His father passed away before he reached his first year, and his upbringing was undertaken by his uncle, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, alongside his cousins Saad and Khalid.

After Kuwait's independence and the subsequent establishment of the Constituent Assembly, the first government was formed, and he was appointed as the Minister of Electricity and Water.

On March 13, 1964, he was appointed Minister of Guidance and News, reappointed to the same position on January 3, 1965, and again on December 4, 1965, following the death of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Subsequently, he left his ministerial duties and was appointed as an advisor to the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

According to British documents, one reason for his not assuming the role of Crown Prince was his isolation from the Al-Sabah family and significant segments of Kuwaiti society.