Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah was born on June 16, 1929, and died on September 29, 2020. The monarch reigned from January 29, 2006, up until his recent demise, serving an exact 14 years and 7 months as Emir. Sheikh Sabah died in Rochester, Minnesota, as he was receiving medical care due to health issues not released to the public, yet it is predicted he was most likely undergoing surgery. 

Before becoming the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah served as the country’s foreign minister from 1963 to 1991 and then again from 1992 to 2003. As the foreign minister, Sabah restored Kuwaiti international relations after the Gulf War which caused the nation’s foreign relations to diminish. Sheikh Sabah was also the acting minister of finance from 1965 to 1967, until finally becoming prime minister and de facto ruler in 2003-2006, due to Emir Sheikh Jaber’s (a previous Kuwaiti Emir) health state, he had a stroke in 2001, and then died six years later because of a declining health state.

“Before being interviewed I was not informed about the late Emir of Kuwait,” said junior Alexys Fenning. “I am definitely willing to learn about Emir Sheikh Sabah to see the good that he did for all of Kuwait.”

Emir Sheikh Sabah was a renowned humanitarian and world leader, having received the United Nations Humanitarian Leadership award on September 9th, 2014. World leaders from Iran, Jordan, The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Russia, Yemen, Turkey, The United States Of America, and even the United Nations have sent their condolences and/or enacted a mourning period in their countries. Jordan’s King Abdullah, for example, issued a forty day mourning period for his country due to Sheikh Sabah’s death. 

Emir Sheikh Sabah has received many awards for his achievements as a global leader, with foreign honors spanning from: Albania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, The United Kingdom, The United States Of America, and even The International Organization for Migration. Also, he was given honorary citizenship, honorary and non-honorary knightships, orders, and the Legion of Merit in the USA, as his leadership skills were recognized in international grounds. 

Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah lived a life of service and dedication to his people and that of the world wherever he went. The Emir restored international relations of Kuwait after the Gulf War and was a renowned humanitarian. Sheikh Sabah will be missed by the peoples of Kuwait and around the world.

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