View source for Emir of Kuwait

{{Short description|Head of state of Kuwait}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox monarchy
| royal_title        = Emir
| realm              = Kuwait
| coatofarms         = Emblem of the State of Kuwait.svg
| native_name        = {{Nobold|{{lang|ar|أمير الكويت}}}}
| type               = other2
| coatofarms_article = Emblem of Kuwait
| image              = Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.jpg
| incumbent          = [[Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]
| incumbentsince     = 16 December 2023
| his/her            = His
| first_monarch      = Sheikh [[Sabah I bin Jaber]]
| date               = {{start year and age|1752}}
| residence          = [[Bayan Palace]]
| heir_apparent      = 
}}
[[File:Standard of the Emir of Kuwait.svg|thumb|Standard of the Emir]]
The '''Emir of the State of Kuwait''' ({{langx|ar| أمير دولة الكويت}}) is the [[monarch]] and [[head of state]] of [[Kuwait]], and is the country's most powerful office. The emirs of Kuwait are members of the [[House of Sabah|Al Sabah]] dynasty.

Sheikh [[Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] became the emir of Kuwait on 16 December 2023, following the death of [[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]].

==Rules and traditions of succession==
Succession to the throne of Kuwait was limited to the descendants of [[Mubarak Al-Sabah]]. The position of emir was also traditionally alternated between the two main branches of the [[House of Sabah|Al Sabah]] family, the Al-Ahmed and Al-Salem branches. The reigning emir must appoint an [[heir apparent]] within one year of his accession to the throne; the nominee for consideration as [[Crown Prince of Kuwait|crown prince]] has to be a senior member of the Al Sabah family. The [[Prime Minister of Kuwait|prime minister]] is appointed by the emir.

===Compensation===
Annual compensation for the emir was defined. The annual compensation was set to 50 million [[Kuwaiti dinar|KWD]] as of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/84521/1/show-us-the-money_V1.pdf|title=Show us the money – Oil Revenues, Undisclosed Allocations and Accountability in Budgets of the GCC States|access-date=2019-12-19|archive-date=2023-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629074545/http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/84521/1/show-us-the-money_V1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==List of rulers==

===Emirs of [[Bani Khalid Emirate|Bani Khalid]] (1669–1796)===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Reign start
! Reign end
! Notes
|-
| {{Ill|Barrak ibn Ghurayr|ar|براك بن غرير آل حميد}}
| 1669
| 1682
|
|-
| {{Ill|Muhammad bin Ghurair|ar|محمد بن غرير آل حميد}}
| 1682
| 1691
|
|-
| {{Ill|Sa'dun bin Muhammad|ar|سعدون بن محمد آل حميد}}
| 1691
| 1722
|
|-
| {{Ill|Ali bin Muhammad|ar|علي بن محمد آل حميد}}
| 1722
| 1736
|
|-
| {{Ill|Sulayman bin Muhammad Al Khalidi|ar|سليمان بن محمد آل حميد}}
| 1736
| 1752
|
|-
| {{Ill|Urayar bin Dajeen bin Saadoun|ar|عريعر بن دجين آل حميد}}
| 1752
| 1774
|
|-
| {{Ill|Bateen Bin Urayer|ar|بطين بن عريعر آل حميد}}
| 1774
| 1775
|
|-
| {{Ill|Dajeen bin Urayer|ar|دجين بن عريعر آل حميد}}
| 1775
| 1775
|
|-
| {{Ill|Sa'dun bin Urayar|ar|سعدون بن عريعر آل حميد}}
| 1775
| 1786
|
|-
| {{Ill|Duwaihis Bin Urayar|ar|دويحس بن عريعر آل حميد}}
| 1786
| 1793
|
|-
| {{Ill|Zaid bin Urayar|ar|زيد بن عريعر آل حميد}}
| 1793
| 1794
|
|-
| {{Ill|Barak bin Abdul Mohsen|ar|براك بن عبد المحسن السرداح}}
| 1793
| 1796
|
|}

==Emirs of Kuwait (since 1752)==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Sabah I bin Jaber]]'''
| nickname1   = Sabah I
| native1     = {{lang|ar|صباح بن جابر}}
| life1       = {{circa}} 1700–1762<br/>(aged 61–62)
| reignstart1 = 1752
| reignend1   = 1762
| notes1      = According to the official Kuwaiti sources, Sabah I was unanimously chosen for the position of [[sheikh]].<ref name="Persian Gulf 1905">Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, Oman, and Central Arabia, Geographical, Volume 1, Historical Part 1, John Gordon Lorimer,1905, p1000</ref>
| family1     = [[House of Al Sabah|Al Sabah]]
| image1      = 
| alt1        = Sabah I bin Jaber of Kuwait
| name2       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Abdullah I Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname2   = Abdullah I
| native2     = {{lang|ar|عبدالله الأول الصباح}}
| life2       = 1740–1814<br/>(aged 73–74)
| reignstart2 = 1762
| reignend2   = 3 May 1814
| notes2      = Youngest son of Sabah I bin Jaber
| family2     = Al Sabah
| image2      = 
| alt2        = Abdullah I Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name3       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Jaber I Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname3   = Jaber I
| native3     = {{lang|ar|جابر الصباح}}
| life3       = 1775–1859<br/>(aged 83–84)
| reignstart3 = 3 May 1814
| reignend3   = 1859
| notes3      = Eldest son of Abdullah I Al-Sabah
| family3     = Al Sabah
| image3      = 
| alt3        = Jaber I Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name4       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Sabah II Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname4   = Sabah II
| native4     = {{lang|ar|صباح الثاني الصباح}}
| life4       = 1784–1866<br/>(aged 81–82)
| reignstart4 = 1859
| reignend4   = November 1866
| notes4      = Eldest son of Jaber I Al-Sabah
| family4     = Al Sabah
| image4      = 
| alt4        = Sabah II Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name5       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Abdullah II Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname5   = Abdullah II
| native5     = {{lang|ar|عبدالله الثاني الصباح}}
| life5       = 1814–1892<br/>(aged 77–78)
| reignstart5 = November 1866
| reignend5   = 1892
| notes5      = Eldest son of Sabah II Al-Sabah
| family5     = Al Sabah
| image5      = 
| alt5        = Abdullah II Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name6       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname6   = Muhammad I
| native6     = {{lang|ar|محمد الصباح}}
| life6       = 1838–1896<br/>(aged 57–58)
| reignstart6 = May 1892
| reignend6   = 1896
| notes6      = Second son of Sabah II Al-Sabah
| family6     = Al Sabah
| image6      = الشيخ-محمد-بن-صباح-الصباح.jpg
| alt6        = Muhammad Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name7       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Mubarak Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname7   = Mubarak I the Great
| native7     = {{lang|ar|مبارك الصباح}}
| life7       = 1837 – 28 November 1915<br/>(aged 77–78)
| reignstart7 = 18 May 1896
| reignend7   = 28 November 1915
| notes7      = Son of Sabah II Al-Sabah
| family7     = Al Sabah
| image7      = Mubarak bin Sabah as-Sabah.jpg
| alt7        = Mubarak Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name8       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Jaber II Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname8   = Jaber II
| native8     = {{lang|ar|جابر الثاني الصباح}}
| life8       = 1860 – 5 February 1917<br/>(aged 56–57)
| reignstart8 = 28 November 1915
| reignend8   = 5 February 1917
| notes8      = Eldest son of Mubarak Al-Sabah
| family8     = Al Sabah
| image8      = الشيخ جابر المبارك الصباح حاكم الكويت.jpg
| alt8        = Jaber II Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name9       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname9   = Salim I
| native9     = {{lang|ar|سالم المبارك الصباح}}
| life9       = 1864 – 23 February 1921<br/>(aged 56–57)
| reignstart9 = 5 February 1917
| reignend9   = 23 February 1921
| notes9      = Second son of Mubarak Al-Sabah
| family9     = Al Sabah
| image9      = Salim bin Mubarak as-Sabah.jpg
| alt9        = Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name10       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname10   = Ahmad I
| native10     = {{lang|ar|احمد الجابر الصباح}}
| life10       = 1885 – 29 January 1950<br/>(aged 64–65)
| reignstart10 = 29 March 1921
| reignend10   = 29 January 1950
| notes10      = Son of Jaber II Al-Sabah
| family10     = Al Sabah
| image10      = أحمد الجابر الصباح.jpg
| alt10        = Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name11       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname11   = Abdullah III
| native11     = {{lang|ar|عبدالله السالم الصباح}}
| life11       = 1895 – 24 November 1965<br/>(aged 69–70)
| reignstart11 = 29 January 1950
| reignend11   = 24 November 1965
| notes11      = Eldest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah
| family11     = Al Sabah
| image11      = Shaikh Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah.jpg
| alt11        = Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name12       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname12   = Sabah III
| native12     = {{lang|ar|صباح السالم الصباح}}
| life12       = {{Birth date|1913|04|12|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1977|12|31|1913|04|12|df=y}}
| reignstart12 = 24 November 1965
| reignend12   = 31 December 1977
| notes12      = Youngest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah
| family12     = Al Sabah
| image12      = 
| alt12        = Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name13       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah]]'''<br/>{{efn|In exile in [[Taif]], [[Saudi Arabia]] between 2 August 1990 and 15 March 1991, due to the [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraqi]] [[Invasion of Kuwait|invasion]] and [[Military occupation|occupation]], and the subsequent [[Gulf War]].}}
| nickname13   = Jaber III
| native13     = {{lang|ar|جابر الأحمد الصباح}}
| life13       = {{Birth date|1926|06|29|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2006|01|15|1926|06|29|df=y}}
| reignstart13 = 31 December 1977
| reignend13   = 15 January 2006
| notes13      = Third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
| family13     = Al Sabah
| image13      = حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ جابر الأحمد الصباح أمير دولة الكويت.jpg
| alt13        = Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name14       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname14   = Saad I
| native14     = {{lang|ar|سعد السالم الصباح}}
| life14       = 13 May 1930 – 13 May 2008<br/>(aged 78)
| reignstart14 = 15 January 2006
| reignend14   = 24 January 2006<br/>{{efn|Deposed by the National Assembly and abdicated simultaneously due to illness.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20060405230511/http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/24/kuwait/ PM set to become new Kuwait emir]"; ''CNN'', 24 January 2006.</ref>}}
| notes14      = Eldest son of Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah
| family14     = Al Sabah
| image14      = Mohammad Mosaddak Ali met with Crown Prince of Kuwait Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah in Kuwait.jpg
| alt14        = Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name15       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname15   = Sabah IV
| native15     = {{lang|ar|صباح الأحمد الجابر الصباح}}
| life15       = {{Birth date|1929|06|16|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2020|09|29|1929|06|16|df=y}}
| reignstart15 = 29 January 2006
| reignend15   = 29 September 2020
| notes15      = Fourth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
| family15     = Al Sabah
| image15      = Russian meeting with Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (cropped).jpg
| alt15        = Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name16       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname16   = Nawaf I
| native16     = {{lang|ar|نواف الأحمد الجابر الصباح}}
| life16       = {{Birth date|1937|06|23|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2023|12|16|1937|06|23|df=y}}
| reignstart16 = 29 September 2020
| reignend16   = 16 December 2023
| notes16      = Sixth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
| family16     = Al Sabah
| image16      = Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (cropped).jpg
| alt16        = Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
| name17       = Sheikh<br/>'''[[Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]'''
| nickname17   = Mishal I 
| native17     = {{lang|ar|مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح}}
| life17       = {{Birth date and age|1940|09|27|df=y}}
| reignstart17 = 16 December 2023
| reignend17   = Incumbent
| notes17      = Seventh son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
| family17     = Al Sabah
| image17      = Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.jpg
| alt17        = Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
}}

== Timeline ==

<div class="center">{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize  = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea   = top:10 bottom:20 right:180 left:10
AlignBars  = late
DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:1752 till:{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+{{#time:m}}/12}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1760
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:2  start:1752

Define $now = {{#expr:{{#time:Y}}+{{#time:m}}/12}}

Colors =
  id:5year   value:rgb(0.8, 0.8, 0.8)
  id:0year   value:rgb(0.6, 0.6, 0.6)
  id:black   value:black

BarData =
  barset:Emirs
  #barset:blankline

PlotData =
 width:1 align:right fontsize:S shift:(-3,-4) anchor:from fontsize:8 color:black

 width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till fontsize:10

 barset:Emirs
 from:1752 till:1762       color:black text:"[[Sabah I bin Jaber]]"
 from:1762 till:1814.34    color:black text:"[[Abdullah I Al-Sabah|Abdullah I]]"
 from:1814.34 till:1859    color:black text:"[[Jaber I]]"
 from:1859 till:1866.88    color:black text:"[[Sabah II]]"
 from:1866.88 till:1892    color:black text:"[[Abdullah II Al-Sabah|Abdullah II]]"
 from:1892.38 till:1896    color:black text:"[[Muhammad bin Sabah Al-Sabah|Muhammad bin Sabah]]"
 from:1896.38 till:1915.91 color:black text:"[[Mubarak Al-Sabah|Mubarak]]"
 from:1915.91 till:1917.1  color:black text:"[[Jaber II]]"
 from:1917.1 till:1921.15  color:black text:"[[Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah|Salim Al-Mubarak]]"
 from:1921.24 till:1950.08 color:black text:"[[Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Ahmad]]"
 from:1950.08 till:1965.9  color:black text:"[[Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah|Abdullah Al-Salim]]"
 from:1965.9 till:1978     color:black text:"[[Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah|Sabah Al-Salim]]"
 from:1978 till:2006.04    color:black text:"[[Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah|Jaber Al-Ahmad]]"
 from:2006.04 till:2006.07 color:black text:"[[Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah|Saad Al-Salim]]"
 from:2006.08 till:2020.75 color:black text:"[[Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber]]"
 from:2020.75 till:2023.96 color:black text:"[[Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber]]"
 from:2023.96 till:$now    color:black text:"[[Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber]]"

LineData=
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 at:2020.00 width:0.1 color:0year
 }}</div>

==See also==
{{Politics of Kuwait}}
* [[Politics of Kuwait]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090216200545/http://da.gov.kw/ Amiri Diwan of Kuwait website]

{{Kuwait Emirs}}
{{Kuwait topics}}
{{Monarchies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emir Of Kuwait}}
[[Category:Emirs|Kuwait]]
[[Category:Lists of monarchs|Kuwait, Emirs]]
[[Category:Rulers of Kuwait|*]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Kuwait|Emirs]]
[[Category:Kuwaiti monarchy]]