Who is Kuwait's New Emir?

Former Crown Prince of Kuwait, and its new Emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, was born on June 25, 1937, and he is the sixth son of the tenth Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

He lived and grew up in the ruling house, Dasman Palace, and received his education in the regular schools prevailing at that time. He was named Crown Prince on February 7, 2006. On February 20, parliament unanimously approved his allegiance to the position.

On February 21, 1961, he assumed the position of Governor of "Hawalli", and remained in charge of it until March 19, 1978 when he was appointed as Minister of the Interior. He remained in that position until January 26, 1988 when he was appointed as Minister of Defense.

After the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, he was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, and he remained in charge of this responsibility until October 17, 1992 when he left the ministry.

Two years later, he was appointed Deputy Chief of the National Guard. On July 13, 2003, he was appointed Minister of the Interior, and on October 16 of the same year a royal decree was issued and tapped him as First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad contributed in supporting and building security integration in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab countries. He is also credited with making room for the young experiences of Kuwaitis to replace the elderly, in order to inject new blood into the ministry of Interior.

[caption id="attachment_153617" align="aligncenter" width="282"] Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber (right) with late Emir of Kuwait[/caption]

After the late Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad assumed power on January 29, 2006, on February 7, 2006, he issued an Emiri order recommending Shiekh Nawaf  as the Crown Prince.

In his official statement at that time, he praised Sheikh Nawwaf Al-Ahmad's righteousness, merit and competence, which qualifies him for the mandate of the Covenant.

In a special session of the National Assembly held on February 20, 2006, the Council of Ministers presented the royal order recommending him to the mandate of the Covenant, and upon voting, he obtained the approval to the position unanimously of the members.

He was sworn in before the Emir and before the National Assembly on the same day.