Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

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Lore & Background

Jaber was born on 29 June 1926 in Kuwait City, the third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He received early education at Al-Mubarakiya School, Al-Ahmediya School, and Al-Sharqiya School, and was later tutored privately in English, Arabic, religion, and the sciences. His brother, Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was killed in 1990 in the Gulf War in front of Dasman Palace. In 1962, Jaber was appointed Kuwait's minister of finance when the ministry was established, tasked with putting the new Kuwaiti dinar into circulation and establishing the Kuwaiti Currency Board, of which he was chair. He also adopted and chaired the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development from 1962 to 1964, which provided financial and technical assistance to developing countries using oil revenues. After Iraq claimed sovereignty over Kuwait in 1961, Jaber led a delegation to the Arab League to resolve the issue. During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), Kuwait suffered security threats including bombings; in 1986, an attack on an oil installation nearly shut down the oil industry. During the Gulf War, Iraqi forces aimed to capture or kill Jaber, but he and his government exiled to Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, where they directed an underground resistance and lobbied for military support. He returned to Kuwait on 15 March 1991 after American-led efforts restored his rule. In 2003, Jaber openly allowed the United States to use Kuwait as a base during the invasion of Iraq.

Reader's Guide

Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's significance lies in his leadership during a transformative period for Kuwait, from a traditional society to a modern state, and his role in navigating the country through the existential threat of the Gulf War. As Emir from 1977 to 2006, he oversaw the use of oil revenues to modernize infrastructure and established the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, which aided developing countries. His exile government in Ta'if during the Iraqi invasion coordinated resistance and maintained public services, while his lobbying helped secure international military intervention. After the war, his imposition of martial law drew accusations of overreach, but it facilitated the removal of remaining Iraqi forces. He had 4 wives in 1997 and about 70 children. In September 2001, he suffered a stroke and went to the United Kingdom for treatment. He died on 15 January 2006, aged 79, from the cerebral hemorrhage he had suffered in 2001, and was succeeded by Crown Prince Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah. The government announced a 40-day period of mourning; Bahrain declared forty days, Jordan seven days, and several other nations three days of mourning. He was buried at Sulaibikhat Cemetery alongside his kin.

Did You Know?

• Jaber was the third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and received early education at Al-Mubarakiya, Al-Ahmediya, and Al-Sharqiya schools.
• His brother, Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was killed in 1990 in the Gulf War in front of Dasman Palace.
• In 1962, Jaber was appointed Kuwait's first minister of finance and chaired the Kuwaiti Currency Board, putting the new Kuwaiti dinar into circulation.
• During the Gulf War, Jaber and his government exiled to Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, where they directed an underground resistance and lobbied for military support.
• Jaber had 4 wives in 1997 and about 70 children.