Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait

Forget the glamour - Sabah Al Salem is a bureaucratic slog. As the Prime Minister of Kuwait from 2024 to 2024, Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah held a series of high-level government positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance. But his resignation in 2011 amid allegations of corruption suggests the nation's governance can be a persistent headache. And with the ruling Sabah family firmly in control, expats should expect to navigate a complex web of protocols and connections to get anything done.

While the Sheikh's academic credentials from Claremont McKenna and Harvard are impressive, the realities on the ground are less glamorous. Unless you have deep connections or an extremely patient disposition, Sabah Al Salem may not be the expat oasis you're looking for.