Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah

Sheikh Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah (1895 – 24 November 1965, Arabic: الشيخ عبد الله الثالث السالم الصباح) was the eleventh ruler of Kuwait, the first Emir of the State of Kuwait, and Commander-in-chief of Kuwait Military Forces from 29 January 1950 until his death. He was the eldest son of Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. He was the Minister of Finance from 1939 to 1940.[1] As the eleventh ruler of the Al Sabah dynasty in Kuwait, he took power after the death of his cousin Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He also ruled as regent upon the death of his father until the election of Sheikh Ahmad. The anniversary of his coronation, 25 February, serves as Kuwait's national day.[2]

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah
Reign	29 January 1950 – 24 November 1965
Coronation	25 February 1950
Predecessor	Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Successor	Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah
Born	1895
Died	24 November 1965(1965-11-24) (aged 69–70)
Father	Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah
Mother	Sheikha Mariam bint Jarrah Al-Sabah

Unlike his predecessors, Abdullah III was more pro-Arab than pro-British. He effectively ended the British "protectorate" status of Kuwait by signing a treaty with the British on 19 June 1961. He is regarded as the founder of modern Kuwait. He introduced the Constitution of Kuwait in 1962, followed by the Parliament in 1963.

Death

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim died two years later, in 1965 after suffering from a heart attack during the opening session of the National Assembly (Kuwait) and was succeeded by his half-brother, Sheikh Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah. He was also the father of Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who ruled briefly in January 2006, Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, and Sheikh Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who is a governor.

Honours and awards

National

• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of National Defense
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Military Duty Order

Foreign

• Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (1938)
• Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (1952)
• Grand-Croix Order of the Legion d'Honneur (France, 1952)
• Order of the Two Rivers, 1st class (Kingdom of Iraq, 1952)
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953)
• Knight of the Order of St John (1956)
• Order of the Crown, 1st Class (Empire of Iran, 1958)
• Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1959)

References

1. "وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت". www.mof.gov.kw.
2. "National and liberation days". Kuwait Times. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2018-02-23.

Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah House of Sabah Born: 1895 Died: 24 November 1965
Regnal titles
Preceded by Himself, as Sheikh of Kuwait and dependencies	Emir of Kuwait 1961–1965	Succeeded by Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah
Preceded by Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah	Sheikh of Kuwait 1950–1961	Succeeded by Himself, as Emir of Kuwait