Shaikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait was honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award on Monday, April 28, for her significant contributions to the promotion of yoga. The award was presented by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Expressing her gratitude, Shaikha Al-Sabah told Asian News International (ANI), “I am honoured to be in Delhi to receive the Padma Shri award. I was surprised and deeply grateful. I would like to thank the Government of India. I love India and visit often—it feels like home to me".
Reflecting on her journey with yoga, she said, “I learnt about yoga from my late grandfather, a practitioner of yoga and holistic therapies, and from my father. Yoga was always around me, but after the birth of my first child, I truly embraced it and experienced immense health benefits for my body and mind".
Shaikha Al-Sabah is the first Kuwaiti national to be awarded a Padma honour and is among only eight international recipients this year. She founded Daratma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio, a name that combines the Arabic word Dar (home) and the Sanskrit word Atma (soul), reflecting a unique cultural connection. She also co-founded Shems Youth Yoga, an initiative promoting yoga practices among children aged 0–14.
Her efforts led Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry to introduce a yoga education licence, thereby formalising yoga instruction across the country. She has been instrumental in expanding the reach of yoga throughout the region.
In addition to her work in yoga, Shaikha Al-Sabah has been active in humanitarian efforts. She launched Yomnak lil Yaman to assist Yemeni refugees and distributed educational materials to underprivileged children during the COVID-19 pandemic. On a global scale, she has organised Reiki Jin Kei Do master training sessions and conducted consciousness training at the Monroe Institute in the United States.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally recognised Shaikha Al-Sabah’s contributions during his visit to Kuwait in December 2024. Sharing a post on X, he wrote, “Met HH Shaikha AJ Al-Sabah in Kuwait. She has distinguished herself through her passion for yoga and fitness.”
The Padma Shri is one of India’s highest civilian awards, given for distinguished service across various fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.