This archive report was first published on 18 July 2020.
On July 18, 2020, Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was hospitalised for medical tests, sparking a temporary transfer of power to his half-brother Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
According to reports, Sheikh Sabah has undergone several medical procedures in the past, including the removal of his appendix in 2002 and urinary tract surgery in the United States in 2007.
Sheikh Sabah, who has been the ruler of Kuwait since 2006, has played a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policy, advocating for de-escalation in the Gulf during a period of heightened tensions between the US and Iran in 2019.
Sheikh Nawaf, 83, has held high office for decades, including the defence and interior portfolios, and is widely regarded as an elder statesman in Kuwaiti politics.
