Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf passes away at 86

Dubai: Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, passed away on Saturday. He was 86, Arab News reported, citing Amiri Diwan’s statement.

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will be succeeded by Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The Crown Prince has been declared as the new emir on the day, the state news agency KUNA reported.

The country has announced 40 days of official mourning and the closing of government departments for three days.

Earlier in November, Sheikh was met with a medical emergency and was admitted to a hospital. However, he was declared stable then.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Nawaf’s half-brother, named the latter as crown prince in 2006. The former died in 2020 at the age of 91, and the latter took over as Emir in September 2020.

Sheikh Nawaf had served as Kuwait’s interior and defence minister before. He was born in 1937 and was the fifth son of Kuwait’s late ruler, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, whose reign was from 1921 to 1950.

Sheikh Nawaf started his political career as the governor of Hawalli province when he was 25. He remained as the provincial governor until 1978 and became interior minister.

Among many leaders, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered their condolences to Sheikh Sabah’s family as well as Kuwait.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday expressed deep grief over the death of Kuwait's ruling Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah and described him as an administrator who was keen to maintain a cordial relationship with India and Kerala, PTI reported.