Emir of Kuwait

The Emir of the State of Kuwait (Arabic: أمير دولة الكويت) is the monarch and head of state of Kuwait, and is the country's most powerful office. The emirs of Kuwait are members of the Al Sabah dynasty.

Emir of Kuwait
أمير الكويت
Arms of His serene Highness the Emir of Kuwait
Incumbent
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah since 16 December 2023
Details
Style	His serene Highness
First monarch	Sheikh Sabah I bin Jaber
Formation	1718; 307 years ago (1718)
Residence	Bayan Palace

Standard of the Emir

Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah became the emir of Kuwait on 16 December 2023, following the death of Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Rules and traditions of succession

Succession to the throne of Kuwait was limited to the descendants of Mubarak Al-Sabah. The position of emir was also traditionally alternated between the two main branches of the Al Sabah family, the Al-Ahmed and Al-Salem branches. The reigning emir must appoint an heir apparent within one year of his accession to the throne; the nominee for consideration as crown prince has to be a senior member of the Al Sabah family. The prime minister is appointed by the emir.

Compensation

Annual compensation for the emir was defined. The annual compensation was set to 50 million KWD as of 2017.^[1]

List of rulers

Emirs of Bani Khalid (1669–1796)

Name	Reign start	Reign end	Notes
Barrak ibn Ghurayr [ar]	1669	1682
Muhammad bin Ghurair [ar]	1682	1691
Sa'dun bin Muhammad [ar]	1691	1722
Ali bin Muhammad [ar]	1722	1736
Sulayman bin Muhammad Al Khalidi [ar]	1736	1752
Urayar bin Dajeen bin Saadoun [ar]	1752	1774
Bateen Bin Urayer [ar]	1774	1775
Dajeen bin Urayer [ar]	1775	1775
Sa'dun bin Urayar [ar]	1775	1786
Duwaihis Bin Urayar [ar]	1786	1793
Zaid bin Urayar [ar]	1793	1794
Barak bin Abdul Mohsen	1793	1796

Emirs of Kuwait (since 1752)

Name	Lifespan	Reign start	Reign end	Notes	Family	Image
Sheikh Sabah I bin Jaber Sabah I صباح بن جابر	c. 1700–1762 (aged 61–62)	1718	1762	According to the official Kuwaiti sources, Sabah I was unanimously chosen for the position of sheikh.[2]	Al Sabah
Sheikh Abdullah I Al-Sabah Abdullah I عبدالله الأول الصباح	1740–1814 (aged 73–74)	1762	3 May 1814	Youngest son of Sabah I bin Jaber	Al Sabah
Sheikh Jaber I Al-Sabah Jaber I جابر الصباح	1775–1859 (aged 83–84)	3 May 1814	1859	Eldest son of Abdullah I Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Sabah II Al-Sabah Sabah II صباح الثاني الصباح	1784–1866 (aged 81–82)	1859	November 1866	Eldest son of Jaber I Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Abdullah II Al-Sabah Abdullah II عبدالله الثاني الصباح	1814–1892 (aged 77–78)	November 1866	1892	Eldest son of Sabah II Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah Muhammad I محمد الصباح	1838–1896 (aged 57–58)	May 1892	1896	Second son of Sabah II Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah Mubarak I the Great مبارك الصباح	1837 – 28 November 1915 (aged 77-78)	18 May 1896	28 November 1915	Son of Sabah II Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Jaber II Al-Sabah Jaber II جابر الثاني الصباح	1860 – 5 February 1917 (aged 56–57)	28 November 1915	5 February 1917	Eldest son of Mubarak Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah Salim I سالم المبارك الصباح	1864 – 23 February 1921 (aged 56–57)	5 February 1917	23 February 1921	Second son of Mubarak Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Ahmad I احمد الجابر الصباح	1885 – 29 January 1950 (aged 64–65)	29 March 1921	29 January 1950	Son of Jaber II Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Abdullah III عبدالله السالم الصباح	1895 – 24 November 1965 (aged 69 – 70)	29 January 1950	24 November 1965	Eldest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Sabah III صباح السالم الصباح	(1913-04-12)12 April 1913 – 31 December 1977(1977-12-31) (aged 64)	24 November 1965	31 December 1977	Youngest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah [a] Jaber III جابر الأحمد الصباح	(1926-06-29)29 June 1926 – 15 January 2006(2006-01-15) (aged 79)	31 December 1977	15 January 2006	Third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah Saad I سعد السالم الصباح	13 May 1930 – 13 May 2008 (aged 78)	15 January 2006	24 January 2006 [b]	Eldest son of Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Sabah IV صباح الأحمد الجابر الصباح	(1929-06-16)16 June 1929 – 29 September 2020(2020-09-29) (aged 91)	29 January 2006	29 September 2020	Fourth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Nawaf I نواف الأحمد الجابر الصباح	(1937-06-23)23 June 1937 – 16 December 2023(2023-12-16) (aged 86)	29 September 2020	16 December 2023	Sixth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Al Sabah
Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Mishal I مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح	(1940-09-27) 27 September 1940 (age 84)	16 December 2023	Incumbent	Seventh son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Al Sabah

Timeline of emirs

See also

• Politics of Kuwait

Notes

1. In exile in Taif, Saudi Arabia between 2 August 1990 and 15 March 1991, due to the Iraqi invasion and occupation, and the subsequent Gulf War.
2. Deposed by the National Assembly and abdicated simultaneously due to illness.^[3]