The Al Sabah Family: Kuwait's Ruling House

In the early 18th century families of the Bani Utub settled on the bay where Kuwait City now stands. Around 1752 they chose Sabah bin Jaber, known as Sabah I, to lead them, and his descendants have led Kuwait ever since. The arrangement grew from consultation between the ruling family and the merchant families, a tradition of dialogue that still marks Kuwaiti public life.

The town thrived on pearling, boatbuilding and long-distance trade, sending wooden dhows to India and East Africa. Read the wider story in Kuwait's history and culture and in our feature on pearling in the Gulf.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir from 2006 to 2020 and for four decades before that the country's foreign minister, was named a Humanitarian Leader by the United Nations in 2014, recognizing Kuwait's generosity in relief and development around the world. His years of patient mediation earned him wide respect across the region.

The family's cultural contribution is best seen in the al-Sabah Collection, one of the great collections of Islamic art in the world, built by Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Sheikha Hussah Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Sheikha Hussah directs Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, which shares the collection through exhibitions, lectures and concerts in Kuwait City and loans to museums abroad.

The Kuwait Towers, opened in 1979, became the emblem of the modern city and remain a favorite evening view; see Kuwait City luxury hotels.