Background
Al-Shawwa was born into the prominent Shawwa family of Gaza, and his father Mohammed Khalil Al-Shawwa served as the chairman of the Municipality of Gaza when it was founded in 1893.
Al-Shawwa was born into the prominent Shawwa family of Gaza, and his father Mohammed Khalil Al-Shawwa served as the chairman of the Municipality of Gaza when it was founded in 1893.
Mayor of Gaza
Before entering politics, Sa'id was involved in a career as a grain exporter. During his reign as mayor he built a hospital, several mosques and schools in Gaza, and is credited with introducing the modern plow to the city in 1911. Al-Shawa developed close relationships with the Ottoman Army during World War I and was awarded honorary decorations by the Ottoman authorities.
His sympathy with the Ottomans during the war caused the victorious British Army to depose him in 1917. Al-Shawwa represented Gaza at the 1st, 4th and 5th Palestinian National Congress held in 1919, 1920 and 1922. He was chosen to represent the Gaza, southern Palestine, and the District of Jerusalem from 1922 to 1929.
By then, al-Shawwa was a major landowner in Gaza, as well as Beersheba, owning a total of roughly 50,000 dunams. In 1926–27, he took charge in the restoration of the Great Mosque of Gaza after it was mostly destroyed by British bombardment during the World War.
In 1904, he was appointed a member of the municipal council and in 1906, he became the city's first mayor.