Abdullah Saleh Al Mulla
Abdullah Saleh Al Mulla (died 1955) was Secretary of State in Kuwait under the Emirs Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah. He was one of the first Kuwaitis to be educated in Britain during the early 1900s, and the country's first Secretary of State that was able to directly deal with the Western world during a pivotal period of Kuwait's history, the discovery of oil.
During his tenure as Secretary of State, and given his fluency in the English language, Abdullah Al Mulla acted on behalf of the Emir in discussions with major international oil companies to start exploration and drilling for oil in Kuwait. Abdullah Al Mulla was instrumental in negotiating agreeable terms between the Kuwaiti government and the major international companies, which eventually led to the first oil wells being drilled in Kuwait. He was also the first to recommend, evaluate, and negotiate on behalf of the Kuwaiti government for the installation and commissioning of Kuwait's first desalination plant located in Shuwaikh, as well as the first to coordinate the commissioning of Kuwait's first major power station.
Abdullah Al Mulla's mark in Kuwait's history extends further in politics and international relations, with his efforts helping Kuwait create long standing bilateral relationships with many countries in the region as well as the Western world. In recognition of his efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between Kuwait and the United Kingdom, he was recognized as a recipient of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
In 1938, Abdullah Al Mulla started his private business, which today has grown into a multi-national conglomerate known as the Al Mulla Group. His early passing in 1955 due to severe brain hemorrhaging did not stop his dream of creating a conglomerate that caters to the Kuwaiti consumer's demands for quality products and services in diverse fields. His legacy continued with his sons Bader, Najeeb, Anwar, Nabil, and Lutfi, all of whom were involved in helping the business grow into the multi national conglomerate that is known today as Al Mulla Group.