Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah

Salem Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah
Native name	الشيخ سالم علي السالم المبارك الصباح
Born	1926
Service/branch	Military of Kuwait
Rank	His Highness Commander[1]
Commands held	Kuwait National Guard (1967- present)
Battles/wars	Kuwait-Iraq 1973 Sanita border skirmish October War Iran-Iraq War Invasion of Kuwait Operation Desert Storm Operation Southern Watch Operation Desert Strike Operation Desert Fox War on Terror Iraq War War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) 2015 military intervention in Yemen

Sheikh Salem Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (born 1926) (Arabic: الشيخ سالم علي السالم المبارك الصباح ) is the oldest living member and Chieftain dean of the House of Sabah.^[1]

Early life and education

Salem is the eldest son of Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah (b.1898-d.1928) and was born in Fraij Al-Shuyouk (Arabic: فريج الشيوخ ) in the designated area of Wast (Arabic: الوسط). Such a period in Kuwait's history was challenging in the desert during harsh times.^[1]

Career

1950-1960

Salem debuted his career in the construction and development of the country during the discovery of oil in the 1950s; and through its monetary revenue, Kuwait started to witness and experience an industrial growth on all levels around the country.^[1] Since then, Salem enlisted in the general public work sector; well before the forming of the Government of Kuwait; partaking and leading many development projects roles that were designed to build contemporary Kuwait in addition to setting the corps foundations of lifestyle and way of life in contemporary society today.^[1]

During the early 1950s, Salem worked closely with Sheikh Fahed Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah; Director of Public Works and the Municipality; and assumed the role of deputy director of His Excellency's offices for the both until 1959.^[1] During the same year, Salem headed the construction council and was in charge of planning and development; a very important post during the renaissance period of Kuwait.^[1] During that important time, Salem headed to his turn the Directorate of Public Works which was heavily concentrated on executing the major construction projects that founded today's Kuwait.^[1]

During the early 1960s prior to the independence of Kuwait; Salem was appointed as director of the town council, when the later was enacting its governing laws that would appoint a member of the House of Sabah at its head and organize the development of the country, preservation of public health, preservation of the environment, hygiene, greenery and setting the pace for the development of pillar infrastructures.^[1]

Independence 1961

Following the independence of Kuwait in 1961, Salem was a prime board member in the founding council that was tasked in formilzing and preparing the Constitution of Kuwait and headed the first Ministry of Public Works in the first Government of Kuwait formed following the independence in 1961 and the second governement formed in 1963 respectively.^[1] Salem's ministerial participation and initial contribution led also to the enacting of the first legislative term of the National Assembly of Kuwait.^[1]

Kuwait National Guard Patron (1967-present)

The founding of the Kuwait National Guard was first conceived durting the Six Day War and following Operation Vantage when Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah^[2] was the Crown Prince of Kuwait through the 2nd decree of 1967 on June 6 during the reign of Sheikh Sabah Al-Salim Al-Sabah. A mission for this purpose was led by Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah,^[3] he formed and allocated training and development responsibilities amongst the various task forces within the National Guard and remained at the head of the institution since its enacting in 1967.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

2006 dynastic succession

Following the death of the late Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Salem drew significant attention supporting Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah^[10] the previous crown prince, to succeed Jaber. Saad was not eligible to be the Emir due to challenging health circumstances. Accordingly, the majority of the royal family agreed to nominate Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.^[11] This dynastic dispute lasted for about 8 days before Salem agreed to support the nomination of Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as Emir.

Other significant posts and positions held

Salem assumed many important leadership roles and positions within the Government of Kuwait.^[1]

• First Honorary President of the Society of Engineers.^[1]
• Deputy Director of Municipality and Public Works 1956.^[1]
• President of the Construction Council in 1959.^[1]
• Director of the Municipal Council in 1960.^[1]
• Minister of Public Works (1962-1964).^[1]
• Member of the Supreme Defense Council since 1969.^[1]
• Member of the National Security Council since 2005.^[1]

In addition, the mission and responsibility of founding the Kuwait National Guard has always been his most important endeavor and still remains his primary motivation and concern.^[1]

Charity and humanitarian missions

Salem provided numerous contributions in humanitarian missions both in and outside the territory of Kuwait.^[1]

Salem recently donated 100 million Kuwaiti dinars ($378 million) to House of Zakat charity to help the people of Kuwait who are in need.

Personal life

Sheikh Salem was married 5 separate times. His first marriage was by Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's sister Sheikha Anoud Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who also happens to be the only full sister/sibling of Sheikh Sabah.

Sheikh Salem has nine daughters and six sons from all his marriages. His eldest son is Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah

Sheikh Salem is very fond of the outdoors and desert life.^[1]

Title, styles and honour

Besides the Emir of Kuwait, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait; Sheikh Salem being the oldest living member of the House of Sabah is officially titled and addressed as :

His Highness Sheikh Salem Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah.^[1][12]

See also

• List of emirs of Kuwait
• Battle of Al-Regeai
• Ali Al Salem Air Base
• Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
• Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

References

External links

• Al Sabah: History and Genealogy of Kuwait’s Ruling Family 1752-1987 - by Alan Rush - (Ithaca Press, 1987)