Abdullah II Al-Sabah

Sheikh Abdullah II Sabah II Al-Jabir I Al-Sabah (c. 1814 – 1892) (الشيخ عبد الله الثاني صباح الثاني الجابر الصباح) was a cavalry commander in the Military of Kuwait and was the fifth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 1866 to 1892. The eldest son of the fourth ruler of Kuwait, Sabah II, his reign was marked by efforts to manage natural disasters, maintain stability, and fortify ties with the Ottoman Empire, a key supplier of drinking water for Kuwait. Notably, the first coins minted in Kuwait were during his tenure.

Early life
Under the orders of his father, on 24 April 1841 Abdullah II signed a one-year naval truce with Samuel Hennell, who spoke on behalf of the British, which expired and was never renewed. The truce prohibited Kuwait from undertaking any form of maritime offense as well as giving all mediation efforts in maritime disputes over to the British Empire.

Reign
Assuming power from November 1866 to 1892, Abdullah inherited a Sheikhdom experiencing a century of growth in merchant and naval activity, largely stabilized through British support. As ruler, he shifted alliances towards the Ottoman Empire, distancing from British influence while negotiating with the Al Saud family for power retention. Throughout his reign he rebuffed requests from the British Commissioner, Lewis Pelly, speaking on behalf of the British Empire, to oppose the Ottomans. Known for his modesty and simplicity, Abdullah’s leadership marked a strategic transition in regional allegiances.

A great deal of this approval hinged on his relief work during natural disasters. In 1868 a great famine struck and he worked to bring an end to the rampant starvation. In September 1871 disaster struck again, this time in the maritime industry of Kuwait. Hundreds of Kuwaiti pearling vessels were sunk along with their crews due to extremely high waves. Historians are split on whether this was due to great storms in the Indian Ocean or caused by the eruption of Bushehr.

In 1886–87, under Abdullah II, Kuwait began minting coins in copper due to the lack of Indian rupees circulating in the local economy.

Abdullah sided with the Jabir bin Mardaw, Emir of Khorramshar during the Basra and Muhamarrah conflict with the Al-Nasser tribe under his reign, and helped him consolidate power in the region.

In 1871, in recognition of his significant contributions to the Al-Ahsa expedition, or the Ottoman conquest of Al-Ahsa, Midhat Pasha bestowed him with the honorific title of Kaymakam, signifying a provincial sub-governor.

Physical description
In his later years he was described as tall with a heavy athletic body and a long white beard. He wore a purple bisht made of silk and adorned with gold embroidery over a thawb, with a white silk scarf used as a belt. On both hands rested many diamond rings. At his waist was an ornate janbiya with a hilt made of solid gold, encrusted with pearls and gemstones.