Crown Prince of Kuwait

{{Infobox monarchy

| royal_title = Crown Prince

| realm = Kuwait

| coatofarms = Emblem of the State of Kuwait.svg

| native_name = {{lang|ar| ولي العهد الكويت}}

| type = other2

| coatofarms_article = Emblem of Kuwait

| image = HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.jpg

| incumbent = Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah

| incumbentsince = 2 June 2024

| his/her = His

| first_monarch = Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah

| date = 29 October 1962

| residence = Bayan Palace

}}

The Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait is the heir apparent to the Emir of Kuwait. Under Article 4 of the Constitution of Kuwait, this position can only be held by the descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, and must be designated within a year of the Emir's accession. This designation is given effect by a combination of the Emir's nomination, and its approval by the National Assembly, as signified by a majority vote of its members in a special sitting.{{Cite web|title=Next in Line: Succession and the Kuwaiti Monarchy|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/2020/08/next-in-line-succession-and-the-kuwaiti-monarchy?lang=en|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|language=en}} If this does not happen, the Constitution requires the Emir to nominate three descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah, of whom the National Assembly will pledge allegiance to one as the Crown Prince or heir apparent. To be appointed, the nominee must also have attained the age of majority, be of sound mind, and be the legitimate son of Muslim parents.{{cite web|title=Kuwait Constitution|url=http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511004227/http://www.pm.gov.kw/en/state_Of_Kuwait/kuwaitConstitution.jsp|archive-date=11 May 2012|access-date=13 December 2020|work= The Diwan of The Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait}}{{Cite web|title=The Emirate of Kuwait Challenged by Succession :: Observatoire of Arab-Muslim World and Sahel :: Foundation for Strategic Research :: FRS|url=https://www.frstrategie.org/en/programs/observatoire-du-monde-arabo-musulman-et-du-sahel/emirate-kuwait-challenged-succession-2018|access-date=2020-12-13|website=www.frstrategie.org|language=en}}

There are three successional customs which influence the choice of Crown Prince. First, the pick alternates between descendants of two of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah's sons: Jaber II Al-Sabah and Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (until 2006, when a Salim emir was overthrown, and 2024, when a descendant of Hamad Al-Mubarak was chosen). Second, the Crown Prince is chosen by the Family Council, from among other elder members of the royal family. Third, the matter of succession is a family affair and kept secret. As such, it is not open to public debate.

Crown Princes of Kuwait (1962–present)

{{Succession table monarch

| name1 = Sheikh
Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah

| nickname1 =

| native1 = {{lang|ar|صباح السالم الصباح}}

| life1 = {{Birth date|1913|04|12|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1977|12|31|1913|04|12|df=y}}

| reignstart1 = 29 October 1962

| reignend1 = 24 November 1965

| notes1 = Youngest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah

| family1 = Al Sabah

| image1 = Sabah Al Salem.png

| alt1 = Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait

| name2 = Sheikh
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

| nickname2 =

| native2 = {{lang|ar|جابر الأحمد الصباح}}

| life2 = {{Birth date|1926|06|29|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2006|01|15|1926|06|29|df=y}}

| reignstart2 = 31 May 1966

| reignend2 = 31 December 1977

| notes2 = Third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

| family2 = Al Sabah

| image2 = حضرة صاحب السمو الشيخ جابر الأحمد الصباح أمير دولة الكويت.jpg

| alt2 = Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait

| name3 = Sheikh
Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah
{{efn|In exile in Taif, Saudi Arabia between 2 August 1990 and 15 March 1991, due to the Iraqi invasion and occupation, and the subsequent Gulf War.}}

| nickname3 =

| native3 = {{lang|ar|سعد العبد الله السالم الصباح}}

| life3 = {{Birth date|1930|05|13|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2008|05|13|1930|05|13|df=y}}

| reignstart3 = 18 February 1978

| reignend3 = 15 January 2006

| notes3 = Eldest son of Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah

| family3 = Al Sabah

| image3 = Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah.jpg

| alt3 = Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait

| name4 = Sheikh
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

| nickname4 =

| native4 = {{lang|ar|نواف الأحمد الجابر الصباح}}

| life4 = {{Birth date|1937|06|25|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|2023|12|16|1937|06|25|df=y}}

| reignstart4 = 20 February 2006

| reignend4 = 29 September 2020

| notes4 = Sixth son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

| family4 = Al Sabah

| image4 = Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (cropped).jpg

| alt4 = Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait

| name5 = Sheikh
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

| nickname5 =

| native5 = {{lang|ar|مشعل الأحمد الجابر الصباح}}

| life5 = {{Birth date and age|1940|09|27|df=y}}

| reignstart5 = 8 October 2020

| reignend5 = 16 December 2023

| notes5 = Seventh son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

| family5 = Al Sabah

| image5 = Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.jpg

| alt5 = Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait

| name6 = Sheikh
Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah

| nickname6 =

| native6 = {{lang|ar|صباح الخالد الحمد الصباح}}

| life6 = {{Birth date and age|1953|03|03|df=y}}

| reignstart6 = 2 June 2024

| reignend6 = Incumbent

| notes6 = Half-nephew of Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. First Crown Prince from the Al-Hamad branch of the family

| family6 = Al Sabah

| image6 = HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.jpg

| alt6 = Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah of Kuwait

}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090216200545/http://da.gov.kw/ Amiri Diwan of Kuwait website]

Crown Prince

Kuwait