Bio of Kuwait’s new Cabinet members
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued a decree Monday to carry out a cabinet reshuffle; the 34th since the independence of the State of Kuwait. The newly appointed government is led by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for the 6th time.
The following are profiles of members of the newly newly-appointed Kuwaiti cabinet:
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, was born in 1942. He has occupied several posts since 1968, namely Amiri Diwan financial and administrative affairs, assistant undersecretary for financial and administrative affairs.
He was named Hawally Governor on March 19, 1979, then Ahmadi Governor before occupying the portfolio of social affairs and labor, then the information top post and later became Advisor of His Highness the Amir Office.
On Feb 14, 2001, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak was named the deputy prime minister and minister of defense, and he occupied the same posts in the government, formed on July 14, 2003.
On Feb 9, 2006, he was named the first deputy prime minister and interior minister and minister of defense. He occupied the same posts in the two governments, formed on July 11, 2006, and March 25, 2007.
His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, on Oct 28, 2007, in a cabinet reshuffle, was named the first deputy prime minister and minister of defense. He was re-appointed in the same positions in the cabinets, formed in May 2008, January 2009, May 2009 and May 2011.
In November 2011, he was named premier and was reassigned as the head of government in February 2012, July 2012, December 2012 and July 2013.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled AlHamad Al-Sabah, born in 1953, got a BA in political science from Kuwait University in 1977 and joined the diplomatic corps the following year.
He served at Kuwait’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations between 1983 and 1989, named as director of the Arab World Department of the Foreign Ministry in 19891992, chief of staff of the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary’s office in 1992-95, ambassador to Saudi Arabia and delegate to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1995-98, chief of the National Security Apparatus in 1998.
He was named minister of social affairs and labor in July, 2006, and March, 2007, and minister of information in May, 2008, and January, 2009, before being named minister of foreign affairs in 2011, and deputy prime minister, foreign minister, and minister of state for cabinet affairs in February, 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled AlHamad Al-Sabah, served as the director general of the General Department of Citizenship and Travel Documents. He was named in 1991 as Hawally Governor, then minister of interior in the 17th cabinet in 1996, the 18th government in 1998, the 19th cabinet in 1999. In the 20th cabinet in 2001, he was appointed as the deputy premier and minister of interior.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Lt Gen (ret.) Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah gradually climbed ranks of the military echelon, reaching the post of Lieutenant General and named Chief of Staff on March 4, 2012.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdulmohsen AlMadaj, born in 1949, got a BA in literature from Kuwait University in 1975. He acquired a PhD in history from Durham University in the UK in 1983.
He was appointed assistant dean of the Kuwait University Faculty of Arts for scientific affairs in 1975-1987. He was an MP in the parliaments of 1992, 1996 and 1999.
He was appointed minister of oil in 1994-96. He was the coordinator of the 45-member constitutional group which called for the restoration of the constitutional system in 1989. He was also a member of the people’s delegation for England, Ireland and Scandinavia during the 1990-91 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He was part of the committee which wrote the final communique of the Jeddah popular conference in 1990.
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Hind Sabeeh Al-Sabeeh was assistant undersecretary of Civil Service Commission in 2007. In 2008, she was secretary general Manpower and Government Restructuring Program (MGRP) and director general of Kuwait industries union.
Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah got a BA in political science from Kuwait University before joining His Highness the Crown Prince’s office.
He served as representative of His Highness the Crown Prince’s office at the National Assembly in 1988, and assistant undersecretary of the National Guards from 1993 until 2002 when he was named undersecretary of the National Guards; he also served as advisor to His Highness Chief of the National Guards between 2002 and 2009.
Sheikh Salman was elected first deputy chairman of the Arab Shooting Confederation (ASC) in 1987, chairman of the GCC shooting committee in 1995, chairman of the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) in 2004 and member of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) in 2006. In 2012 and 2013 he was appointed as Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs.
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak AlSabah, born in 1971, got a BA in political science from the British Tottenham University and a master degree from the University of London.
He served as chairman of the authority for citizen service and government performance assessment in 2002 before being named minister of information in February, 2012. In 2013, he was appointed Minister State for Cabinet Affairs and Minister of Health.
Minister of Oil and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Ali Saleh Al-Omair was born in 1958. He got a PhD and MA in analytical chemistry. He worked as director of Laboratories at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research from 1996 to 2006.
He was elected as parliament member in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2013. He was also an MP in the two annulled parliaments of February and December 2012.
Minister of Finance Anas Khaled Al-Saleh, born in 1972, has BA in business administration from the University of Portland (1997), and served as board member of Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in 2006-10.
He also served as board chairman and managing director of Kuwait Invest Holding Company (KSCC) in 2006 before being named minister of commerce and industry in February, 2012. He was re-appointed as Minister of commerce and industry in 2013.
Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of Communications Essa Ahmad AlKandari, born in 1963, has a commerce diploma, specialized in banking, served in Kuwait Airways, research expert, was member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait Journalists Association, the Arab Journalists Union and Human Rights Association. He was appointed Minister of Communication in 2013.
Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity and Water Abdulaziz Abdulateef Al-Ibrahim, born in 1952, got a BA in electrical engineering in 1975 and a master’s degree in the same field in 1978 before joining work at the Ministry of Electricity and Water in 1979.
He served as assistant undersecretary of the ministry until July, 2012 when he was named minister of electricity and water and minister of state for municipal affairs. In 2013, he was named minister of public works and ministry of electricity and water.
Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Ahmad Abdulmohsen AlMulaifi was born in 1956. He got BA in law and was a parliament member in 1996, 2003, 2006 and 2008. He was also an MP in the annulled parliament of 2012. He worked at the legal department of the Civil Service Commission, head of the legal office at the National Assembly, head of the legal office at Kuwait Stock Exchange and head of the legal office at Kuwait Finance House.
Al-Mulaifi was appointed minister of education and minister of higher education in May 2011. In December 2011, he was named minister of justice and minister of education and minister of high education.
Minister of Health Dr Ali Saad Al-Obaidi has a BA in medicine and surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He also has an MA in health administration. He was named minister of health in February 2012.
Minister of Justice and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Nayef Mohammad AlAjmi has an BA from Shari’a College of Kuwait University in 1996. In 2004, he has his PhD in College of Shari’a and Law in Cairo. —KUNA