November 11, 2008. Copyright 2008, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Kuwait's Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah: A wealth of experience in one of the richest small nations
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 11, Graphic News:  His succession in 2006 was held up as an example of how an Arab kingdom could evolve as a constitutional monarchy, and Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has continued the course of reform in one of the richest countries in the world.

He succeeded Sheikh Saad after the latter had served for just nine days following the death of the then emir. Amid rumours that Sheikh Saad was terminally ill, (possibly with Alzheimer's), and therefore unable to take the oath in full, parliament voted him out and heir-apparent Sheikh Sabah was nominated to take over. It marked the first time that a Gulf Arab country had decided the succession via a constitutional process.

Born in 1929, Sheikh Sabah studied in Kuwait City and in 1963 became foreign minister -- a position he would hold for 40 years. He was a smooth diplomat who established firm ties with many in the West. A critical point came in 1990, when he looked for their help in responding to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In 2003 he became prime minister.

Sheikh Sabah's government has introduced important reforms, including appointing the country's first woman minister in the traditionally male dominated political arena. He has cracked down on militants with alleged links to al-Qaeda who oppose Kuwait's pro-Western stance: the sheikh allowed the United States to base its 2003 invasion of Iraq from Kuwait. 

The sheikh has also pioneered one of the strongest press freedom laws in the Arab world, and has won praise for education reforms to promote religious tolerance.

In his personal life Sheikh Sabah has known his share of tragedy -- he is a widower and two of his children have also died: he named his palace Dar Salwa, or Palace of Salwa, after his daughter who died of breast cancer in 2002. In 1999 he had a pacemaker fitted, but he is considered to be in good health.
/ENDS