Born in Kuwait City, he was successful in athletics from a young age and won the national under-14 cross country title for his club, Qadsia SC, in 1993. Given his natural talent, he was afforded special support from the Kuwaiti Athletic Federation. He achieved his first international medal at the 1998 Pan Arab Junior Athletics Championships, taking the 800 metres bronze medal. Further success came the following year as he took third in the event at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics then won the silver medal at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships. His 2000 and 2001 seasons were disrupted by his need to focus on studying for his high school exams, but he still managed to win the gold medal at the Gulf Cooperation Council Championships, finish runner-up at the Arab Junior Championships, and win the 2001 Asian Junior bronze.