Kuwait's new emir, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, accepted the cabinet's resignation on Wednesday, state news agency Kuna reported.
The cabinet will continue as a caretaker government until a new one is formed, said the agency.
Sheikh Meshal took the oath of office as Kuwait’s new Emir on Wednesday, after the passing of his predecessor and half brother Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the late emir's son, handed in the cabinet's resignation following the inaugural address of Sheikh Meshal, in which he criticised what he said was “harm to the interest of the people and the country”.
After being sworn in as the country's 17th ruler at a special session at the National Assembly in Kuwait City, Sheikh Meshal referred to public appointments and promotions that “don't meet the simplest standards of justice and fairness”, in his speech.
“After this unprecedentedly clear first speech by the emir of Kuwait that criticised the government, the PM has just tendered the government’s resignation,” said Bader Al Saif, a history professor at Kuwait University.
Sheikh Meshal pledged to temporarily halt promotions and new appointments, following a previous signing of a decree on December 5 ordering a three-month pause in state hiring. This is open to extension.
“We have warned on many occasions that crises, challenges and dangers surround us,” Sheikh Meshal said, stressing “the necessity to reconsider our current reality in all its aspects”.
Sheikh Meshal is faced with the task of pulling the country out of long-standing political paralysis and reforming a bloated public sector that have turned Kuwait into one of the Gulf's most laggard states.
“We emphasised in our previous speeches that there are obligations that must be carried out by the two authorities for the benefit of the nation and the citizens, and we did not see any change or course correction,” he told the National Assembly.
Under Article 60 of Kuwait's constitution, the crown prince automatically becomes emir but assumes power only after taking an oath in parliament.
“Accountability is important in the framework of law on any negligence of people's interests,” Sheikh Meshal said.
“This is one of the strongest first speeches given by an incoming ruler. The 14-minute speech includes a eulogy, a call for national unity, and abidance by constitution and continuity of foreign policy,” Prof Al Saif said.
Sheikh Meshal paid tribute to Sheikh Nawaf but also alluded to disagreements over governance.
Kuwait has faced political uncertainty amid disputes between opposition politicians and senior government officials, including members of the ruling family who served in previous cabinets.
In June, Kuwait formed its fifth government in less than a year under Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Sabah.
A general election last September, held after Sheikh Nawaf dissolved the previous parliament, delivered a mandate for change with 27 newcomers to the 50-member assembly.
But in March, the constitutional court annulled the decree dissolving the previous parliament and reinstated it.
A few weeks later, the ruling Al Sabah family dissolved the parliament again, setting up the most recent vote in June, in which most of the legislators elected in September regained their seats.
Who is Sheikh Meshal?
Sheikh Meshal, 83, has spent much of his career helping to build the Gulf Arab state's security and defence apparatus.
He was head of state security for 13 years after joining the Interior Ministry in the 1960 and deputy chief of the National Guard since 2004.
A graduate of England's Hendon Police College, Sheikh Meshal has been credited with helping to reform National Guard.
After his graduation, he rose through the ranks at the Interior Ministry to become head of the General Investigations Unit with the rank of colonel in 1967 until 1980. The unit was transformed into Kuwait’s State Security during his tenure and he served as its first director.
In January 2004, he was appointed by Sheikh Jaber, Emir at the time, as Deputy Chief of the National Guard with the rank of minister. He held the position until he named as Crown Prince by Sheikh Nawaf in October 2020.
Next crown prince
Sheikh Meshal has become emir at the same age as his predecessor three years ago. He has up to a year to nominate a crown prince, who must be approved by parliament.
Constitutionally, Kuwait's succession procedure is unique among Gulf and Arab states. Article 4 stipulates that a crown prince’s nomination only becomes official if the National Assembly “swears fealty to him by a consenting majority of the members composing the National Assembly sitting in special session”.
Should a nominated crown prince not secure the consent of the majority in the National Assembly, the constitution requires Sheikh Meshal to nominate at least three descendants of Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah, one of whom must be approved as the next heir apparent by a majority vote in parliament.
While Sheikh Meshal’s succession was orderly, Kuwaitis are now waiting to see who he will choose as crown prince.
“The incumbent Emir has a golden opportunity to undertake a long-awaited generational shift already completed across the Gulf states,” said Prof Al Saif.
“This shift has never been as important to the country given the sensitivities – and associated competition – that comes with succession politics.”
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sheikh Zayed's poem
When it is unveiled at Abu Dhabi Art, the Standing Tall exhibition will appear as an interplay of poetry and art. The 100 scarves are 100 fragments surrounding five, figurative, female sculptures, and both sculptures and scarves are hand-embroidered by a group of refugee women artisans, who used the Palestinian cross-stitch embroidery art of tatreez. Fragments of Sheikh Zayed’s poem Your Love is Ruling My Heart, written in Arabic as a love poem to his nation, are embroidered onto both the sculptures and the scarves. Here is the English translation.
Your love is ruling over my heart
Your love is ruling over my heart, even a mountain can’t bear all of it
Woe for my heart of such a love, if it befell it and made it its home
You came on me like a gleaming sun, you are the cure for my soul of its sickness
Be lenient on me, oh tender one, and have mercy on who because of you is in ruins
You are like the Ajeed Al-reem [leader of the gazelle herd] for my country, the source of all of its knowledge
You waddle even when you stand still, with feet white like the blooming of the dates of the palm
Oh, who wishes to deprive me of sleep, the night has ended and I still have not seen you
You are the cure for my sickness and my support, you dried my throat up let me go and damp it
Help me, oh children of mine, for in his love my life will pass me by.
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Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Iftar programme at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding
Established in 1998, the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding was created with a vision to teach residents about the traditions and customs of the UAE. Its motto is ‘open doors, open minds’. All year-round, visitors can sign up for a traditional Emirati breakfast, lunch or dinner meal, as well as a range of walking tours, including ones to sites such as the Jumeirah Mosque or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
Every year during Ramadan, an iftar programme is rolled out. This allows guests to break their fast with the centre’s presenters, visit a nearby mosque and observe their guides while they pray. These events last for about two hours and are open to the public, or can be booked for a private event.
Until the end of Ramadan, the iftar events take place from 7pm until 9pm, from Saturday to Thursday. Advanced booking is required.
For more details, email openminds@cultures.ae or visit www.cultures.ae
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Price: On request
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
