Dalia Badran: Biography and Journey (Born 1962)

Dalia Badran is a Kuwaiti media personality and businesswoman of Egyptian origin. She arrived in Kuwait with her family in 1971 when she was seven years old. At that time, she excelled in reciting the words of the Kuwaiti national anthem, leading her fellow students in the morning assembly at her school as they chanted along with her

Her father worked at the Public Authority for the Shuaiba Industrial Area, one of Kuwait’s most important oil facilities, as a General Engineering Consultant in 1971. He contributed to significant projects that elevated Kuwait’s status in the region. Later, he joined the Kuwait Ports Authority, where he continued to follow the same dedicated approach in his work, as for her grandfather, he was the first ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to be appointed to the People’s Republic of China.

An Anecdote About the Father

Where he acquired the skill of keen insight through years of diligent work and his strong commitment to keeping up with the latest advancements in marine port engineering. This expertise enabled him, one day, to uncover a critical error that could have destroyed the dock.

A company was driving steel piles into the seabed adjacent to the dock to protect it from ship collisions. Everyone believed that the piles were being securely fixed into the seabed. However, after an in-depth study, Engineer Maher became certain—beyond any doubt—that the situation posed a serious danger. He warned the officials, saying, “Beware, gentlemen! The piles are not embedding correctly into the seabed. Instead, they are bending upon reaching the bottom, twisting around themselves, and slipping downward, creating the illusion that they are being properly secured in the soil.”

In reality, the exact opposite was happening—the piles were bending and sliding along the surface of the seabed without penetrating it. However, proving this theory required solid evidence. This prompted the director of the Kuwait Ports Authority at the time to summon the institution’s technical photographer, who was of German nationality and also a professional diver. The diver was tasked with going underwater to film the pile installation process accurately and provide undeniable visual proof of what was happening.

As the diver descended into the depths, all the concerned officials stood anxiously on the dock, awaiting the results of the investigation. When the diver resurfaced, he confirmed Engineer Maher’s findings with absolute certainty.

When asked how he was so sure of his conclusion, Engineer Maher, with the mindset of an expert engineer, explained: “The rate at which the piles were sinking was much faster than it should be under normal conditions. This made me certain that they were not penetrating the soil but merely sliding along its surface.” This discovery proved to be of immense value to the institution, preventing a catastrophic engineering mistake that could have resulted in the destruction of the dock and a major disaster.

During the years of study at Kuwait University

She specialized in studying English Literature at Kuwait University in 1979.

She was crowned a sports champion in many sports, the most notable of which was being the “Kuwait Swimming Champion” throughout her university years from 1979 to 1982.

She was honored on many occasions as the youngest outstanding student to earn a university degree from Kuwait University. She completed her studies in just 3 years instead of the usual 4, at the age of 19. She was the first and only student to achieve this accomplishment.

The Journey of Work in the Paths of Life

She began her media career just one month after graduating, as a news anchor at Kuwait Television in 1982. She became the youngest English news anchor to join the main evening news broadcast on Kuwait’s state television, earning her widespread fame in the media field. Later, she took on the position of the English news supervisor at the station.

Marriage and Family Life

Dalia Badran, the broadcaster and training monitor at the Central Bank of Kuwait, married Mr. Badr Musaed Abdullah Al-Sayer in 1990.

She obtained Kuwaiti citizenship in 1997 when she took an oath before the Director General of the General Administration of Passports, Nationality, and Travel Documents. On that day, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah recited the following words, following the full procedures in accordance with the Citizenship Law in effect at the time:

Dalia has an older brother, Hisham, who is two years her senior and completed his studies in civil engineering in Boston, United States. She also has a younger sister, Noha, who is five years younger and graduated from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, also with a degree in civil engineering.

It is worth mentioning that in 1990, the year of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Dalia Badran and her family risked their lives to save their friend, the well-known Kuwaiti businessman Bader Musaed Abdullah Al-Sayer, from certain death. At the time, he was wanted by the invading Iraqi forces. Despite the severe risks, he was smuggled out with extreme difficulty, enduring intense psychological terror throughout the escape journey across the Iraqi and Jordanian borders until he safely reached Egypt unharmed. The arduous journey culminated in their marriage in late 1990 in Cairo, shortly before the liberation of Kuwait on February 26, 1991.

The historical background of Badr Al-Sayer’s grandfather through his mother, Sharifa Hilal Fajhan Al-Mutairi

Hilal Fajhan Mfez Khalawi Hamad Jlaydan Hleil Al-Akli Al-Dihani Al-Mutairi was born in Saudi Arabia, in the Hijaz region, specifically in Al-Juraysiyah, in 1872. He then moved to Kuwait at the age of twenty. He passed away on July 11, 1938, at the age of 86.

Dalia also worked in the morning at the same time at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, then moved to the Kuwait Petroleum Company. After four years, she transitioned to the Central Bank of Kuwait, in addition to her other work throughout the day.

Introducing the police officers to the operations of the Central Bank, where she worked.

Postgraduate studies after starting a family.

She obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Liverpool, England, in 2010, after getting married and having children. She was one of the few students exempted from the entrance exams due to her excellence in the field of health work.

In the field of entrepreneurship:

Dalia is considered the first Kuwaiti woman to establish a fully integrated factory in the field of alternative medicine. In 2002, she founded the “Magh Al-Sayer” factory, which met all legal and health requirements. It is the first factory in Kuwait specializing in the production of medical and cosmetic products based on herbs and natural materials.

Doctors and consultants speak highly of the superiority of the products from the “Joyeria” factory, owned by Dalia Badran, in various fields, most notably in addressing the side effects of cancer medications.

The “Magh Al-Sayer” factory is considered the first of its kind in Kuwait. It received a prestigious award from His Highness the Emir of the country in 2017 in the category of distinguished factories in community service, making her the first Kuwaiti woman to receive this honor in the field.

In addition, Dalia founded the first beauty center dedicated to supporting female cancer patients. The center offers therapeutic (free) services and helps them cope with the side effects of chemotherapy.

The Kuwait International Award for Distinguished Women in 2019: She secured third place in this award in the private sector category, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to empowering and socially integrating cancer patients. A total of 136 women from 22 countries around the world competed in this race.

She was crowned with the title of “Extraordinary Ambassador” by civil organizations in Egypt and other countries, in recognition of her contributions to charitable and community work in Kuwait and several institutions in Egypt for treating cancer patients.

A donation to five hospitals in Egypt on the occasion of Kuwait’s National Day.

A television interview with Dr. Abdullah Yousry (Good Morning Egypt program – First Satellite Channel) in 2015, discussing Dalia Badran’s donations to five specialized hospitals on the occasion of Kuwait’s National Day.

Honorary Titles Over the Years

Dalia Badran is considered a role model for the successful Arab woman. She has combined work in the media, business activities, and sports, proving her competence in every field, with a focus on community service and supporting the needy in general, and cancer patients in particular.

Honoring Goodwill Ambassadors for a large number of individuals involved in various humanitarian activities in the State of Kuwait.

Titles:

* Goodwill Ambassador – Tolerance and Peace Organization

* Patron of Tolerance and Peace for the State of Kuwait

* Women’s Goodwill Ambassador – SB Moda Global Organization in the

Philippines

* Extraordinary Ambassador – Al-Adour Group for Media and

Development – Dr. Mostafa Al-Adour

A television episode about the life of Dalia Badran and her family in Kuwait.

Mrs. Dalia Badran has received several awards and honors in recognition of her contributions in the fields of media, entrepreneurship, and community service.

These awards and honors serve as a testament to Mrs. Dalia Badran’s dedication and her outstanding contributions across various fields.

In addition to the+ aforementioned information, it is worth noting that Dalia Badran is also a businesswoman, managing projects in the fields of public health, alternative medicine, and child training and development. She also organizes specialized training courses in artificial intelligence, as well as character development for teenagers, individuals with special needs, people with disabilities, the elderly, and retirees.