Passing of Amir Nawaf of Kuwait

Cancillería Argentina, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah of Kuwait passed away on Saturday December 19th at age 86, after a long illness. He had the 3rd shortest tenure of any past Amir of Kuwait  

Amir Nawaf ruled as Amir (Monarch) of Kuwait from September 29th, 2020 to December 16th, 2023.

Funeral

The funeral will take place tomorrow (Sunday), and has been restricted to family members. Muslim custom is to hold the funeral as soon as possible after death (usually within 24 hours).

Mourning

The new Amir will received condolences Monday & Tuesday (Dec 18th-19th) at Bayan Palace. This will be an opportunity for foreign governments to send a representative to offer their countries condolence. 

The last Amir died in 2020 during the pandemic, when covid-restrictions were high. So, we only say a handful of foreign royals visit to offer their condolences.

The Prince of Wales arrived in Kuwait this evening, following the death of His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, The Amir of Kuwait.

The Prince formally offered his condolences and met with new Amir, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah. pic.twitter.com/MS4oTF4uo4

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) October 4, 2020

Kuwait has announced the closure of government departments for 3 days. And 40 days of official mourning. Other Middle Eastern countries have also announced official mourning.

List of Royals attending Official Mourning of Amir Nawaf

Succession: 

The Amir has been succeeded by his half-brother, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Amir Nawaf appointed his half-borhter as Crown Prince a few days after this reign began. Sheikh Mishal was the world's oldest living heir apparent. 

Like with many Middle Eastern Monarchies, Kuwait’s succession isn’t strictly hereditary passing from father to eldest son (or parent to eldest child) like we see in Europe. Instead a senior male member of the family is nominated as heir apparent/ Crown Prince.

It is also very common in some middle eastern countries for succession to go sideways to a brother, instead of down to a son.  

About: 

• Kuwait  - small Middle Eastern Monarchy next to Iraq & Saudi Arabia
• Amir (or Emir) - Monarch’s title
• Both Amir & Emir are proper spellings of the Monarchs title in English. Emir is used more in the Western countries, while Amir is more common spelling in the Middle East. 
• Emirate - Type of Monarchy
• Sheikh/a - Title given to members of the Royal Family
• Heir - Nominated from senior male member of family
• Length of Reign - Life (usually)
• HH (His/Her Highness) - The style used by all members of the royal family, including the monarch