KUWAIT CITY — Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, was admitted to intensive care on Thursday with what the Court of the Crown described as “a sudden pulmonary condition requiring close medical observation.” A palace statement said he was in stable condition and responding to treatment, and that power had been transferred to Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah as acting ruler during the medical absence.
The Emir, 83, has ruled since December 2023 following the death of his predecessor. He had been seen in public as recently as Monday at a National Guard graduation ceremony. His hospital admission sent ripples across Gulf markets, with Kuwaiti equities falling 2.1% in early trading before partially recovering.
Sheikh Meshal has been a central figure in Kuwait’s foreign policy, maintaining the country’s cautious neutrality in the Saudi-Iran rapprochement and keeping Kuwait’s relationship with the US intact while managing domestic political tensions with the elected parliament. He dissolved the National Assembly in May and has been governing by decree.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia both issued statements wishing the Emir a speedy recovery. Egypt’s President el-Sisi called Kuwait’s Crown Prince to convey solidarity. The GCC Secretary General said the bloc was monitoring the situation closely.
Written by Layla Hassan, Middle East Correspondent
Layla Hassan
Layla Hassan covers Middle East politics, conflict, and diplomacy from the Gulf to the Levant.