# Emir of Kuwait

The Emir of the State of Kuwait (Arabic: 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 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 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 has to be a senior member of the Al Sabah family. The prime minister is appointed by the emir.

### Compensation

Annual compensation for the emir was defined. The annual compensation was set to 50 million KWD as of 2017.

## List of rulers
### Emirs of Bani Khalid (1669–1796)

| Name | Reign start | Reign end |
| Barrak ibn Ghurayr [ar] | 1669 | 1682 |
| Muhammad bin Ghurair [ar] | 1682 | 1691 |
| Sa'dun bin Muhammad [ar] | 1691 | 1722 |
| Ali bin Muhammad [ar] | 1722 | 1736 |
| Sulayman bin Muhammad Al Khalidi [ar] | 1736 | 1752 |
| Urayar bin Dajeen bin Saadoun [ar] | 1752 | 1774 |
| Bateen Bin Urayer [ar] | 1774 | 1775 |
| Dajeen bin Urayer [ar] | 1775 | 1775 |
| Sa'dun bin Urayar [ar] | 1775 | 1786 |
| Duwaihis Bin Urayar [ar] | 1786 | 1793 |
| Zaid bin Urayar [ar] | 1793 | 1794 |
| Barak bin Abdul Mohsen | 1793 | 1796 |

## Emirs of Kuwait (since 1752)

| Name | Lifespan | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | Family |
| Sheikh Sabah I bin JaberSabah Iصباح بن جابر | c. 1700–1762 (aged 61–62) | 1752 | 1762 | According to the official Kuwaiti sources, Sabah I was unanimously chosen for the position of sheikh. | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Abdullah I Al-SabahAbdullah Iعبدالله الأول الصباح | 1740–1814 (aged 73–74) | 1762 | 3 May 1814 | Youngest son of Sabah I bin Jaber | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Jaber I Al-SabahJaber Iجابر الصباح | 1775–1859 (aged 83–84) | 3 May 1814 | 1859 | Eldest son of Abdullah I Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Sabah II Al-SabahSabah IIصباح الثاني الصباح | 1784–1866 (aged 81–82) | 1859 | November 1866 | Eldest son of Jaber I Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Abdullah II Al-SabahAbdullah IIعبدالله الثاني الصباح | 1814–1892 (aged 77–78) | November 1866 | 1892 | Eldest son of Sabah II Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Muhammad bin Sabah Al-SabahMuhammad Iمحمد الصباح | 1838–1896 (aged 57–58) | May 1892 | 1896 | Second son of Sabah II Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Mubarak Al-SabahMubarak I the Greatمبارك الصباح | 1837 – 28 November 1915 (aged 77-78) | 18 May 1896 | 28 November 1915 | Son of Sabah II Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Jaber II Al-SabahJaber IIجابر الثاني الصباح | 1860 – 5 February 1917 (aged 56–57) | 28 November 1915 | 5 February 1917 | Eldest son of Mubarak Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Salim Al-Mubarak Al-SabahSalim Iسالم المبارك الصباح | 1864 – 23 February 1921 (aged 56–57) | 5 February 1917 | 23 February 1921 | Second son of Mubarak Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahAhmad Iاحمد الجابر الصباح | 1885 – 29 January 1950 (aged 64–65) | 29 March 1921 | 29 January 1950 | Son of Jaber II Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-SabahAbdullah IIIعبدالله السالم الصباح | 1895 – 24 November 1965 (aged 69 – 70) | 29 January 1950 | 24 November 1965 | Eldest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-SabahSabah IIIصباح السالم الصباح | (1913-04-12)12 April 1913 – 31 December 1977(1977-12-31) (aged 64) | 24 November 1965 | 31 December 1977 | Youngest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-SabahJaber IIIجابر الأحمد الصباح | (1926-06-29)29 June 1926 – 15 January 2006(2006-01-15) (aged 79) | 31 December 1977 | 15 January 2006 | Third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Saad Al-Salim Al-SabahSaad Iسعد السالم الصباح | 13 May 1930 – 13 May 2008 (aged 78) | 15 January 2006 | 24 January 2006 | Eldest son of Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahSabah IVصباح الأحمد الجابر الصباح | (1929-06-16)16 June 1929 – 29 September 2020(2020-09-29) (aged 91) | 29 January 2006 | 29 September 2020 | Fourth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahNawaf Iنواف الأحمد الجابر الصباح | (1937-06-23)23 June 1937 – 16 December 2023(2023-12-16) (aged 86) | 29 September 2020 | 16 December 2023 | Sixth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |
| Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-SabahMishal Iمشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح | (1940-09-27) 27 September 1940 (age 84) | 16 December 2023 | Incumbent | Seventh son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | Al Sabah |