The Kuwaiti constitution restricts eligibility to rule to the male descendants of Mubarak I ,who ruled Kuwait from 1896-1915. Since then, power has alternated between two key branches of the Al-Sabah family - Al-Ahmed and Al-Salem - but this alteration pattern is not inviolable. Key government positions have been divided between Al-Jaber and Al-Salem line sheikhs, but as shown in this GSN listing of some of the most prominent Al-Sabahs, Al-Jaber descendants are more prominent in government and business. The Al-Hamad branch have never provided an Emir, but also have a say.
Al-Jaber Line
Descendants of Jaber II (ruled.1915-17) through his son Ahmed I, (r.1921-50).
Mubarak Abdullah Al-Ahmed: Influential 74-year-old sheikh from the older generation, who shared responsibilities with his father in the Department of Public Security in the 1950s. Head of the Department of Post,Telegraphs and Telephones and then minister of guidance and news in the 1960s. In 2005, National Guard head Sheikh Salem Al-Ali called for a three-man panel of himself, Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah and Sheikh Mubarak to assist the leadership (GSN 770/4).
Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed: Communications Minister (since 1998) and Health. Another prominent Al-Ahmed sheikh and a triplet.The 54-yearold son of Emir Sheikh Jaber's eldest brother, Abdullah, he graduated from Illinois University with a degree in banking and finance. Former chairman of Burgan Bank and ex-planning and administration minister.
Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed: Widely-experienced Emiri Diwan affairs minister since September 1991. Was accused by Sheikh Salem Al-Ali in October 2005 of acting beyond his powers (GSN 767/6). The 64-year-old was once considered a rising star with serious political ambitions; he is a graduate in social and commercial sciences from Geneva University, has held numerous positions including ambassador to the UK, UN, Iran and Afghanistan. Previously undersecretary at the information ministry (late 1970s/early 80s), information minister (1985-88), social affairs minister (1988-90) and minister of state for foreign affairs (1990-91).
Mubarak Jaber Al-Ahmed: Eldest son of the late Emir Sheikh Jaber,was chairman of Kuwaiti-French Bank and previously worked in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Often seen greeting foreign delegations, and accompanied his father on overseas trips. His brother, Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Ahmed is on the board of Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait.
Thamer Jaber Al-Ahmed: Assistant undersecretary at the cabinet.
Ali Jaber Al-Ahmed: son of the late Emir Sheikh Jaber, previously worked in the Interior Ministry, now governor of Jahra.
Mishaal Jaber Al-Ahmed: Another Emir Sheikh Jaber son, he often accompanied his father on overseas trips.
Mishaal Al-Ahmed: Emir Sheikh Jaber's younger brother, a former state security chief, now National Guard deputy head (GSN 770/4). Born in 1938 and trained at the Metropolitan Police College, Hendon.
Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmed: The 58-year-old son of Sheikh Sabah was special advisor to Crown Prince Sheikh Saad and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah. He is a leading businessman - heads United Real Estate Company, a subsidiary of Kuwait Projects Company, which is run by Sheikh Nasser, his two sons Sheikhs Sabah and Abdullah, and brother Sheikh Hamad. Kuwait Projects has major shares in various banks including United Gulf Bank (UGB) and Burgan Bank. He is famed for his extensive art collection and founded the Al-Sabah collection of Islamic Art, managed by his wife Sheikha Hussah, a daughter of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah III. Nasser Sabah is occasionally tipped as a long-term succession candidate but has stayed out of government, apart from a brief stint as minister of state for foreign affairs in the early 90s.
He has supported intellectual groups at the left-progressive end of the spectrum, although there is some uncertainty about his own political positioning (GSN 767/7, 744/17, 705/10). His son, Sheikh Abdullah is on the board of UGB, which Sheikh Nasser founded.
Nawwaf Al-Ahmed: The Interior Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister is brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah and Sheikh Jaber III. Born in 1937, Nawwaf was governor of Hawalli (1962-78) and has held deputy National Guard head and defence minister positions. Despite several years in which he maintained a low profile, he made a comeback when appointed interior minister in 2003 (GSN715/8). He has several sons, some prominent.
Ahmed Fahd Al-Ahmed: The fast-rising and ambitious Energy Minister and chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (GSN 743/1, 715/8). Son of Emir Sheikh Ahmed's second youngest son, Sheikh Fahd - the army veteran who famously died at Dasman Palace in August 1990 during the Iraqi invasion - 45-year-old Sheikh Ahmed Fahd is a popular younger generation sheikh (despite a significant degree of negative whispering in Kuwait), ministerially experienced, with a feel for public and tribal opinion and a key adviser to the prime minister - is widely seen as a potential heir. Good contacts with the Salafyist Movement head,Waleed Tabtabae. Sheikh Ahmed was educated at Kuwait University and served in the Kuwaiti army during the Gulf War. He married Sheikha Sheikha, a daughter, of his uncle Sheikh Mishaal. Keen sportsman.
Al-Salem Line
Descendants of Salim I (ruled 1917-21) through his sons Emir Sheikh Abdullah (r.1950-65), Ali, Fahd and Emir Sheikh Sabah (r.1965-77).
Fahd Al-Saad Al-Abdullah: Consultant at the Emiri Diwan under Emir Sheikh Jaber. The 46-year-old politics graduate is the eldest son of Emir Sheikh Saad.
Hamad Al-Jaber Al-Ali: Director of Emir Sheikh Saad's office when he was crown prince. Thought to be the youngest son of Sheikh Jaber Al-Ali, Emir Sheikh Saad's first cousin.
Salem Al-Ali: Head of the National Guard since 1967/68. A consistent lobbyist for the overhaul of the confused Al-Sabah family arrangements, while always supporting Al-Salem claims. Sheikh Salem, 79, is first cousin of Emir Sheikh Saad, and is usually reported as ranking fourth in the family hierarchy after the Emir, crown prince and prime minister. In the 1950s he worked in the department of public works with his uncle Sheikh Fahd (who adopted Sheikh Salem and his siblings when Sheikh Salem's father died aged thirty).
When Sheikh Fahd died in 1959, Sheikh Salem took over his job as president of the public works department, and was minister for public works (1962-64).
In 1964, he became a member of the Supreme Defence Council. His sons Ali (former minister for communications and finance) and Athbi run Al-Themar real estate company.
Ali Abdullah: Third son of late Emir Sheikh Abdullah. Previously an army officer, now governor of Al-Ahmadi and businessman.
Salem Al-Sabah: The highly-experienced and influential National Committee for POWs and Missing chairman, is eldest son of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah. Born in 1937, he is a senior member of the Salem side but has suffered from poor health for years. Salem was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and read law at London (Gray's Inn). He headed the Foreign Affairs Ministry legal and political department in the 1960s, before being appointed ambassador to the UK, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In 1971 he moved to Washington as ambassador, and was then appointed minister of labour and social affairs (1975-78), defence (1978-87), interior (1988-April 1991) and foreign affairs (1991-92).
Mohammed Al-Sabah: Foreign minister since July 2003, and chairman of Kuwait Investment Authority (GSN 715/9). The multilingual 51-year-old is regarded as an intellectual heavyweight and a contender for the succession as the leading next generation member of the Salem branch (GSN 705/8,704/8). He is the fourth son of the late Emir Sheikh Sabah. Sheikh Mohammed has a BA in economics from Claremont College in California, and an MA and Phd from Harvard University. He was an economics lecturer at Kuwait University from 1979-85, and a researcher at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research from 1987-88. He was ambassador to Washington from 1993 until 2001 when he was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs. In the past, Sheikh Mohammed was noted as having a weak domestic base due to his years spent abroad and in academia, but he is well-liked and is a strong Al-Salem candidate for high office.
Al-Hamad Sheikhs
The so-called third branch of the family, the Al-Hamad are increasingly prominent (GSN 744/17). Al-Hamad was the fifth son of Mubarak I. At times the branch provides senior ministers and governors - including the highly ambitious former interior minister and head of internal security forces Sheikh Mohammed Khaled Al-Hamad, once seen as a succession candidate.
Mubarak Al-Hamad: Ageing Governor of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, father of Sheikh Jaber.
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad: His appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister in February 2001 surprised some observers - although his mother was Jazi, a sister of Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah. Born in 1948, he worked in the Amiri Diwan as assistant director for administration and finance before being appointed governor of Hawalli (1979-85) and Ahmadi (1985-86). Sheikh Jaber has also served as social affairs and labour minister. His son, Sheikh Fahd is sometimes seen with his father greeting foreign dignitaries.
Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad: National Security Chief, brother of the Sheikh Mohammed Khaled Al-Hamad.
Other Prominent
Al-Sabah Sheikhs
These men are not descendants of Mubarak I.
Mubarak Al-Faisal Al-Saud: Undersecretary at the prime minister's diwan; great grandson of Mohammed I (ruled 1892-96;murdered by Mubarak I) born in 1951. Married to a daughter of Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al- Ahmed.
Salem Abdelaziz Al-Saud: Born in 1951, Sheikh Salem has been governor of Central Bank of Kuwait since the mid-80s, and is chairman of CBK's board of directors. Graduated with a BA in Economics from the American University of Beirut (AUB - 1977), he sits on the Kuwait Investment Authority board, Higher Council of Planning and Development (since 1987) and Higher Petroleum Council (since 1993). Sheikh Salem comes from an influential but not dominant branch of the Al-Sabah, and is also great-grandson of Mohammed I.
Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Abdullah: The Kuwaiti ambassador to Washington graduated from AUB with degrees in politics. His mother was Lebanese and he worked in family business in Lebanon in the 1980s before serving in the office of the minister of state for foreign affairs (1986-91).
Between 1991 and 1998 he was third, second and first secretary at Kuwait's United Nations mission. In September 1998 Sheikh Salem was made minister plenipotentiary and then ambassador to Korea, where he served until 2001.
He is the great grandson of Sheikh Abdullah, who ruled Kuwait from 1866-92.
© Gulf States Newsletter 2006
