Kuwaiti technology pioneer Mohammed Al-Sharekh, who introduced the first Arabic language operating system (OS) for computers, died on Wednesday at the age of 82.
Al-Sharekh was born in Kuwait in 1942 and graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Economics and Political Science with a bachelor’s degree in economics, followed by a master’s degree in economic development from Williams College in Massachusetts, where he developed an interest in information technology.
In 1982, he founded the Sakhr Software Company, which became a leader in the research and development of Arabic language processing.
With the computer boom of the 1980s in full swing, Al-Sharekh was determined not to let the Arab world be left out. His goal was to create native software programs for the growing number of computer users in Arabic-speaking countries.
Al-Sharekh achieved this goal with Sakhr MSX, a software program for children in the Arab world, developed in partnership with the then mid-sized, future Silicon Valley giant, Microsoft.
But this was just the beginning for Al-Sharekh and Sakhr, with the company going on to create multipurpose computer hardware, spanning everything from word processors to the first generation of game consoles.
Sakhr also developed a number of software features that were widely popular throughout the Arabic-speaking world in the 1980s.
Description of the General Secretariat of the National Council
He was forgiven for culture, art and literature, God willing
Mr. Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Sharekh
Who passed away today.The General Secretariat conveyed the condolences of His Excellency the Minister of Information and Culture and Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature Mr. Abdul Rahman Baddah Al-Mutairi… pic.twitter.com/tQZuE5HTRF
– National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (@kw_nccal) March 6, 2024
This included a Quranic program, the geography of the Arab world, the first computerized Hajj and Umrah programs, an Arab history program, as well as several Arabic language games.
This made Sakhr the largest software and hardware brand in the Arab world, selling two million devices and five million software packages across the Middle East and North Africa.
Al-Sharekh has received numerous awards for his pioneering work over the years.
In 2002, he won the Arabian Business e-visionary of the year award, and in 1998 he received the ‘Best Products’ award at the Comdex exhibition.
In 2021, he received the prestigious international King Faisal Award, which recognizes outstanding merit in Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine and science.
Al-Sharekh also won the 2018 National Award from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature in Kuwait; and in 2007 he received the World Summit Award and the E-Inclusion Award.
Among those leading the tributes to Al-Sharekh was the Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
“The General Secretariat conveyed the condolences of His Excellency, the Minister of Information and Culture, the President of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature, Mr. Abdul Rahman Badah Al-Mutairi, and the leaders and employees of the Council of Families and Loved Ones who have passed away due to this tragedy,” they wrote. on X.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, also paid tribute.
My sincere condolences on the death of the pioneer of the programming sector in the Arab world, Kuwaiti businessman Muhammad Al-Sharekh.
The establishment of “Sakhr” Computer Company in 1982 was the beginning of a technological and programming revolution whose fruits we are reaping today, and its legacy in the field of programming and its support of the Arabic language will remain a key driver of the future of this sector.
God bless… pic.twitter.com/bIdVXSTDFR
– Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 6, 2024
Also paying tribute to the Kuwaiti was Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
“My sincere condolences for the loss of Kuwaiti businessman Mohammed Al-Sharekh, a pioneer in the Arab software sector,” he said wrote on X.
“The founding of Sakhr Computer Company in 1982 heralded a technological revolution whose fruits we are reaping today.”