Dr. Salem Bek Hendawi – The Egyptian Ophthalmologist Who Treated King Saud and Stayed in Egypt for a Month and a Half
There are stories yet untold about prominent Egyptian figures who achieved great success but whose names gradually faded into obscurity. Among them is the ophthalmologist little known to many: Dr. Salem Bek Hendawi, the Egyptian surgeon whose operations achieved remarkable success and whose reputation reached the rulers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—King Abdulaziz Al Saud and his son King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
In truth, the available information about Dr. Salem Bek Hendawi is limited. Some medical references state that he was born in Menoufia, and that his lineage traces back to the Hendawiyya clan, which fought alongside Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, in the Levant. The clan later spread across Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Libya. However, according to information published in the journal Al‑Arab: “Salem Salem was born in Cairo, and his father was Sheikh Salem Al‑Sharqawi, whose origins go back to the city of Zagazig in the Sharqiyya Governorate.”
From Menoufia to Cairo, Hendawi moved to the capital he had long read about in books, where he obtained his medical degree in 1910, then known as an “Ijaza.” He subsequently worked as an ophthalmologist at the Abbasi Hospital, established by Khedive Abbas. It is also said that after completing his medical studies in Egypt, he traveled to Germany, where he earned a doctorate in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics, along with a certificate of distinction. He then moved to Vienna, where he stayed for a short period before returning to Egypt.
In 1918, Hendawi was appointed director of the Qalawun Bimaristan (Hospital), which at the time specialized in ophthalmology. He excelled in his work to such an extent that he gained widespread fame both inside and outside Egypt. He even performed successful eye surgeries for King Abdulaziz, which effectively made him the unofficial physician of the Saudi royal family.
Regarding Hendawi’s renown in the Arab world, it is said that Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz suffered from ophthalmic inflammation, prompting his father to summon the Egyptian physician who had previously operated successfully on the King’s eye. King Abdulaziz’s adviser, Sheikh Hafiz Wahba, himself Egyptian, contacted the Egyptian government to request that Dr. Hendawi travel to the Kingdom. However, the doctor declined, explaining that the extreme heat in Mecca at the time was unsuitable for performing the operation.
When Hendawi’s travel proved impossible, the Egyptian government extended an invitation to Prince Saud to visit Egypt. Initially, King Abdulaziz was hesitant about the visit, particularly in the aftermath of the Egyptian Mahmal incident during the 1344 AH pilgrimage season. Yet, following the formal invitation, the King agreed, expressing gratitude and viewing the visit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation.
On 9 August, the Prince arrived in Suez, where he was received with exceptional warmth. Government representatives and a large gathering of dignitaries welcomed him. He stayed as a guest of the Egyptian government in a residence prepared specifically for him in the Al‑Munira district. He remained in Egypt for a month and a half, during which he underwent two eye operations: the first on 22 August 1926, and the second on 28 August 1926, according to the website Al‑Moqatel.
Following the successes Hendawi achieved in the field of ophthalmology, he established in 1932 a medical facility known as “Dar al‑Hikma li‑Ibn Hendawi” (House of Wisdom of Ibn Hendawi), as recounted by Dr. Amal Mahfouz. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia honored him by displaying his photograph alongside King Abdulaziz Al Saud inside the royal palace. The image also appeared on the King Saud website, accompanied by the caption: “Prince Saud before returning to his country from Egypt, accompanied by his ophthalmologist Salem Bek Hendawi, and the farewell ceremonies held for him.”