House of Sabah

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For other uses, see Sabah (disambiguation).

House of Sabah
آلصباح
Emblem of Kuwait.svg
Emblem and Flag of Kuwait
Flag of Kuwait.svg
Parent houseBani Utbah
CountryKuwait
Foundedc. 1752
FounderSabah I
Current headNawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Titles
TraditionsSunni Islam
Politics of Kuwait
Emblem of Kuwait.svg

Arab League Member State of the Arab League

Constitution
Demographics
Ruling family
Government
Foreign relations
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Minister:
Related topics
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The House of Sabah (Arabic: آل صباح Āl Ṣubāḥ) is the ruling family of Kuwait.

History[]

Origin[]

The Al Sabah family originate from the Bani Utbah confederation.[1][2] Prior to settling in Kuwait, the Al Sabah family were expelled from Umm Qasr in southern Iraq by the Ottomans due to their predatory habits of preying on caravans in Basra and trading ships in Shatt al-Arab.[3] According to one oral tradition, the Al Sabah family settled across various regions in southern Iran and Iraq,[1] until they finally settled in what is now Kuwait around the early 1700s.[1] According to another oral tradition, told to the Political Agent by Shaikh Abdulla, the Sabahs fled drought in central Arabia in 1710. They migrated south, but finding conditions still bleaker, returned and now with other families migrated to Zubara, on Qatar's west coast. Conditions there were no better so they migrated again, this time north to Kuwait where, finding water, they settled. On the last leg of the journey that had atabu-ila al-shimal (moved to the north). And that, according to one tradition, was the origin of the name Bani Utub.[4] Soon after founding a settlement in Kuwait, a Sabah became leader, ruling until his death in 1762.

Mubarak the Great[]

The reign of Mubarak the Great (1896-1915) forged the critical alliance between Kuwait and Britain. In the late 19th century, resurgent Ottoman power coupled with rising Al-Saud power drew Kuwait closer to the Ottomans. This began to change as the century closed. When Sheikh Mohammed came to power in 1892, disagreements soon arose between him and his brother Mubarak. Muhammad dealt with this by busying Mubarak with affairs outside the capital. In 1896 he summoned his sons, Jabir and Salim, and some supporters and rode to Kuwait, secretly entering Muhammed's house. There he killed Muhammed and his brother Jarrah. In the morning, Mubarak announced that his brothers had died, and that he ruled in their stead.[5]

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim[]

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah ended the British protectorate status of Kuwait by signing a treaty with the British on 19 June 1961. He introduced the Constitution of Kuwait in 1962, followed by the Parliament in 1963.[6]

Gulf War[]

During the Gulf War, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al- Ahmed Al-Sabah and his government ran the exiled government from a hotel in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia.[7]

From Ta'if, Sheikh Jaber set up his government so that its ministers were in communication with the people still in Kuwait. The government was able to direct an underground armed resistance made up of both military and civilian forces and was able to provide public services to the Kuwaiti people who remained, such as emergency care through the funds that it had saved from oil revenues.[8] In the meantime, Sheikh Jaber and his government lobbied to receive military support action against Iraq before and during the Gulf War. When the war ended on 28 February 1991, Sheikh Jaber remained in Saudi Arabia while declaring three months of martial law.[9]

By imposing martial law, government officials were able to ensure that there were no Iraqis still in Kuwait who may have attempted to once again overthrow the government. They were also tasked with making sure that the country was safe enough for Sheikh Jaber and his government to return, which they eventually did on 15 March 1991.[9]

Controversies and criticism[]

The Al Sabah family are criticized for their corruption and Kuwait's lack of development since 1990. Kuwait is widely considered the least developed country in the GCC and even receives less foreign investments than Yemen. The Al Sabah family are highly unpopular in Kuwait and have failed to manage the country's affairs, they are most known for their mismanagement of Kuwait's economy. Kuwait is the most oil-reliant and least diversified GCC country. It is widely believed that Kuwait will be the poorest GCC country in the post-oil era. In November 2019 former deputy prime minister and minister of interior Sheikh Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah was dismissed from office after minister of defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah filed a complaint with the Kuwaiti Attorney General alleging embezzlement of 240 million Kuwaiti dinars ($794.5 million) which had taken place during Khaled's tenure as minister of defense.[10] In March 2021, the Kuwaiti ministerial court ordered the detention of Khaled Al Jarrah, who was arrested and imprisoned.[11]

On April 13 2021, a Kuwaiti court ordered the detention of former prime minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on corruption charges.[12] He is the first former Kuwaiti prime minister to face pre-trial detention over graft charges.[13] The crimes allegedly took place during Jaber Al-Sabah’s 2001-11 term as defense minister.[12]

Family rivalry entered the public arena and political realm in the post 2006 period.[14] In August 2011, supporters of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah "discovered" documents that incriminated up to one-third of Kuwaiti politicians in a large political corruption scandal.[15] By October 2011, 16 Kuwaiti politicians were alleged to have received payments of $350m in return for their support of government policy.[16]

In December 2013, allies of Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah claimed to possess tapes purportedly showing that former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and former Kuwait National Assembly speaker Jassem Al-Kharafi were discussing plans to topple the Kuwaiti government.[17][16] Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad appeared on local channel Al-Watan TV describing his claims.[18]

In April 2014 the Kuwaiti government imposed a total media blackout to ban any reporting or discussion on the issue.[19] In March 2015, Kuwait's public prosecutor dropped all investigations into the alleged coup plot and Ahmad Al-Fahad read a public apology on Kuwait state television renouncing the coup allegations.[20] Since then, "numerous associates of his have been targeted and detained by the Kuwaiti authorities on various charges,"[16] most notably members of the so-called "Fintas Group" that had allegedly been the original circulators of the 'fake' coup video.[16][21]

In December 2015, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad was convicted of "disrespect to the public prosecutor and attributing a remark to the country’s ruler without a special permission from the emir’s court," issuing a suspended six-month prison sentence and a fine of 1,000 Kuwaiti Dinar. In January 2016, the Kuwaiti appeals court overturned the prior ruling and cleared Ahmad Al-Fahad of all charges.[22]

In November 2018, Ahmad Al-Fahad, along with four other defendants, were charged in Switzerland with forgery related to the fake coup video after claims were brought forward by lawyers representing Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah and Jassem Al-Kharafi.[23] Shortly thereafter, Ahmad Al-Fahad temporarily stepped aside from his role at the International Olympic Committee, pending an ethics committee hearing into the allegations.[24][25] Ahmad Al-Fahad remains temporarily suspended from the International Olympic Committee to date.[26] The maximum jail sentence is five years.[27]

Rulers[]

  • 1st Ruler: Sheikh Sabah I bin Jaber: 1752–1776
  • 2nd Ruler: Sheikh Abdullah I: 1776–1814
  • 3rd Ruler: Sheikh Jaber I: 1814–1859
  • 4th Ruler: Sheikh Sabah II: 1859–1866
  • 5th Ruler: Sheikh Abdallah II: 1866–1892
  • 6th Ruler: Sheikh Muhammad Al-Sabah: 1892–1896
  • 7th Ruler: Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah: 1896–1915
  • 8th Ruler: Sheikh Jaber II: 1915–1917
  • 9th Ruler: Sheikh Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah: 1917–1921
  • 10th Ruler: Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: 1921–1950
  • 11th Ruler 1st Emir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah: 1950–1965
  • 12th Ruler 2nd Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah: 1965–1977
  • 13th Ruler 3rd Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah: 1977–2006
  • 14th Ruler 4th Emir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah: (15–29 January 2006)
  • 15th Ruler 5th Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: (2006–2020)
  • 16th Ruler 6th Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: (2020–present)

Dean of the House[]

Governing branches[]

Chieftain Sheikhs of the House of Sabah have been leading the Military of Kuwait since the early establishment of defense infantry and cavalry forces.[30][31][32] Since the forming of the first cabinet on 17 January 1962, all three of the defense ministry, interior ministry and ministry of foreign affairs of Kuwait have been led by members of the House of Sabah.[33]

Lineage[]

Sabah I,
1st Ruler Sheikh (1716–1762)
Abdullah I,
2nd Ruler Sheikh (1762–1814)
Jaber I,
3rd Ruler Sheikh (1814–1859)
Sabah II,
4th Ruler Sheikh (1859–1866)
Abdullah II,
5th Ruler Sheikh (1866–1892)		Mohammed,
6th Ruler Sheikh (1892–1896)		Mubarak,
Mubarak The Great
7th Ruler Sheikh (1896–1915)
Jaber II,
8th Ruler Sheikh (1915–1917)		Salem,
9th Ruler Sheikh (1917–1921)
Ahmad,
10th Ruler Sheikh (1921–1950)		Abdullah III,
11th Ruler, 1st Emir (1950–1965)
1st Prime Minister		Sabah III,
12th Ruler, 2nd Emir (1965–1977)
1st Foreign Minister
2nd Prime Minister
Mohammed Ahmad Jaber II,
1st Defense Minister		Jaber III,
13th Ruler, 3rd Emir, (1977–2006)
3rd Prime Minister		Sabah IV,
15th Ruler, 5th Emir, (2006–2020)
2nd Foreign Minister
2nd Interior Minister
5th Prime Minister		Nawaf I,
16th Ruler, 6th Emir, (2020–present)
3rd and 8th Interior Minister
4th Defense Minister
1st National Guard Deputy		Mishal,
Crown Prince, (2020–present)
2nd National Guard Deputy		Saad,
14th Ruler, 4th Emir, 2006
1st Interior Minister
2nd Defense Minister
4th Prime Minister		Salem
4th Interior Minister
3rd and 7th Defense Minister		Mohammad Al-Sabah,
3rd Foreign Minister
Nasser,
6th Prime Minister		Nasser,
13th Defense Minister

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c B. Slot (1991). The Origins of Kuwait. p. 70-71. ISBN 9004094091.
  2. ^ Hamad Ibrahim Abdul Rahman Al Tuwaijri (1996). "Political power and rule in Kuwait" (PhD Thesis). Glasgow University. p. 6. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ "'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [1000] (1155/1782)". qdl.qa. 30 September 2014. p. 1000. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. ^ Crystal, Jill (1990). Oil and politics in the Gulf : rulers and merchants in Kuwait and Qatar. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-36639-9. OCLC 19722357.
  5. ^ Crystal, Jill (1990). Oil and politics in the Gulf : rulers and merchants in Kuwait and Qatar. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-36639-9. OCLC 19722357.
  6. ^ Herb, Michael (2014). The wages of oil : Parliaments and economic development in Kuwait and the UAE. Ithaca. ISBN 978-0-8014-5469-1. OCLC 897815115.
  7. ^ Crystal, Jill (1990). Oil and politics in the Gulf : rulers and merchants in Kuwait and Qatar. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-36639-9. OCLC 19722357.
  8. ^ Schmitt, Eric; Times, Special To the New York (5 January 1991). "CONFRONTATION IN THE GULF;". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  9. ^ a b Ibrahim, Youssef M.; Times, Special To the New York (4 March 1991). "AFTER THE WAR: Kuwait City; Nagging Question Lies Beneath Kuwait's Rejoicing: When Is the Emir Coming Home?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Kuwait Defence Minister Shaikh Nasser takes aim at outgoing premier Jaber". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Kuwait transfers ex-interior minister to prison pending probe". Middle East Monitor. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Former Kuwaiti premier held on corruption charges". www.aa.com.tr.
  13. ^ "Kuwait: Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Sabah detained". gulfnews.com.
  14. ^ "Kuwait: A Changing System Under Stress Sudden Succession Essay Series". The Washington Institute. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Everyone's a loser as Kuwait's 'Black Wednesday' leaves opposition weaker and regime foundering | Gulf States Newsletter". www.gsn-online.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d Diwan, Kristin Smith. "Kuwait's constitutional showdown". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  17. ^ "'Fake' video tape ends Kuwait coup investigation". BBC News. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  18. ^ "فيديو: أحمد الفهد الصباح عبر قناة الوطن: يشرح قصة (الشريط) وكيف تعامل معه: وصلني من مصدر مجهول !". مدونة الزيادي (in Arabic). Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Kuwait orders media blackout on 'coup' video". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Indicted Kuwaiti Sheikh Steps Aside From I.O.C. (Published 2018)". The New York Times. The Associated. 19 November 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Kuwaiti royals jailed after appeal in social media case fails". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Kuwaiti court overturns conviction of ruling family member - media". Reuters (in Portuguese). 26 January 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Powerful Kuwaiti IOC member to be tried in Switzerland for forgery". France 24. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  24. ^ "Indicted Kuwaiti Sheikh Steps Aside From I.O.C. (Published 2018)". The New York Times. 19 November 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Sheikh Ahmad al-Sabah stands down from IOC amid forgery allegations". The Guardian. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad AL-SABAH - Kuwait Olympic Committee (Suspension provisionally lifted by the IOC EB on 16 August 2018), IOC Member since 1992". International Olympic Committee. 11 January 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  27. ^ Dunbar, Graham (22 February 2021). "Trial of Olympic sheikh on forgery charge pushed back". CTVNews.
  28. ^ "KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD - الحرس الوطني الكويتي -". kng.gov.kw.
  29. ^ "Kuwait National Guard - الحرس الوطني الكويتي -". kng.gov.kw. Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Kuwait National Guard - الحرس الوطني الكويتي -". kng.gov.kw. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  31. ^ YouTube. youtube.com.
  32. ^ "Kuwait National Guard - الحرس الوطني الكويتي -". kng.gov.kw. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Nine ministers headed Interior Ministry since Kuwaits independence". KUNA. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2013.

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