After a three-year reign, the Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the then-ruler of Kuwait, passed away on December 16, 2023 at the age of 86. Born before the era when oil transformed Kuwait from a trading centre into a rich oil-producing country, Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, succeeding his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah, who governed the country from 2006 until his death in 2020. The loss of Sheikh Sabah, celebrated for his diplomatic endeavours and peacemaking, resonated across the region. Formerly serving as the minister of interior and minister of defence, Sheikh Nawaf focused on domestic affairs during his tenure, as the country grappled with political disputes involving a debt relief bill and fiscal reform, leading to eight governments formed and three parliaments dissolved. Notably, Sheikh Nawaf garnered attention for issuing several long-awaited amnesties and reducing sentences for political dissidents.
New Leadership
The then-crown prince, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, the half-brother of the late emir, assumed the role of Kuwait’s new leader following Sheikh Nawaf’s passing. He took the oath before the National Assembly on December 20, officially becoming the country’s 17th emir. In his address, he emphasised the need for strengthened governance and increased accountability, as his leadership faces challenges posed by an uncertain global economic environment, persistent political tension and delayed reforms. Kuwait’s prolonged political impasse, marked by decades of cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions of Parliament, has hindered fiscal and economic reform.
Despite improving relations between both powers, political disagreements have delayed the passage of critical laws, including a bill enabling the government to borrow or access its sovereign wealth fund during emergencies. This renders Kuwait susceptible to external shocks. While financial pressures have eased, with Kuwait announcing its first surplus in nine years in March 2023, challenges persist. Issues such as reallocating government grants, implementing value-added tax, privatising government assets, or decisions regarding the $700bn Future Generations Fund all require legislative approval from Parliament.
Sheikh Mishal assumed substantial responsibilities after his appointment as crown prince in October 2020, further intensified in November 2021 when Sheikh Nawaf delegated a significant portion of his constitutional duties to him. Born in 1940, he is the brother of three former Kuwaiti rulers and brings a diverse background. Graduating from Hendon Police College in the UK in 1960, he joined the Ministry of Interior, later heading Kuwait’s national security department and becoming deputy chief of the Kuwait National Guard.
Policy Priorities
With his experience and senior policy roles, Sheikh Mishal is expected to continue guiding Kuwait in a familiar foreign policy direction. For instance, he is likely to continue to prioritise preserving Gulf unity, promoting regional tension reduction and fostering strong ties with key global partners.
Domestically, Sheikh Mishal will likely continue efforts to address tensions between the monarchy and Kuwait’s Parliament, particularly after the last dissolution of the body in February 2024. On the energy front, Sheikh Mishal is likely to continue plans to elevate crude production capacity to 4m barrels per day by 2035 and non-associated gas to 2bn cu feet per day by 2040 while advancing towards progress towards the net-zero 2060 target for the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ fourth-largest oil producer.
One crucial challenge for the new emir lies within the line of succession. Unlike other GCC countries, Kuwait has yet to establish a succession plan beyond the current generation, intensifying the pressure for a generational shift. The reigning emir has one year upon ascension to the throne to designate a successor, making the decision of whether to pass control of the country to a younger Al Sabah a consequential one.
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