Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (29 June 1926 – 15 January 2006), often called Jaber III, served as the Emir of Kuwait from 31 December 1977 until his death. He was the 13th ruler of the Al-Sabah dynasty, and his time in power saw Kuwait shift from a fairly traditional society into a modernized country. He also steered Kuwait through the Gulf War, with American help, against Ba'athist Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Jaber was the third monarch to govern Kuwait after it gained independence from Britain. Before becoming emir, he held the posts of minister of finance and economy from 1962 to 1965, and later served as prime minister.

Born in Kuwait City on 29 June 1926, Jaber was the third son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He attended Al-Mubarakiya, Al-Ahmediya, and Al-Sharqiya schools, and later received private tutoring in English, Arabic, religion, and the sciences. His brother, Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was killed in 1990 during the Gulf War at Dasman Palace.

In 1962, Jaber became Kuwait's first minister of finance when that ministry was created. In this role, he oversaw the launch of the new Kuwaiti dinar and set up the Kuwaiti Currency Board, which he chaired. He also adopted and chaired the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development from 1962 to 1964, which gives financial and technical help to developing countries. Oil revenues were transforming Kuwait from a mostly rural, seafaring society into a modern state, and during his tenure the Fund expanded to assist five countries and gave loans to eight more, all funded by oil earnings. After Iraq claimed sovereignty over Kuwait in 1961, following Kuwait's independence from Britain, Jaber led a delegation to the Arab League to address the issue. The UK told Iraqi Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim it would use military force to help Kuwait if needed, leading to Operation Vantage. Iraq recognized Kuwait's independence in 1963, though border disputes remained.

During the Iran–Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, Kuwait was caught in the middle geographically and faced many security threats, including a series of bombings. In 1986, a year after an attack on Jaber's motorcade, an oil installation was attacked, nearly shutting down Kuwait's oil industry.

Some reports say the invading Iraqi forces aimed to capture or kill Jaber, but he and his government fled to Saudi Arabia within hours of the invasion, running a government-in-exile from a hotel in Ta'if. From there, Jaber set up a government that kept in touch with people still in Kuwait. It directed an underground armed resistance made up of both military and civilian forces and provided public services, like emergency care, using funds saved from oil revenues. Jaber and his government also lobbied for military support against Iraq before and during the Gulf War. After the war ended on 28 February 1991, Jaber stayed in Saudi Arabia while declaring three months of martial law, which led to accusations that he was trying to grab too much power for the small constitutional monarchy. He returned to Kuwait in March 1991, after American-led efforts restored his rule and removed the Iraqi army. Martial law allowed officials to ensure no Iraqis remained who might try to overthrow the government again, and to make the country safe enough for Jaber's return, which happened on 15 March 1991. He arrived to a symbolic welcome, with dozens of cars full of people honking and waving Kuwaiti flags, and stayed at a wealthy Kuwaiti's private home since his own palace had been destroyed.

In 1996, Jaber was involved in a high-profile case with Sulaiman Al-Adsani and lawyer Hazel Fox. Al-Adsani, a British citizen, had permission to sue the Kuwaiti government over his torture. He alleged that he was held underwater and burned on Jaber's orders after distributing a pornographic tape involving a sheikh. The case was raised in the British government, which noted threats by the Kuwaiti ambassador against Al-Adsani's life. It failed due to diplomatic immunity.

During the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, unlike Saudi Arabia's ruling family, Jaber openly allowed the United States to use Kuwait as a base.

Jaber had four wives as of 1997 and around 70 children. In September 2001, he suffered a stroke and went to the UK for treatment. He died on 15 January 2006 at age 79 from the cerebral hemorrhage he had suffered in 2001, and was succeeded by Crown Prince Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah. The government declared a 40-day mourning period and closed offices for three days. Bahrain declared forty days of mourning; Jordan announced seven days; Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Oman, Syria, Pakistan, Mauritius, and the State of Palestine declared three days; India declared one day. He was buried at Sulaibikhat Cemetery alongside his family.