Dr. Souad Al-Sabah (born 1942) is a Kuwaiti economist, writer and poet.

A member of the ruling family and the wife of the late H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, the Deputy Amir of Kuwait from early 1950’s till 1960.

She completed a degree in economics and politics at Cairo University in 1973 and a doctorate in economics from University of Surrey in the United Kingdom in 1981.

She is a member of the executive committee of the World Muslim Women Organization for South West Asia, and is on the board of trustees and executive committee of the Arab Intellectuals Forum.

She has written several books on economics, history and biographies in English such as “Development Planning in an Oil Economy and Kuwait: Anatomy of a Crisis Economy”, “Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah: The Transformation of Kuwait” and “Mubarak Al-Sabah: The Foundation of Kuwait”.

Other works include “Wamdatt Bakira” (Early Blinks), “Lahathat min Umri” (Moments of My Life) and poems such as “A Woman from Kuwait”, “My Body is a Palm Tree that Grows on a Bahr al-Arab”, “Female 2000”, and “Ingratitude”.

As an erudite economist, she published several books related to socio-economic issues that includes: “The Planning and Development in the Kuwaiti Economy and the Role of Women (1983)”, “Lights on the Kuwaiti Economy (1985)”, “The Gulf Woman and her Participation in Manpower (1986)”, “OPEC: The Previous Experience and Futuristic Outlooks (1986)”, “The New Oil Market: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Regains its Initiative (1986)”, “The Crises of Resources in the Arab World (1989)”, “Papers on the Gulf Economy (2006)”, “Papers on the International Political Economy (2006)” and “Papers on the Petroleum Policy (2006)”.

Dr. Al Sabah is regarded as one of the most powerful businesswomen in Kuwait where she manages her own business as Chairperson of Action Group Holdings Company. Dr Souad Al-Sabah also served as the Director of Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE), the national stock market of Kuwait.

She was selected by Boutros Ghali, the sixth Secretary General of the UN to represent the United Nations at the Fourth World Conference on Women (1995) in Beijing, China as part of an all-female delegation consisting of five honorary guests including the first ladies of the USA, France and Nigeria as well as the President of Iceland at that time.

In addition to founding Dar Souad Al-Sabah for publishing and distribution as well as the Souad Al-Sabah Award, there are two schools named after her; Souad Al- Sabah Secondary School for Girls in Al-Manssouriyah in Kuwait and Souad Al-Sabah Elementary School in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. The theater of the Kuwait Writers Association is named after her, Dr Souad Al-Sabah Theater in Al-Adailiyah area (Kuwait), and she has had a library named after her by the Arab Media Forum at its venue in Hawalli (Kuwait).

Sheikh Mubarak has an impressive track record in business, entrepreneurship, investments, and leadership. He is a prominent figure in the Kuwait business and social sectors. He has been instrumental in spearheading a number of prominent real estate and hospitality projects, which have all served to raise international standards in Kuwait and that of the Middle East. Sheikh Mubarak holds an M. Phil in International Studies from the University of Cambridge (UK), and a BA (Hons.) in Politics with Economics from the University of Buckingham (UK). In addition, he is a graduate of The Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst (UK), and served in the Kuwaiti Armed Forces, as an Armored Officer, as well as at the Kuwait National Guards

He is the Vice‐Chairman of Action Group Holdings (AGH). As the Founder and Chairman of Action Real Estate (K.S.C.C), one of Kuwait’s major private real estate companies, with a portfolio of assets across the Middle East and Australia. In addition, he is the founding Chairman of Action Hotels Limited, which was listed on Alternative Investment Market (AIM) stock market in the UK, in December 2013 to 2018, and is also the founding Chairman of Action Energy Company. 

Sheikh Mubarak also served on several boards of leading companies, he served as the founding Chairman of Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (QPIC) since inception till early 2022, a public listed company in Kuwait. Qurain was established by an Amiri Decree in 2004 with a capital of KD 110 million and was listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange in July 2007 as one of the largest IPO in Kuwait market with over 400,000 shareholders, and the stock was upgraded from the Main Market to the Premier Market in July 2019, and represented QPIC with PIC and Dow Chemicals on the board of Equate Petrochemicals for 10 – 12 years, which were one of the largest FDI investments in the state and largest non-oil exporters.

During Sheikh Mubarak’s tenure as Chairman, of this publicly listed company, that spanned almost 15 years, Qurain’s total assets grew from KD 110 million to KD 785 million, with total shareholders equity of KD 447.7 million at the year he stepped down. The average Net Profit of QPIC during the last 5 years was circa. 30 million

During this period and under Sheikh Mubarak leadership, QPIC acquired major stakes in SADAFCO (listed on Saudi Stock Exchange), National Petroleum Services “NAPESCO”, Jassim Transport & Stevedoring Company “JTC”, and Advanced Technology Company “ATC” (all the three are listed on Kuwait Stock Exchange).

In addition, Sheikh Mubarak served as a board member of EQUATE, Kuwait’s first and largest international joint venture. The company was founded with a clear direction from the government of Kuwait represented by the Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) in order to engage the private sector to participate within the Oil and Gas sectors.

Currently serving on the board of Egypt Kuwait Holdings, a leading Egyptian industrial and financial company with a diversified portfolio of investments, listed in the Kuwait and Egypt stock markets.

He is conferred in 2017 with the French government’s highest civilian distinction “Le Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honor) awarded by the France President and French Republic.

Honored as ‘Businessman of the Year in Kuwait’ by The Arabian Business Magazine in 2019.

Honored as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in 2009 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and is member of the Kuwait chapter of Young President Organization (YPO).

Member the Kuwait Economic Society, Honorary Chairman of the Kuwait Sea Sports Club, and Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.