Salah Sha’rawi began his career in the water as a swimmer, but transitioned naturally to water polo, where he found the most success. The pinnacle of his international career for Egypt came at the inaugural Mediterranean Games in 1951, when the country won a silver medal in the tournament behind Spain. He also participated in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, where Egypt was eliminated in the preliminary rounds. He later became involved in politics and served as an ambassador, including to the Zanzibar and the Soviet Union during the 1960s and twice to Cyprus. He then became a high-ranking figure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.