Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah

Position: Emir

Biography: Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah has been the head of the Al-Sabah family and ruled Kuwait since January 2006. He succeeded Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah, who was voted out of power by parliament on health grounds after only nine days in power.

Sheikh Sabah was proclaimed emir and unanimously elected by Kuwait’s parliament, the National Assembly. Previously, he had served as prime minister since 2003. Sheikh Sabah has served in a number of ministerial positions since 1962, when he was appointed Guidance and Information Minister.

A year later, he was appointed foreign affairs minister, a post he held for nearly 40 years. In February 1978, he was also appointed deputy prime minister. Sheikh Sabah served in both positions until 2003. He also held the post of information minister from 1982 to 1985. Sheikh Sabah was educated at the Mubarakiya School in Kuwait before he joined the royal court.

Contact email: amirsoffice@da.gov.kw