Addis Ababa, December 16, 2023 (FBC) – A 40-day mourning period has been declared in Kuwait for the deceased Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti government said on Saturday, adding that public institutions will be closed for three days.

Earlier in the day, Kuwaiti Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah said that Emir Nawaf Al-Ahmad, who had been on the throne since September 2020, passed away at the age of 86. His younger brother, the 83-year-old Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will take over as the Gulf monarchy’s new ruler.

“Mourning for 40 days has been declared for Emir Nawaf al-Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah. Public institutions will be closed for three days,” the government said in a statement read on air of the state-run Kuwait Television, as Sputnik reported.

The funeral of the deceased emir will be held on Sunday, with only his relatives attending the ceremony, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported.