KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir of Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah passed away on Saturday, the Amiri Diwan announced. “With deep grief and regret, we mourn to the Kuwaiti people, Arab and Muslim nations and friendly people the demise of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who passed away today, Saturday,” it said. “We pray to Almighty Allah to bestow upon the deceased His unlimited mercy and embrace his soul in His vast paradise.”

State television had cut its regular programming and switched to a broadcast of Quranic verses before the announcement. The funeral of the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf will be restricted to family members and relatives, Amiri Diwan Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah announced Saturday, appreciating sentiments of sorrow by citizens and expatriates. He said prayers would be held at Belal bin Rabah Mosque on Sunday at 9:00 am and the funeral would be held later in the morning.

HH the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Al-Sabah Family will personally receive condolences of people at the Diwan of the Al-Sabah Family at Bayan Palace on Monday morning and Tuesday morning and afternoon. The government also announced a three-day public holiday and 40 days of mourning on the sad demise of late Amir Sheikh Nawaf. – KUNA