KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait's ruling Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday, according to the Kuwaiti royal court.

"With deep grief and regret, we mourn to the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Muslim nations and friendly people the demise of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah who passed away today Saturday," the Amiri Diwan of Kuwait said in a statement.

Nawaf was born on June 25, 1937 in the House of Sabah, the ruling family of Kuwait. He served as the minister of interior and first deputy prime minister in 2003, became the crown prince in 2006, and succeeded the throne in September 2020, as the sixteenth Emir of Kuwait.

Emir Nawaf had been admitted to a hospital in late November due to an emergency health problem.