Lisbon: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, passed away at the age of 88 in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, surrounded by his family.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) confirmed his passing in an official statement on the social media platform X, stating that the announcement of his successor would be made at a later date.
The statement read: "His Highness Prince Karim Al-Husseini Aga Khan, the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community and a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025, in Lisbon at the age of 88, with his family by his side."
The Ismaili community, which identifies as part of the Shia sect of Islam, has followers spread across South and Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. According to the community’s official website, the number of Ismaili adherents ranges between 12 to 15 million worldwide.
Prince Karim Aga Khan was the founder and head of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), an organization with 69,000 employees that runs various development programs in Asia and Africa.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paid tribute to the Aga Khan, describing him as an "extraordinarily kind global leader" and a "dear friend." In a post on X, Trudeau acknowledged that many people worldwide would mourn his loss.
The AKDN, with an annual budget of nearly $1 billion, operates in over 30 countries, focusing on healthcare, housing, education, and rural economic development. The network also runs hospitals under the Aga Khan name in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Tajikistan.
Additionally, Aga Khan owned the Kabul Serena Hotel, the only modern international-standard hotel in Afghanistan for over two decades. However, the hotel announced its closure on February 1, 2025. Aga Khan had personally inaugurated the hotel during his visit to Kabul in 2005.
