Dubai leaders wish Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait a speedy recovery

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Maktoum tweet messages of support to Kuwaiti emir

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah attends the opening of the 30th Arab Summit in Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, March 31, 2019. Leaders meeting in Tunisia for the annual Arab League summit on Sunday were united in their condemnation of Trump administration policies seen as unfairly biased toward Israel but divided on a host of other issues, including whether to readmit founding member Syria. (Fethi Belaid/ Pool photo via AP)
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has wished the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad, a speedy recovery after it was revealed he had checked into a US hospital.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai tweeted a video showing Sheikh Sabah speaking at the launch of Kuwait TV in Dubai 50 years ago and spoke of the solidarity the emir showed back then.

"50 years ago today, a man made a historic stand with us by inaugurating the first TV channel in Dubai," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"A man we love and who loves us, the emir of humanitarianism, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad," he said, referring to the Humanitarian Award presented to the Kuwaiti emir by the former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon in 2014.

"Evidence of his achievements, humanitarianism and wisdom will remain for a long, long time. What tires you, tires us Abu Nasser," he said.

Sheikh Mohammed followed his tribute with a prayer for Sheikh Sabah's good health and quick recovery.

Sheikh Sabah, 90, checked into a US hospital on Sunday to undergo a series of medical exams.

The Kuwaiti emir travelled to the US last week to speak with President Donald Trump but was forced to postpone the meeting. He was due to visit the White House on Thursday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, also tweeted his good wishes to Sheikh Sabah.

"May you be dressed in a robe of good heath and wellness," he said, calling on God to watch over the emir.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, shared archive photos of Sheikh Sabah on Twitter saying: "From one channel launched by the emir of humanitarianism 50 years ago to more than 80 channels in Dubai today. With love, co-operation and support, we succeed together as nations and institutions. Thank you to our emir, our father and our wise Sabah Al Ahmad."

He also wished the emir a speedy recovery saying "God bless you and heal you, and return you safely to us soon."

King Salman of Saudi Arabia inquired after the health of Sheikh Sabah in a phone call on Monday.

He was reassured of the Kuwaiti emir's health and prayed for his good health, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Rumours about Sheikh Sabah’s health surfaced last month. The country’s news agency, KUNA, reported he had suffered a medical setback but confirmed his recovery after a public appearance on August 26.

Sheikh Sabah has ruled Kuwait since January 2006 and is known in the Middle East as a mediator of regional disputes. He has pushed for diplomacy to resolve issues such as the ongoing boycott of Qatar by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, and hosted global donor conferences for war-torn nations like Iraq and Syria.

In February, the UAE paid tribute to Kuwait ahead of the country's liberation and national days with a giant sand portrait of the emir.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid revealed the portrait, etched across 15,800 square metres of the emirate’s desert, near Al Qudra Lakes, on Twitter.

"Our love for Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people is engraved into our ground, engraved in our hearts and engraved in our history," Sheikh Mohammed said at the time.

Wishing the Kuwaiti people and its leadership a happy National Day, he called Sheikh Sabah the "prince of humanity in glory and peace".

The artistic tribute, named Prince of Humanity, took more than 2,400 hours to create.