Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah

Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah GCMG, CIE, KStJ (1895 - 24 November 1965) (Arabic: عبد الله الثالث السالم الصباح‎) was the last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait from 29 January 1950 until his death, and the eldest son of Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. 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.

Unlike his predecessors, he 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. As a man he was known to be modest, of considerable intelligence and for having a keen interest in matters of the intellect. His reign coincided with turbulent times in the middle-east as well as the rest of the third world. He introduced the Constitution of Kuwait in 1962, followed by the parliament in 1963. He also declared himself as "Emir" and head of state.^[1]

Death

Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim died two years later after suffering from a heart attack and was succeeded by his half-brother, Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah. He was also the father of Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, who ruled briefly in January 2006.^[2]

Titles

• 1895-1938: Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al-Sabah
• 1938-1950: Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al-Sabah, CIE
• 1950-1952: His Highness Sheikh Abdullah III bin Salim Al-Sabah, Sheikh of Kuwait and dependencies, CIE
• 1952-1956: His Highness Sheikh Sir Abdullah III bin Salim Al-Sabah, Sheikh of Kuwait and dependencies, KCMG, CIE
• 1956-1959: His Highness Sheikh Sir Abdullah III bin Salim Al-Sabah, Sheikh of Kuwait and dependencies, KCMG, CIE, KStJ
• 1959-1961: His Highness Sheikh Sir Abdullah III bin Salim Al-Sabah, Sheikh of Kuwait and dependencies, GCMG, CIE, KStJ
• 1961-1965: His Highness Sheikh Sir Abdullah III bin Salim Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, GCMG, CIE, KStJ

Honours

• Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) -1938
• Grand Cross of the Legion d'Honneur of France - 1952
• Order of Al-Rafidian, 1st Class of the Kingdom of Iraq - 1952
• Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal - 1953
• Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) - 1956
• Order of the Crown of Iran, 1st Class of the Empire of Iran - 1958
• GCMG - 1959
• KCMG - 1952

See also

• List of emirs of Kuwait

References

1. ^ The Royal Ark
2. ^ The Royal Ark, ibid.

Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah House of Al-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

Persondata
Name	Al-Sabah, Abdullah III Al-Salim
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1895
Place of birth
Date of death	24 November 1965
Place of death