January 15, 2006
Sheikh Jaber was born on 29th June 1928, the third son of the late Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait from 1921 to 1950.
He was educated at Kuwait's Al Mubarakiya School, and afterwards received private tutoring in religion, English, Arabic, and sciences.
Sheikh Jaber's political career began early. In 1949, aged 21, he served as Director of Public Service for the Ahmadi region.
In 1962, Sheikh Jaber was appointed Kuwait's first Minister of Finance and Economy. In 1976, he set up the Fund for Future Generations: a financial safety net for Kuwaitis when the oil eventually runs out. To this day, he has ensured that ten per cent of oil revenues goes into the fund, which has an estimated balance of more than US$60 billion.
Sheikh Jaber was appointed Emir of Kuwait on 31st December 1977 on the death of his uncle, Emir Sabah III.
Sheikh Jaber's rule saw several conflicts, including the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, through which Kuwait supported Iraq. He survived an assassination attempt in 1985 by a Shiite Muslim extremist, which led him to reduce his public appearances. He disliked travelling abroad, but went for medical treatment.
In August 1990 he was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. There, he established a government in exile, returning to Kuwait in March 1991 after an international military campaign expelled the Iraqi forces.
But the exile took its toll, and Sheikh Jaber rarely appeared in public after his return. He suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2001, which limiting his official duties.
Sheikh Jaber's reign is notable for his success in granting women political enfranchisement. He first proposed an amendment to Kuwait's Election Law in 1999, allowing women to elect and be elected. But the bill was rejected by the conservative National Assembly and it was not until 2005 that Kuwaiti women were finally granted political rights.
Sheik Jaber was a close friend of the United States even before the first Gulf war, and his rule saw a further strengthening of ties with the US and the UK. He also cracked down on Islamists opposed to the US military presence in Kuwait, and sentenced Al Qaeda-linked militants to death.
Despite his wealth, Sheik Jaber was considered a quiet listener who avoided ostentation. His palace in Kuwait City's Dasman neighbourhood near the sea was described as a spacious but ordinary house, and bread and yogurt often satisfied him at mealtimes.
Kuwaitis describe him as a 'kind-hearted father' who looked after them and gave them what they needed.
The UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa, described him as 'a prominent leader who had dedicated his lifetime for the service and well-being of his country and Arab and Muslim nations.'
Forty days of national mourning have been declared.
