti government cabinet had announced Nawaf's ascension to the throne in the same statement on Tuesday that had declared the death of Sheikh Sabah at the age of 91 "According to the rules of the constitution… the cabinet names the crown prince his royal highness Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah the emir of the state of Kuwait," said the statement which was read by Deputy Prime Minister Anas Khalid al-Saleh in a televised address on Tuesday "We pray to the lord to engulf his highness [Nawaf] with his generous care and grant him good health and aid him and chart his steps on the path of righteousness." is the son of the 10th ruler of the emirate The 83-year-old emir has served in various cabinet positions throughout his life including leading the ministries of defence Nawaf had taken over some of the emir's responsibilities earlier as the late Sheikh Sabah travelled to the United States to receive medical treatment He begins his reign amid regional turmoil and geopolitical shifts across the Middle East Kuwait's fellow Gulf monarchies are normalising relations with Israel and the rift between Qatar and its neighbours in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - a conflict that Nawaf's predecessor attempted to mediate without taking sides - is still ongoing Nawaf's ascension will likely spark debates over who will succeed him The current emir's appointment as crown prince in 2006 had broken a tradition of alternating the throne between the al-Jaber and al-Salim clans of the royal family.  two former emirs whose father, Sheikh Mubarak al-Sabah, is considered the founder of modern Kuwait. The Kuwaiti constitution dictates that the country's rulers must be descendants of Sheikh Mubarak but the emir remains the head of state with power over virtually all affairs in the country The body of  Sheikh Sabah will be flown back to Kuwait on Wednesday from the US as the Gulf country observes 40 days of mourning including three days where government agencies will be closed.   The funeral has been restricted to ruling family members due to concerns about the coronavirus which has strained the wealthy petroleum producer's finances thousands of Kuwaitis attended the funeral and many Analysts view Sabah's death, together with the death earlier this year of Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who also played a moderating and balancing role in the region, as the end of an era in the Gulf where an aggressive younger generation has risen to power particularly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Craftsmen revive famed water wheels on Syria river Syria pistachio farmers return to orchards Syrian dancer uses an empty Paris as her canvas Milky Way glimmers over sea of rubble in Syria Syrian opens silk museum to celebrate the ancient craft Damascus: After 15-years in solitary confinement was recently released from the Central Damascus Prison Having disappeared suddenly five years before outbreak of the present conflict many believed that she was dead given that there were only available as to her whereabouts with no communique either from the state or her family Arab audiences remember Al Salem for co-staring next to Arab legends Duraid Lahham and Nour Al Sharif in 1984 and 1993 a blockbuster movie about Arab borders and with Al Sharif in the science fiction movie Al Raqs Ma’a Al Shaytan (Dancing with the Devil) Hailing from the countryside of Homs and trained as a pharmacologist Al Salem began her acting career at the age of 24 while also working as a lab specialist at the Syrian Pharmaceutical Company “I was able to reveal several cases of high corruption Part of the revenge was the heroin that she immediately got addicted to which was placed in her coffee cup by one of the company managers “I would no longer rest unless I had some more” she added saying that this came in the midst of a failed romance with a young actor someone showed up to make me an offer: more heroin in exchange for remaining silent about what was happening in the company.” having become completely submissive to the drug which placed her on the watchlist of the Anti-Narcotics Department at the Ministry of Interior She was officially classified as an addict At one point she was pursued by any officer from that very department “He had me arrested on the charge of drug manufacturing although the drugs that I made were for my personal use and not for trade,” she confessed a sentence that was first commuted to life imprisonment None of her colleagues visited her in jail either by the Syndicate of Artists or the Syndicate of Pharmacists One was the artist Muhsen Ghazzi and the other was Maher Al Attar She is now planning to return to acting saying: “They shouldn’t think that my health conditions and financial situation will force me to make any concessions I still believe that acting is a sacred mission.” She then added: “The Syria that I left behind when entering jail is very different from the Syria of today My heart is too small to bear the sadness of my country.” the Syndicate of Artists came out with a statement saying that although they sympathised with Sabah Al Salem Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox Israel to 'allow a window' for hostage deal Israel cabinet approves plan including Gaza 'conquest' Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah took the constitutional oath as the new Emir of Kuwait at a special session of the country's parliament on Wednesday (20 December) becoming the 17th Amir of the State of Kuwait In a speech after the constitutional ceremony in the Assembly Sheikh Mishal paid tribute to late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who died on Saturday and strongly criticized the government and the Assembly for taking “unanimous decisions that harm national interests” Kuwait has a complex constitutional arrangement that has developed over decades to balance the interests of different branches of the ruling al Sabah family and the power of the royal family and people’s opinion reflected through the country’s elected parliament which has become increasingly adept at providing scrutiny of the ruling family Kuwait is considered the most democratic of the six GCC monarchies but the system has also often ended in deadlock between the parliament and ruling family sometimes triggering fresh elections and often bringing down Ministries headed by members of the Royal Family who until Saturday was the country’s Crown Prince was declared as Kuwait’s 17th ruler by the Cabinet of Ministers on Saturday hours after announcing the death of Sheikh Nawaf the appointed Emir must take the constitutional oath to be able to assume his constitutional powers like issuing decrees the new Emir has one full year to appoint a crown prince who must be from Mubarak Al-Kabeer’s descendants of the Al-Sabah Family that has been ruling Kuwait for more than 250 years Article 4 of the Kuwait constitution stipulates that Kuwait is a hereditary emirate whose emir must be an heir of Mubarak Al-Sabah but an informal pattern of alternation between the descendants of his sons Jabir and Salem emerged since his death in 1915 This pattern of succession had one exception before 2006 was named crown prince to succeed his half-brother Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem as a consequence of infighting and lack of consensus within the ruling family council The alternating system was resumed when Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim named Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed of the Jabir branch as his crown prince eventually ruling as Emir for 29 years from 1977 to 2006 The crown prince must be approved by a majority vote of the National Assembly But if the Assembly rejects the appointment and the Assembly will elect one of them by voting to become the country’s crown prince The first decision Sheikh Mishal took after assuming his constitutional powers was accepting the resignation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah who submitted his government’s resignation to the new Head of State The Emir then asked Sheikh Ahmad to remain as a caretaker premier until a prime minister is appointed In his speech to parliament after his swearing-in Sheikh Mishaal said he is keen on compliance with the constitution and application of the law on all and fighting corruption He also asserted “our commitment to our Gulf and international” obligations The Emir said executive and legislative authorities have obligations to meet for the nation and citizens and not take decisions that would be harmful to the nation naturalizations that “change Kuwait’s identity” the amnesty file “and its consequences” and the rehabilitation file that were “harmful to our nation and an evidence of the harm to the interests of the nation” Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah appointed on Thursday Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah as the country’s Prime Minister and entrusted him with the task of nominating members for the new cabinet the Emir delivered a scathing criticism of the government and parliament in his first address after taking the constitutional oath as the country’s ruler Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah promptly submitted the resignation of his government to the Emir who accepted it and tasked him with continuing to manage the affairs of the state until the formation of the new government Sheikh Mohammed would have returned to government service after nearly 12 years since his resignation when he was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs He held this role until October 2011 when he resigned in protest alleging government negligence in probing what is believed to be the case of millions being suspiciously deposited into bank accounts of Kuwaiti parliamentarians Sheikh Mohammed is the fourth son of the twelfth Emir of Kuwait He follows a lineage of princes who have governed the country post-independence served as the former Minister of Defense and Interior Sheikh Mohammed holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Claremont McKenna College in California He furthered his academic pursuits with a Master’s and a Ph.D in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University he served as a teaching assistant at the Department of Economics at the College of Commerce and Political Science at Kuwait University between 1979 and 1985 he was appointed as a professor in the department Sheikh Mohammed was a member of the delegation of the Kuwaiti Popular Conference that visited North America during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait he also served as a member of the Supreme Advisory Council that coordinated the activities of the Kuwaiti government in exile and participated in the Reconstruction Committee he was appointed as Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States in 1993 and continued in that position until he was appointed as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on February 14 Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef leading a high-level delegation from the industry and mining sector began an official three-day visit to France on Monday The visit aims to strengthen bilateral economic ties and foster cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France in the industrial and mining sectors as well as explore joint investment opportunities in key strategic areas that the Kingdom is prioritizing for localization particularly the aviation and food industries Alkhorayef will hold a series of bilateral meetings with French government officials and leaders of prominent global French companies in the mining The meetings will include discussions with Minister of Economy and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard The agenda includes expanding joint cooperation in the industrial and mining sectors attracting high-quality investments to the Kingdom and building effective partnerships to leverage the promising opportunities offered by Saudi Arabia’s specialized industrial clusters The Kingdom's incentives and capabilities available to investors will also be highlighted Alkhorayef's visit will feature tours of Airbus's aircraft manufacturing plants in Marseille and Toulouse providing insights into their industrial facilities and production lines The visit is also expected to include the signing of memoranda of understanding with French companies to encourage joint investments and promote knowledge transfer in promising industrial sectors Saudi Arabia and France maintain strong economic relations with Saudi non-oil exports to France exceeding SAR1.91 billion in 2024 primarily consisting of machinery and electrical appliances French non-oil imports reached SAR18.2 billion in the same year and pharmaceutical products among the most significant import sectors Alkhorayef's visit to France aligns with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 which emphasizes developing international partnerships to boost the competitiveness of the Saudi industrial sector and transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power This includes localizing advanced strategic industries such as aviation and food and facilitating the transfer of knowledge dismissed talk of family feuds within the ruling family as mere “drama.” He emphasized that while there are differences in opinions among royal family members it doesn’t escalate to full-blown conflict Speaking to editors-in-chief of local newspapers alongside Minister of Information and Culture Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi the premier said: “Calling it a family conflict is just exaggerated drama.” But using the word ‘conflict’ is too strong,” he added but they haven’t derailed Kuwait’s progress,” explained Sheikh Mohammed “It’s essential to handle any disputes wisely and this isn't limited to just within the family,” he reminded Political observers often attribute Kuwait’s political stalemates to internal family disputes within the monarchy Recent years have seen deep divisions among prominent members with disputes reaching a peak in 2015 when accusations of conspiracy and corruption were made against high-ranking officials revelations of corruption within the “Army Fund” led to accusations and convictions of several family members and officials So why are our disagreements labeled as conflicts while others’ are seen as mere disputes?” wondered Sheikh Mohammed He concluded by expressing Kuwait’s exhaustion with ongoing deadlocks and negative assumptions urging for a more constructive approach in resolving differences the prime minister stressed the importance of building prosperity on solid foundations particularly emphasizing the need for a strong middle class to ensure social stability He also highlighted that depending solely on diminishing natural resources makes sustainable prosperity impossible The Criminal Court found Shaikh Faisal Al Abdullah Al Sabah guilty of the murder of his nephew Shaikh Basil Salem Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah and ordered his execution Manama: A Kuwaiti prince was on Thursday sentenced to death for the murder of another prince Shaikh Faisal who works as a captain in the Kuwaiti army had gone in June 2010 to visit Shaikh Basil at the Maseelah palace owned by the late Emir The two princes were sitting together with other people when the alleged killer told his nephew that he wanted to speak with him in private they found Shaikh Basil wounded and promptly took him to Mubarak Al Kabeer Hospital where he was declared dead Medical staff said that the prince had been shot several times at close range The police arrested the alleged killer and started an investigation into the case and the eldest son of Shaikh Salem Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah and Shaikha Badriya Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah His father was Kuwait's ambassador to the United States He then held the portfolios of social affairs and labour defence and foreign affairs until 2001 when he gave up political work on health grounds The Kuwaiti authorities had ruled out any political motives behind the murder as Shaikh Basil did not hold an official position with the government Late Emir is remembered as architect of constitution Photos: Careless campers leave garbage in the desert In photos: Arab leaders pay last respects in Kuwait Kuwait witnesses two consecutive days of rain the first Emir and the 11th ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah passed away at the age of 70 The late Emir was hailed as the ‘father of democracy’ as he ushered in policies that shaped Kuwait’s modern political and social fabric It’s been 55 years since Sheikh Abdullah’s passing but his legacy still remains as he negotiated Kuwait’s independence from the British and is regarded as the architect of Kuwait’s constitution Abdullah Al Salem gained an important position in the family and was able to participate in local affairs at an early age When the first legislative council (known in Arabic as Majlis Al Tashrey) was formed in 1938 Abdullah Al Salem was appointed as its head Although the council only lasted six months they set the basic laws for the formation of a government system a second legislative council was formed with 20 members 12 of whom were from the previous council and they reinstated Abdullah Al Salem as the president Due to his active participation in Kuwait’s administrative affairs Abdullah Al Salem had the upper hand and increased his chances of becoming Kuwait’s next ruler Abdullah Al Salem assumed the position as Kuwait’s ruler in 1950 “While it was a smooth transition of power Abdullah Al Salem was not automatically instated as the ruler as the British failed to recognise him unless he let go of some of his advisers,” Abdulaziz Al Saif while Kuwait was still under the British mandate Abdullah Al Salem had a huge positive impact on Kuwait as he steered it towards becoming a modern state and initiated Kuwait as the first welfare state in the Middle East Everything from health care and education to housing and employment were enhanced under his reign which were provided not only to Kuwaitis but to expats as well This was possible as Abdullah Al Salem took power shortly after Kuwait started exporting its oil thus he was able to take advantage of the oil boom and use state revenue to fund social programmes He also advanced Kuwait’s cultural scene as the first cinema in Kuwait was opened in 1954 the famous Al Arabi magazine was founded to emphasise Arabic literature and Kuwait hosted the first Arab writer conference Abdullah Al Salem strengthened ties with other Arab countries Whilst still trying to maintain ties with the British he also maintained alliances with Arab nationalists he decided to boycott the import of Israeli goods in an effort to show solidarity with the Palestinian people Although Kuwait was their protectorate since 1899 the British faced resistance during the rule of Abdullah Al Salem as the ruling family and government tried to hinder the UK’s ambitions of controlling Kuwait’s internal affairs the Kuwaiti people wanted an end to the British protectorate By then Abdullah Al Salem understood that it was important that Kuwait gained its full independence and complete sovereignty 1961 Abdullah Al Salem signed an independence treaty with Britain Britain’s Chief Political Resident in the Gulf Kuwait’s National Day was changed to February 25 in 1963 to coincide with the date that Abdullah Al Salem became ruler of Kuwait back in 1950 Kuwait entered a new era and began putting in place new systems that would determine how the country is run and governed The main and most important document that was created after independence was the Kuwaiti constitution The current Kuwaiti constitution is in fact the second constitution as the first one was created solely by Abdullah Al Salem in 1961 and was a temporary constitution that stipulated it be dissolved once a new constitution was put into place In an effort to create a democratic constitution Abdullah Al Salem set up the constituent council (in Arabic known as Majlis Al Tasesy) in 1961 The council was made up of 20 elected members and a number of ministers that were tasked with reviewing and approving the constitution Although they didn’t draft the constitution they were the ones who reviewed it before it was made final It is important to note that Abdullah Al Salem barred the ministers that were on the council from voting The constitution was drafted by a committee of five members that was elected by the constituent council and was headed by Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al Sabah (who went on to be Kuwait’s fourth Emir) Two Egyptians worked as consultants to the committee as Kuwait did not have people who specialised in constitutional law and because Egypt’s constitution is similar to Kuwait’s Once the committee was done with the draft and the council voted on it 1962 the constituent council presented the final constitution to Abdullah Al Salem There are three types of ways a constitution can be established a grant constitution (known as Menha in Arabic) is when the ruler grants the people a constitution (known in Arabic as Aqed) is when the constitution is written between both the people and the government which is when elected citizens propose the drafting or adopting of a constitution Al Saif explained that the Kuwaiti constitution can be interpreted as all three since the 1961 constitution (which served as a foundation for the final constitution) was drafted solely by Abdullah Al Salem it can also be seen as a Constituent Assembly constitution since the 20 members who voted on the drafted constitution were elected members from the Kuwaiti public “The third and most likely option is that the Kuwaiti constitution is a contract because those who discussed it were the elected members who represent the people But Saad Al Abdullah was the representative of the government and the family and he was constantly discussing and changing it And in my opinion Saad Al Abdullah had a negative role during the process,” Al Saif said Although Abdullah Al Salem was the architect of the constitution there were several reasons why he established it there were demands being made from the Kuwaiti people in 1959 during an event at one of the sports clubs The last reason was [then Iraqi leader] Abdul Karim Qasem’s claims to take over Kuwait,” explained Al Saif wakes up one morning and decides to give up power.” is made up of 183 articles that states everything from the role of the legislative and executive branches to financial and military affairs in addition to the public’s rights and duties clearly states Kuwait is an independent Arab country [Article 1] and that “the System of Government in Kuwait shall be democratic” [Article 6] Kuwait was established as a constitutional monarchy the parliament and government have the right to put forth a proposal to change any article in the constitution For the amendments to happen two thirds of the parliament and the Emir must approve on the amendments While many have tried to amend various articles in the constitution many refer to the Kuwaiti constitution as rigid as it is very hard to change The constitution set the foundation for Kuwait’s legislative branch The first parliamentary elections were held on January 23 where a total of 205 candidates ran across 10 electoral districts took the constitutional oath in front of the National Assembly adhering to the Article 60 of the constitution the constitution served as the backbone of everything legal “The constitution is important to protect people’s rights organise society and clarify the role of the various branches of government,” Al Saif said The parliament has several duties from passing laws to serving as the voice of the people Although no minister has actually been removed due to a no confidence vote a number resigned prior to the vote fearing that they will be removed Another important democratic aspect of the constitution is that it stipulates that there always has to be a parliament In the event that the parliament is dissolved elections need to take place within two months “I do not think that the constitution is fully respected in Kuwait especially since the parliament was dissolved in 1976 and then again in 1986 and no elections were held So in the 58 years of us having a constitution for 10 of those years we were without a parliament [from 1976-1981 and then 1986-1991] This is a clear violation of the constitution,” Al Saif explained Philippines: Asia's fast-rising manufacturing hotspot Singapore's richest family: Feud rocks Kwek clan Choosing a new pope: 'Room of Tears' Historic hospital was inaugurated in 1966 in the presence of the Emir of Kuwait Dubai: The historic Al Baraha Hospital on Deira Corniche has been renamed Al Kuwait Hospital under the directives from His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai The decision to rename the establishment Al Kuwait Hospital which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health and Prevention has been taken as per ministerial decree No 16 of 2019 said: “The Al Kuwait Hospital reflects the story of the development of an entire society and connects memories of the past with the present towards the exploration of a good health care future which the country’s leadership set as a priority within the National Agenda 2021.” assistant undersecretary for the ministry’s Hospitals Sector said: “The hospital’s attainment of the international accreditation contributes to improving work procedures and its efficiency through doubling the outcomes and reducing the costs thus facilitating patients’ access to the appointments and health services and effectively participating in the therapeutic process.” undersecretary at the Health Ministry added: “The renaming of the hospital has been done to express gratitude towards its impactful role in delivering health and therapeutic services at the founding stage.” The renamed Al Kuwait Hospital was established in 1966 by Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum It was inaugurated in the presence of Shaikh Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah it has been a model hospital providing treatment for patients and thousands of births apart from providing diagnostic testing for visa and health document purposes the 154-bed hospital was granted the globally recognised Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation The hospital has an annual turnaround of 72,922 visitors which includes 45,416 visitors to outpatient clinics and 27,506 visitors to the Accident and Emergency Department Dh900,000 award: Filipino nurse to aid kids with cancer $250k nursing award: UAE-based Filipino among finalists Video: Tears and joy as nurses gifted SUVs in Abu Dhabi Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the Emir of Kuwait He had a net worth of $600 million at the time of his death Sabah was also the Commander of the Military of Kuwait The Sheikh was the head of the Sabah monarchy He suffered from a stroke in 2019 that made him largely debilitated for the last year of his life Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahman al-Jaber al-Sabah Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was born on June 16 1929 in Al Jahra in what was then the Sheikhdom of Kuwait He was the fourth son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his mother was Munira Othman Hamad Al-Ayyar Al-Saeed Sabah attended Al Mubarakya School before completing his primary education under tutors Sabah became the foreign minister of Kuwait making him the longest-serving foreign minister in the world at the time of his departure from office Sabah served as his country's first deputy prime minister and from 1965 to 1967 was the acting minister of finance after leaving his position as foreign minister Sabah was appointed Prime Minister of Kuwait by his half-brother Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah He replaced Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah in the role making Crown Prince Sheikh Saad the next Emir of Kuwait and was unable to speak at any substantial length In the wake of a power struggle within the ruling family Saad agreed to abdicate his position due to his illness 2006 with the approval of the National Assembly he dissolved the National Assembly after the cabinet resigned amid a government power struggle he served as a regional and international mediator making Kuwait a go-between for various antagonistic countries and groups Sabah established Kuwait as the key mediator in the Qatar diplomatic crisis Sabah was notorious for jailing his critics Ayad Al-Hirbi was sentenced to two years in prison for tweeting: "We call on the Kuwaiti government to abide by international agreements it has signed respecting human rights Kuwait must work toward broadening freedoms Sabah and a Kuwaiti court sentenced three former MPs to prison with hard labor for allegedly insulting Sabah more than 300 people were detained in Kuwait on charges of criticizing the Emir opposition leader and former MP Musallam Al-Barrak was sent to prison and the following year 16 people were jailed for re-circulating a speech by Al-Barrak Sabah was married to Sheikha Fatuwah Salman Al-Sabah Following a long stay in the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester His half-brother Sheikh Nawaf was subsequently announced as the new Emir of Kuwait Sabah was buried at Sulaibikhat Cemetery alongside his family © 2025 Celebrity Net Worth / All Rights Reserved