Kuwait was saddened today, Monday, by the passing of the dean of the honorable Al-Sabah family, His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the head of the National Guard, who passed away at the age of 98, which he spent in the service of his country and strengthening its security, unity and cohesion of its people.
Throughout his career, which was full of giving, the deceased of Kuwait held a number of official positions in addition to honorary positions. He also had many charitable works and community projects that he established at his own expense inside and outside Kuwait.
The deceased was born in 1926 in the Al-Shuyukh neighborhood in the central area located in the heart of Kuwait City today. He began his education according to the prevailing traditions at that time in the Al-Khamis neighborhood at the hands of Mullah Hamada and then Mullah Murshid Muhammad Al-Sulaiman.
After receiving traditional education, Sheikh Salem joined Al-Mubarakiya School, which was the first regular school established in Kuwait. He then moved to study at Al-Ahmadiyya School and received literary and scientific subjects from the teachers of the two schools.
After the emergence of oil in the early fifties and the beginning of its contribution to the development process in Kuwait, the deceased joined the public service and during that period headed many projects that focused on building Kuwait and introducing modern and civil lifestyles to it.
In the mid-fifties, His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali was associated at the beginning of his career with the late Sheikh Fahd Al-Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah in his first work, where the deceased assumed the position of Vice President to Sheikh Fahd Al-Salem, who held the position of Head of the Municipality and Public Works Departments.
The deceased of Kuwait remained in that position until he assumed the presidency of the Construction Council in 1959, and among his duties in that council was the planning function, which was the most important work that contributed to the renaissance and development of Kuwait. His Highness also assumed the presidency of the Public Works Department, which was concerned with implementing many construction projects.
In the early sixties, the deceased assumed the position of Chairman of the Municipal Council, whose laws at the time stipulated that a member of the ruling family from the honorable Al-Sabah family would assume its presidency, and he would be entrusted with the work of organization, architecture, maintaining public health, cleanliness, beautification, and establishing new urban complexes.
After Kuwait's independence in 1961, His Highness contributed to the membership of the Constituent Assembly, which was entrusted with preparing the constitution, and at that time he assumed the position of Minister of Public Works in the first government formed in the country after independence, during the reign of the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, may God bless his soul.
In the second government formed in 1963, the deceased continued in his position as Minister of Public Works, as the country was witnessing a great urban renaissance, and he continued in that position until 1964. In 1963, he assumed the position of the first honorary president of the Kuwaiti Society of Engineers. As a culmination of his national giving, the deceased assumed the position of Chief of the National Guard in 1967, where he worked to establish it as a vital national entity responsible for enhancing security and safety in the country, consolidating stability in its regions, and developing its cadres and facilities.
During his presidency of the National Guard, His Highness was keen to enhance its missions in supporting the army in defending the homeland against anyone who attacks its pure soil or tries to penetrate its borders, and assisting the police forces in maintaining security and stability, protecting the internal front against all threats, securing vital targets or facilities in the country, and being constantly prepared to fulfill any other mission assigned to him by the Supreme Defense Council.
In addition to his duties as President of the National Guard, the deceased held a number of security and military positions, as he was a member of the Supreme Defense Council since 1969, then a member of the National Security Council since 2005.
In appreciation of the great efforts made by the deceased for the sake of the country's renaissance, development, and strengthening its position, His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God bless his soul, issued an Amiri order on December 1, 2004, granting him the title of His Highness.
In addition to his official duties, the deceased had numerous community contributions and a number of charitable works and projects that he established at his own expense, both inside and outside Kuwait, including his donation in 2007 of 100 million dinars to needy Kuwaitis and families of martyrs, and ten million dinars to families of martyrs in battles and wars.
In his keenness to support culture and knowledge, His Highness launched the (His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Informatics Competition) in 2000, which is considered one of the distinguished activities on the local and regional levels and aims to spread electronic awareness and encourage energies and talents specialized in the field of information technology.
The deceased had a great interest in natural life and the environment and a strong passion for the desert and hunting trips, in addition to practicing marine hobbies and his interest in camels and owning the best of them.
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