ALBAWABA - In a solemn announcement on Saturday, the Kuwaiti Amiri Diwan shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the age of 86. The announcement expressed deep condolences to the Kuwaiti people, as well as to the Arab and Islamic nations and global friends.
Kuwaiti television interrupted regular programming to broadcast Quranic verses before the official statement from the Amiri Diwan, underscoring the significance of the moment.
Emir Sheikh Nawaf, who was admitted to the hospital in November for an urgent health matter, had been undergoing necessary treatment and medical examinations, with subsequent updates confirming his stable condition.
Having assumed the role of Crown Prince in 2006, Sheikh Nawaf succeeded his non-biological brother, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, in 2020, following his passing at the age of 91.
Sheikh Nawaf faced economic challenges as he navigated Kuwait through a financial crisis triggered by the decline in oil prices, leading to international credit rating downgrades in 2020.
The mantle of leadership will now be taken up by his non-biological brother, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, aged 83, as the current Crown Prince.
Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf was the fifth son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the late ruler who governed Kuwait from 1921 until his demise in 1950.
Kuwait, situated in a geopolitically sensitive region near Iran and Iraq, has experienced recurrent political turbulence between members of the ruling family and the parliament, which has faced dissolution on multiple occasions.
Over the past three years, the country has witnessed the formation of seven governments. The ongoing struggle between the executive authority and the parliament has impeded essential reforms crucial for Kuwait's economic diversification, setting it apart from its Gulf Cooperation Council counterparts who have made strides in broadening their economic bases and attracting foreign investments.
