Kuwait's ruling emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, dies at age 86

HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah

Kuwait's ruling emir, the 86-year-old HH Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died, state television reported Saturday.

Kuwait TV broke into programming with Quranic verses just before making the announcement.

The Amiri Diwan announced on Saturday demise in a statement carried by Kuwait news agency (KUNA) "With deep grief and regret, we mourn to the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Muslim nations and friendly people demise of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who passed away today Saturday... We pray to His Almighty Allah so he may bestow upon the deceased his unlimited mercy and embrace his soul in his vast paradise." 

In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to hospital for an unspecified illness. In the time since, the nation had been waiting for news about his health. State-run news previously reported that he traveled to the United States for unspecified medical checks in March 2021.

Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir following the 2020 death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.