Kuwait mourns Emir Sheikh Sabah
Sheik Sabah, 91, had ruled the wealthy oil producer and U.S. ally since 2006 and steered its foreign policy for more than 50 years. His designated successor is his brother, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
"With the utmost sadness and grief for the Kuwaiti people, the Islamic and Arab world and people of friendly nations, the Emiri Diwan mourns the death of Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait," his office said.
The emir had been in hospital in the United States since July following surgery for an unspecified condition in Kuwait that same month.
