Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (Arabic: الشيخ صباح الأحمد الجابر الصباح‎; 16 June 1929 – 29 September 2020) was the Emir of Kuwait and the Commander of the Kuwait Military Forces.

He was sworn in on 29 January 2006 after confirmation by the National Assembly and served until his death on 29 September 2020. He was the fourth son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Father Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Mother Munira Othman Hamad Al-Ayyar Al-Saeed

Early life and early career

Al-Sabah was born on 16 June 1929. He received primary education at Al Mubarakya School in the 1930s and completed his education under tutors. He is the half-brother of the previous Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who appointed Sabah as Prime Minister in July 2003, replacing the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah. His brother was killed in the deliberate crash of Royal Air Maroc Flight 630.

Before being Emir of Kuwait, Sabah was the foreign minister from 1963 to 1991 and from 1992 to 2003. As foreign minister, Sabah restored Kuwaiti international relations after the Gulf War. He was also first deputy prime minister while serving as foreign minister. He was acting minister of finance from 1965 to 1967.

Death

After months of hospitalization at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Al-Sabah died on 29 September 2020 at the age of 91 due to long term health issues. The Kuwait government declared 40 days of mourning.