Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah

Infobox_Monarch | name = Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah
title = Emir of Kuwait


caption =
reign = January 15, 2006 – January 24, 2006
coronation =
predecessor = Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
successor = Sabah IV Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
suc-type =
heir =
consort =
issue =
ruling house = Al-Sabah Ruling Family
ruling anthem =
father = Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah
mother =
date of birth = 1930
place of birth = Kuwait
date of death = May 13, 2008
place of death = Kuwait
buried =|

Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah (Arabic: سعد العبد الله السالم الصباح "Saʿd al-ʿAbd Allāh as-Sālim as-Sabāh") (1930 – 13 May 2008) was the Emir of Kuwait during a short reign of ten days from January 15 to January 24, 2006, succeeding the late Sheikh Jaber.

Sheikh Saad belonged to the Al-Salim branch of the Al-Sabah family and was eldest son of the late Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who ruled Kuwait from 1950 to 1965.

Family

Married to Sheikha Latifa Fahad Al-Sabah, Sheikh Saad had five daughters and one son. By order of age, his children are; Maryam, Hissah, Jamayel, Sheikha, Fadya and his son Fahad.

Unfortunately, Sheikh Saad lost his daughters Maryam and Sheikha. Sheikha Maryam died in a car accident that took place on Bayan Palace grounds and Sheikha Sheikha died from cancer after having battled it for years. Both were unmarried without issue.

Sheikha Hissah is divorced with one son; Ahmed Al Yousef.

Sheikha Jamayel has remarried, is residing in Italy and has one daughter from her first marriage; Lulua Chammaa.

Sheikha Fadya is married to Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, former Commander of the Anti-Terrorist Police, and has four children; Fatma, Nabeela, Sabah and Maryam.

Sheikh Fahad, his son, is married to Manal Al-Wazzan and has five sons and one daughter; Abdullah, Khalid, Jaber, Saad, Mohammed and Khadeejah.

Early career

Sheikh Saad served as the President of the Police and Public Service Department from 1961 to 1962, Minister of Interior from 1962 to 1978, and Minister of Defense from 1964 to 1978. On January 31 1978 he gained the title of Crown Prince. From February 1978 to July 2003, he also served as Prime Minister of Kuwait, after which that role was given to Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He also briefly held the position of Military Governor of Kuwait from 1991 to 1992.

First Gulf War

Sheikh Saad played a major role in liberating Kuwait from Saddam's regime. He refused to compromise with any of Iraq's ministers, and with the head of the PLO, Yasir Arafat. He announced that he would discuss nothing but liberating Kuwait from the Iraqi regime.

In addition, he played a major role in getting Sheikh Jaber out of Kuwait and into Saudi Arabia when the Iraqi soldiers first stepped in. While in exile to Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War (1990-1991), he gave a famous public speech, mistakingly referring to Alaa Hussein Ali, the Kuwaiti quisling, as Aladdin. This mistake was marked by jokes, prompting one of the newspapers in Kuwait to publish a famous headline on its front page, translating to "Where is Aladdin?" This referred to the sudden disappearance of Alaa Hussein Ali following Kuwait's liberation.

Emir of Kuwait

Sheikh Saad suffered from colon problems and cancer, which had led to speculation that he would refuse the Emirship. A declaration in November 2005 refuted such speculation, and Saad took office as Emir on the day of Sheikh Jaber's death. However, Saad attended Jaber's funeral in a wheelchair, and his continued health problems caused some to question his ability to rule. Some members of the Kuwaiti parliament expressed concern that Saad would not be able to deliver the two-line oath of office, scheduled for January 24.

On January 232006, Saad agreed to abdicate following a discussion within the ruling family, after only ten days on the throne. Although a new Emir had not yet been announced, it was evident that the position would be assumed by Sheikh Saad's second cousin and the late Sheikh Jaber's half-brother Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

On January 242006, the Kuwaiti parliament voted Saad out of office, moments before an official letter of abdication was received. The Kuwait Cabinet nominated the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to take over as Emir as expected. [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/24/kuwait/ PM set to become new Kuwait emir] ; "CNN", 24 January 2006]

Death

Sheikh Saad died on 13 May 2008 in Shaab Palace in Kuwait City from a heart stroke while walking in his garden. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7399438.stm Former emir dies in Kuwait City] ; "BBC News Online", 13 May 2008]

References

[Sheikh Saad Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah: The Unforgettable Liberation Hero (1930-2008), Ambassadors Online Magazine, Vol. 11, Issue 24, July 2008.] http://www.ambassadors.net/megastars.htm

ee also

*List of national leaders
*List of emirs of Kuwait