Kuwait's Late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Laid to Rest in Private Ceremony

Publish date: Sunday، 17 December 2023

In a somber ceremony, Kuwait bid farewell to its late emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who was laid to rest on Sunday in a private funeral attended by select relatives.

The intimate ceremony, draped in the Kuwaiti flag, took place at a mosque in Kuwait and was broadcast on state television. The funeral had limited attendance, restricted to members of the ruling family and the speaker of Kuwait's parliament.

The cause of Sheikh Nawaf's death, which occurred a day before the burial, was not disclosed.

Sheikh Meshal, the incoming emir expected to deliver his oath before parliament on Wednesday, was present at the service. He is set to receive condolences from the public on Monday and Tuesday.

During the burial ceremony, rows of relatives gathered at Sheikh Nawaf's final resting place, offering prayers and reciting verses from the Quran. Kuwait City displayed digital billboards honoring the late ruler as the "emir of wisdom, forgiveness, and peace."

The mourning period, marked by flags lowered to half-mast, will extend for 40 days, coinciding with the closure of government offices until Tuesday, December 19th.

Born in 1937, Sheikh Nawaf assumed the role of emir in September 2020 following the passing of his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah, at the age of 91.

Throughout his tenure, Sheikh Nawaf faced significant challenges, including serving as defense minister during the 1990 Iraq-Kuwait war and as interior minister during the 2005 Islamist militant threat.

[Credits: Photo by: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP]

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Kuwait's Late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Laid to Rest in Private Ceremony

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