Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Biography

Ahmad was the son of Jaber II Al-Sabah, who was the eighth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait between 1915 and 1917. He succeeded his uncle Salem Al-Sabah, the ninth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait, in February 1921.

Ahmad was the lead cavalry commander, founder of the military of Kuwait and the Directorate of Public Security Force. Ahmad tasked his defense cavalry and infantry to Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah in the early 1920s and transferred the command of defense cavalry and infantry to Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah following the 1928 Battle of Al-Regeai.

In 1936, the Palestinian authorities asked for financial aid from Ahmad Al Jaber, but he refused the demand due to treaty relations that did not permit any dealings with countries apart from Britain. Due to this prevailing condition, Kuwaiti royals and other leading figures were barred from financially assisting the Palestinians. Regardless of these orders, many defied them and in July 1936 200 Iraqi dinars were collected to be sent to Palestine. Later that year in October 1936, leading merchant families in Kuwait formed a seven-man committee to aide the Palestinians and called for a public meeting. The intent was to raise awareness for the ongoing revolution in Palestine and to gather funds for support. Al-Sabah was unable to stop this and discreetly left town on a hunting trip.

During his last period of his reign he was the minister of finance from 1940 to 1950.

Personal life

Ahmad was married several times. Notable children include:

• Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1905–1957); head of the Public Security Department.
• Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1909–1975); 1st Defense Minister (1962–1964) to take charge of the Defense portfolio.
• Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1926–2006); 13th Ruler and 3rd Emir of Kuwait (1977–2006).
• Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1929–2020); 15th Ruler and 5th Emir of Kuwait (2006–2020).
• Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1937–2023); 16th Ruler and 6th Emir of Kuwait (2020–2023)
• Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (born 1940), current Emir of Kuwait (2023–present); formerly acting Minister (by protocol designation) and Deputy Commander of Kuwait National Guard.
• Fariha Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1944–2018); philanthropist.
• Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1945–1990); commando officer in the Kuwait Armed Forces, killed battling in defense of Dasman Palace.

Death

Ahmad died in 1950 at Dasman Palace in Kuwait.

Honors and awards

• [[File:ImperialOrderCrownIndiaRibbon.svg|70x70px]] Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India
• [[File:Order_of_the_Indian_Empire_Ribbon.svg|70x70px]] Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire

References

References

1. "Kuwait: Death of emir's brother Mansour Al-Ahmed | Gulf States Newsletter".
2. Anthony B. Toth. (2005). "Tribes and Tribulations: Bedouin Losses in the Saudi and Iraqi Struggles Over Kuwait's Frontiers, 1921–1943". British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.
3. Kuwait National Guard Archives, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131507/http://www.kng.gov.kw/picture.aspx?k=Qemq4qcCgAqgTZtW%2F%2FJM02EwHqhBbei4NwbbIwP7+Zst9QJgdjwUgjJv+00jD2q5FkYtB%2Fmx00ThXrUF7vk4KqC0krXdlRhljXaZEzzUzsP8vhEtEphU5ehjre24h9Zt8REZQBDU1EIxwfSEbVTFtXQ26ztgtgKbAaAHdQAxDo1JI%2Fc77DGFiVTgilVdwxlK5GDfebCLUQ6iqEYs7LPBbzcGgmv63WRGrGphMV1pd9I%3D Early Defense Cavalry & Infantry]; Retrieved 3 March 2015 (Arabic)
4. link. (5 March 2016; Retrieved 4 March 2015 (Arabic Read))
5. [[Kuwait National Guard]] Archives, Sheikh [https://web.archive.org/web/20130323065030/http://kng.gov.kw/picture.aspx?k=Qemq4qcCgAqgTZtW%2F%2FJM02EwHqhBbei4NwbbIwP7+Zst9QJgdjwUgjJv+00jD2q5FkYtB%2Fmx00ThXrUF7vk4Kj+WEe4TFGszDMyAvzWkQOKpcntzE0NmpKVTE8Z5zBOXIO6ukDn98SJT+sLsijKxpJ79EAdjXu1P8dqVvW%2FkPnCDFVr3Rz8H2DuhUhFtPRAdwkWO4k3%2F4cHDs+MRUWhq8HJRCWiDfeO85x88jh8B2Ily9oAojojf7Aej08Nl0VyYLooY6mbwR%2FDFOO4g9YyB5cAG0A6eAC9ehh4a7koKyRJheIDMNae%2FazQ+3t43MwFWLJVgTUUQJWWChzHVg43FUA%3D%3D Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia]; Retrieved 4 March 2015 (Arabic Read)
6. [http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2406082&language=en His Highness the Emir sponsors Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah "U.N.E.S.C.O (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) Award Ceremony"]
7. Rosamarie Said Zahlan. (2009). "Palestine and the Gulf States. The Presence at the Table". Routledge.
8. Rosamarie Said Zahlan. (2009). "Palestine and the Gulf States. The Presence at the Table". Routledge.
9. "وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت".
10. A.de L. Rush (ed.), Ruling Families of Arabia. Kuwait: The Ruling Family of Al-Sabah. Archive Editions, Archive International Group, Melksham, Oxon. 1991.
11. [http://www.kuwait-history.net/vb/showthread.php?t=1214 List of Kuwait Defense Ministers] (in Arabic)
12. (31 January 2006). "Profile: Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah". BBC.
13. (7 October 2020). "Kuwait Emir Sheikh Nawaf nominates Sheikh Mishal as crown prince".
14. "Kuwait National Guard الحرس الوطني الكويتي–-".
15. link. (19 October 2017; His Excellency Sheikh Meshal Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah; Retrieved 3 March 2015 (Arabic Read))
16. (1 July 2013). "When our flag lost its sky … and only hearts remembered". Arab Times.
17. Ismael, Jacqueline S.. (1993). "Kuwait : dependency and class in a rentier state". University Press of Florida.