The Italian Republic has awarded Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah the Order of Merit in the rank of Commander one of the country’s highest civilian honors Italian Ambassador to Kuwait Lorenzo Morini told the Kuwait News Agency. President Sergio Mattarella conferred the distinction in acknowledgment of her sustained work supporting vulnerable communities empowering Arab women and advancing mental health human dignity and peaceful coexistence according to Morini’s account to KUNA on November 7 2026. The ambassador described her leadership initiative and organizational abilities as qualities that have positioned her as an inspiration for Kuwaiti society and the broader international community. The award ceremony took place Friday at an event that celebrated her long record in humanitarian community service and efforts to promote women’s advancement psychological well-being and a culture of positivity.
A cornerstone of Sheikha Intisar’s initiatives remains the Intisar Foundation which she launched to assist Arab women impacted by wars and violence through specialized drama therapy programs the foundation’s published materials show. These interventions help survivors process trauma restore self-confidence and develop capacities for stable lives and active community roles. Foundation data indicate that eight drama therapy programs implemented in Lebanon between October 2020 and August 2022 produced measurable reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder depression and anxiety among socioeconomically disadvantaged and refugee women according to a study published in the Journal of Social Service Research.
The Intisar Foundation maintains a 30-year plan known as the One Million Arab Women initiative aimed at alleviating psychological trauma for one million individuals affected by conflict through drama therapy its official publications state. Earlier assessments of its work in Lebanon and Jordan documented that 10 completed programs engaged 200 women for nearly 400 hours of transformational exercises resulting in six public performances of original plays on peace themes a 2020 Forbes report noted. Such outcomes align with the foundation’s emphasis on evidence-based approaches that foster neuroplastic changes to support emotional regulation and cognitive improvement.
Sheikha Intisar also founded Al-Nuwair in 2013 to advance positive thinking and constructive social behavior within Kuwaiti communities her office has reported. These domestic programs complement the foundation’s regional focus and reflect her wider contributions to education environment child protection and human rights all structured around United Nations Sustainable Development Goals according to biographical records maintained by the foundation. The Kuwaiti social entrepreneur has built a portfolio of enterprises and not-for-profit organizations that operate under this framework producing measurable community impact over more than two decades.
Previous international recognitions underscore the scope of her efforts. In 2022 King Philippe of Belgium awarded her the Knight insignia of the Order of the Crown for work in education positive psychology women’s empowerment and peacebuilding while French authorities conferred the National Order of the Legion of Honour in the same year for parallel contributions a Wikipedia compilation of her honors lists. Those decorations preceded the Italian award and form part of a pattern of global acknowledgment for initiatives that began with medical support for patients and children in 1999 and evolved into structured trauma recovery models.
Morini emphasized that the Italian honor specifically values Sheikha Intisar’s attention to Arab women and her numerous humanitarian projects that have distinguished her through consistent leadership. The ambassador’s statement to KUNA framed the recognition as an appreciation of her role in aiding those in socially fragile situations while promoting broader values of compassion and cooperation. Sheikha Intisar responded by expressing thanks to Italy noting that the distinction would encourage her to persist in fostering a more humane future for future generations according to accounts distributed by Kuwaiti news outlets.
