Lisbon, February 5, 2025 – Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Aga Khan has been officially designated as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in accordance with historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition. The announcement was made in Lisbon in the presence of the Imam’s family and senior Jamati leaders, following the reading of the Will of his late father, Mawlana Shah Karim Aga Khan IV.
Born on October 12, 1971, Prince Rahim is the eldest son of Mawlana Shah Karim and his first wife, Princess Salimah. He was educated at Phillips Academy Andover and later graduated from Brown University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature.
Prince Rahim has been deeply involved in the governance of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), serving on the boards of its various agencies. He has closely followed the work of The Institute of Ismaili Studies and other social governance institutions within the Ismaili community. As Chairman of AKDN’s Environment and Climate Committee, he has been particularly committed to addressing climate change and sustainability efforts. His leadership has also focused on poverty alleviation through education, training, and enterprise development.
Beyond his role in AKDN, Prince Rahim regularly engages with leaders of governments, international organizations, and civil society to strengthen relations with the Ismaili Imamat and further AKDN’s mission to improve the lives of marginalized communities.
In recognition of his contributions to development and humanitarian efforts, Prince Rahim was honored with the Nishan-i-Pakistan, Pakistan’s highest civilian award, by President Asif Ali Zardari in June 2024.
Prince Rahim has two sons, Prince Irfan (b. 2015) and Prince Sinan (b. 2017), from his former marriage to Princess Salwa.
As the new Imam, Prince Rahim is expected to continue his father’s legacy of promoting education, economic development, and interfaith dialogue, while guiding the global Ismaili community in accordance with its religious and social traditions.