Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ascended to the throne as the 17th Emir of the State of Kuwait, following the demise of Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who passed away on December 16th, 2023. Sheikh Meshal has been the Crown Prince since October 7th, 2020.
Early Life and Upbringing
Born in 1940 in Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad is the seventh son of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the 10th Emir of Kuwait, who ruled the country from 1921 to 1950.
Education and Training
Sheikh Meshal received his education at Al-Mubarakiya School before pursuing further studies in the United Kingdom. He graduated from Hendon Police College in 1960.
Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad graduated from the Hendon Police College in 1960 (social media sites)
Career and Responsibilities
Upon returning from the UK, he joined the recently established Ministry of Interior and climbed the ranks to become the Director-General of Public Security with the rank of colonel in 1967. During his tenure, the department transformed into the "State Security Administration." He spent nearly two decades in the Ministry of Interior, serving in various sectors and departments.
In 1977, the late Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah appointed him as the head of the Poets' Diwaniya—Al-Nabati, which aimed to preserve the heritage of the ancestors' Nabati poetry and teach it to current generations while instilling its values and traditions.
By decree number (12/2004) issued on April 13th, 2004, he was named as the Deputy Chief of the National Guard with the rank of minister, contributing to its development and enhancing its role through the issuance of the National Guard's strategic document. The strategy aims to protect the country's sovereignty, legitimacy, constitution, people, and values by participating in maintaining security and stability. He retained his position until his nomination as Crown Prince.
On October 7th, 2020, the late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad nominated his brother Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad as Crown Prince in accordance with the law of succession and the articles of the Kuwaiti Constitution. Article four stipulates that "Kuwait is a hereditary emirate in the descendants of Mubarak Al-Sabah, and the Crown Prince shall be appointed within one year at most from the accession of the Emir."
On October 8th, 2020, Sheikh Meshal took the constitutional oath before the Emir, followed by a special session held by the National Assembly in which the members pledged allegiance to the new Crown Prince.
Duties as Crown Prince
During his time as Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal represented Kuwait in numerous international forums. Among his significant participations was the Middle East Green Initiative Summit in Riyadh in October 2021, and he led the country's delegation to the 42nd session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council held in Riyadh on December 14th, 2021.
He also represented Kuwait at the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development held with the participation of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, the United States, Jordan, Egypt, and Iraq on July 16th, 2022, and the 31st ordinary session of the Arab League Council at the summit level in Algeria on November 2nd, 2022.
On June 22nd, 2022, Sheikh Meshal delivered a speech on behalf of the then Emir, emphasizing the protection of the constitution and dismissing any amendments, revisions, or suspensions to ensure its continuity. Based on his constitutional rights stipulated in article 107 of the constitution, he decided to dissolve the National Assembly constitutionally and called for general elections following legal and constitutional procedures and timelines.
