Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | |
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Emir of Kuwait | |
Emir of Kuwait | |
Reign | 16 December 2023 – present |
Predecessor | Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
Prime Minister | Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah |
Deputy Chief of National Guard | |
In office | 2004–2020 |
Predecessor | Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Saba |
Successor | Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah |
Born | Kuwait | 27 September 1940
Spouse | Nuria Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah Munira Badah Al-Mutairi |
Issue | 12 (5 sons and 7 daughters) |
Arabic | مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح |
House | Sabah |
Father | Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah |
Mother | Maryam Marit Al-Huwaila |
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (Arabic: مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح; also spelled Meshal, Mishaal or Meshaal; born 27 September 1940) is the Emir of Kuwait since 16 December 2023. Before becoming emir at aged 83, he was the oldest crown prince in the world.[1][2]
Crown Prince Nawaf became emir after the death of his half-brother Sabah on 29 September 2020. According to Kuwaiti law, Nawaf had one year to pick his crown prince. After a record-short eight days, he picked his half-brother Mishal on 7 October.[3]
His pick was controversial as it showed the royal family preferred to pick older options rather than a newer generation such as Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.[4]
On 2 September 2021, Mishal spoke with US Vice President Kamala Harris about US-Kuwait relations and Kuwait's role in the evacuation of Afghanistan.[5]
Mishal has also represented Kuwait at important events abroad, including the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London in 2022[6] and the wedding of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan in 2023.[7]
Mishal became the emir of Kuwait after the death of his half-brother Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on 16 December 2023 at the age of 86.[8][9]
Mishal has two wives: Nuria Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Munira Badah Al-Mutairi. He has 12 children: five sons and seven daughters.