Who Is Ayman al-Zawahiri? Age, Biography and Wiki
Ayman al-Zawahiri was born on June 19, 1951, in Cairo, Egypt. As of 2025, he would have been 73 years old. Best known as an Egyptian Islamist militant and physician, al-Zawahiri gained notoriety as the leader of al-Qaeda following the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011. He was a prominent figure in global terrorism, advocating for jihadist ideologies and engaging in various aspects of militant activities throughout his life. His background as a physician provided him with a unique position in the militant world, connecting both medical and ideological aspects of his actions.
| Occupation | Physicians |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 19, 1951 |
| Age | 71 Years |
| Birth Place | Giza, Kingdom of Egypt |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Date of death | 31 July, 2022 |
| Died Place | Kabul, Afghanistan |
Popularity
Ayman al-Zawahiri's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While official measurements are often hard to come by for public figures, Ayman al-Zawahiri was reportedly around 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. His exact weight fluctuated over the years but was typically reported to be around 160 pounds (72 kg). Specific body measurements are not widely publicized, but he was known to have a lean build, reflective of his rigorous lifestyle.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Ayman al-Zawahiri was married to Azza al-Zawahiri, with whom he had several children. His family background is deeply rooted in a history of political involvement and activism, with many members known for their engagement in various ideological causes. However, personal details about other relationships outside his marriage remain sparse, as al-Zawahiri typically maintained a low profile when it came to his private life.
The New York Times in 2001 described al-Zawahiri as coming from "a prosperous and prestigious family that gives him a pedigree grounded firmly in both religion and politics". Al-Zawahiri's parents both came from prosperous families.
Al-Zawahiri's father, Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri, came from a large family of doctors and scholars from Kafr Ash Sheikh Dhawahri, Sharqia, in which one of his grandfathers was Sheikh Mohammed al-Ahmadi al-Zawahiri (1887–1944) who was the 34th Grand Imam of al-Azhar. Mohammed Rabie became a surgeon and a professor of pharmacy at Cairo University.
Ayman Al-Zawahiri's mother, Umayma Azzam, came from a wealthy, politically active clan, the daughter of Abdel-Wahhab Azzam, a literary scholar who served as the president of Cairo University, the founder and inaugural rector of the King Saud University (the first university in Saudi Arabia) as well as ambassador to Pakistan, while his own brother w
as Azzam Pasha, the founding secretary-general of the Arab League (1945–1952).
From his maternal side yet another relative was Salem Azzam, an Islamist intellectual and activist, for a time secretary-general of the Islamic Council of Europe based in London. The wealthy and prestigious family is also linked to the Red Sea Harbi tribe in Zawahir, a small town in Saudi Arabia, located in the Badr.
He also has a maternal link to the house of Saud: Muna, the daughter of Azzam Pasha (his maternal great-uncle), is married to Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud, the son of the late King Faisal.
Net Worth and Salary
Throughout his life, Ayman al-Zawahiri's visibility and influence were supported by various platforms, although he often avoided mainstream social media due to concerns regarding surveillance and repercussions. He gained notoriety primarily through written messages and video recordings released online, promoting his views and calling for action against perceived enemies of Islam.
* September 3, 2014: In a 55-minute-long video, al-Zawahiri announced the formation of a new wing called al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), which would wage jihad "to liberate its land, to restore its sovereignty, and to revive its Caliphate." Reaction amongst Muslims in India to the formation of the new wing was one of fury.
Career, Business and Investments
Ayman al-Zawahiri's career as a physician took a backseat to his militant activities, which began in earnest in the late 1970s. He was instrumental in forming and leading various jihadist organizations, culminating in his role at the pinnacle of al-Qaeda. Al-Zawahiri was known for his strategic planning, propaganda efforts, and ideologies promoting jihad against governments he considered oppressive. His business dealings, however, were largely intertwined with the funding and operational aspects of terrorist activities rather than conventional investments.
In Peshawar, he made contact with Osama bin Laden, who was running a base for mujahideen called Maktab al-Khadamat (MAK); founded by the Palestinian Sheikh Abdullah Yusuf Azzam. The radical position of al-Zawahiri and the other militants of Al-Jihad put them at odds with Sheikh Azzam, with whom they competed for bin Laden's financial resources.
Al-Zawahiri carried two false passports, a Swiss one in the name of Amin Uthman and a Dutch one in the name of Mohmud Hifnawi.
Education
Al-Zawahiri graduated from Cairo University with a degree in medicine and a master's degree in surgery and was a surgeon by profession. He became a leading figure in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, an Egyptian Islamist organization, and eventually attained the rank of emir.
He was imprisoned from 1981 to 1984 for his role in the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. His actions against the Egyptian government, including his planning of the 1995 attack on the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan, resulted in him being sentenced to death in absentia during the 1999 "Returnees from Albania" trial.
