Mishal was born on 27 September 1940 to
Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during his father's reign (1921–1950) as the tenth ruler of the
Sheikhdom of Kuwait. Mishal was Ahmad's seventh son, and is the paternal younger
half-brother of three
emirs of Kuwait:
Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1977–2006),
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (2006–2020) and
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (2020–2023). Mishal attended the Al Mubarakiya School in Kuwait for primary education, In this role, he oversaw the intelligence organization's development into the Kuwait State Security service, and Mishal served as its first director. At the KNG, Mishal led a reform of the agency and crackdown on corruption. During Mishal's tenure, the KNG joined the
International Association of Gendarmeries and Police Forces with Military Status (FIEP) in 2019. Mishal stepped down from his position at the KNG in 2020 upon nomination as Crown Prince. Shortly after his half-brother Sabah became emir in 2006, Mishal was considered one of the top three decision-makers in the
Al-Sabah ruling family. During his tenure, Mishal had reportedly turned down more senior roles in order to avoid political disputes and maintain his relationships in the family. Upon assuming the role of crown prince at the age of 80, Mishal became the world's oldest crown prince. For example, on 2 September 2021, Mishal spoke with US Vice President
Kamala Harris about US–Kuwait bilateral relations and Kuwait's role in the evacuation of Afghanistan. In response to
political gridlock in Kuwait, Crown Prince Mishal, not Nawaf, announced the dissolution of the
Kuwait National Assembly on 17 April 2023, citing in a television address a law that empowered the emir to do so. Mishal has also represented Kuwait at important events abroad, including the
state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at
Westminster Abbey,
London in 2022 and the
wedding of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan in 2023.
Ruler of Kuwait Mishal became the
emir of Kuwait following the death of the previous emir, his half-brother
Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on 16 December 2023, following hospitalisation in November for a medical emergency. On 15 February 2024, Mishal dissolved the
National Assembly amidst escalating tensions between the nascent government and parliamentarians, resulting in a nationwide deadlock exacerbated by the use of offensive and inappropriate language. Three months later, on 10 May, he disbanded the parliament for the second time and suspended selected constitutional articles for a duration not exceeding four years, following weeks of political strain subsequent to the
snap election in April. He consolidated his power by appointing the crown prince, his nephew
Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, without the constitutionally required parliamentary vetting in June 2024. Under Mishal's leadership, Kuwait became known for a large-scale campaign to
revoke citizenship, with tens of thousands of people stripped of their nationality by a state committee. The measures included retroactive revocations affecting women who gained citizenship through marriage and others reclassified as
stateless. Human rights groups criticised the process for its lack of transparency and for increasing the risk of statelessness and loss of basic rights, prompting domestic and international concern. During his rule,
Iran began striking Kuwait during the 2026 Iran War, Mishal repeatedly condemned the attacks and addressed it in the Kuwaiti State Television. ==Personal life==