Who Is Mahmoud Abbas? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Mahmoud Abbas, born on November 15, 1935, is an influential political figure who has served as the President of Palestine since 2005. As of 2025, he is 89 years old. Abbas was born in Safed, then part of Mandatory Palestine, and became a key figure in the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). His leadership has been marked by attempts to negotiate peace with Israel and unify various Palestinian factions. He has also faced significant challenges, including political divisions and ongoing conflict in the region.
| Occupation | Prime Ministers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 15, 1935 |
| Age | 89 Years |
| Birth Place | Safed, Mandatory Palestine |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | Palestine |
Popularity
Mahmoud Abbas's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific body measurements for Mahmoud Abbas are not commonly reported, he is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and has a weight of around 150 pounds (68 kg). Abbas maintains an elder dignified presence, often appearing in formal attire appropriate for his role as a leader.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Mahmoud Abbas is married to Amani Abbas. The couple has three children together. His family life remains relatively private, with his wife often seen accompanying him during official functions. Despite being a prominent public figure, Abbas has managed to keep his relationship details under wraps, not publicly recognized dating anyone outside of his marriage.
Abbas later entered graduate studies at the Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow, where he earned a Candidate of Sciences degree (the Soviet equivalent of a PhD). His doctoral dissertation was The Other Side: The Secret Relationship Between Nazism and Zionism.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Mahmoud Abbas's estimated net worth is around $10 million. His income primarily comes from his presidential salary and various investments, although he is known for living a modest lifestyle compared to many other political leaders. Abbas has often emphasized the importance of dedication to his role rather than the pursuit of personal wealth.
The source for specific allegations against Abbas was one of Arafat's most trusted aides, Mohammed Rashid, accused by the PA of embezzling hundreds of millions of dollars, who threatened to expose corruption scandals in the Palestinian Authority.
For many years, Rashid served as Arafat's financial advisor and was given a free hand to handle hundreds of millions of dollars that were poured on the Palestinian Authority and the PLO by the US, the EU and Arab donors. According to Rashid, Abbas's net worth was US$100 million.
Career, Business and Investments
Abbas has had a prolific career in politics. Before becoming the President of the State of Palestine, he served in numerous capacities within the PLO, including as the head of the PLO's Negotiations Affairs Department. Abbas has been involved in various peace negotiations and has aimed to establish a democratic Palestinian state. His leadership has also seen significant international recognition, strengthening Palestine's position on the global diplomatic stage.
Although he is not primarily known as a businessman, Abbas has ventured into various investments, particularly in real estate, reflecting a focus on stability and development for Palestinian citizens.
Abbas was elected on 9 January 2005 to serve as President of the Palestinian National Authority until 15 January 2009, but extended his term until the next election in 2010, citing the PLO constitution, and on 16 December 2009 was voted into office indefinitely by the PLO Central Council.
As a result, Fatah's main rival, Hamas, initially announced that it would not recognize the extension or view Abbas as the rightful president.
Nonetheless, Abbas is internationally recognized in his position(s) and Hamas and Fatah conducted numerous negotiations in the following years, leading to an agreement in April 2014 for a Unity Government (which lasted until October 2016) and to the recognition of his office by Hamas.
Abbas was chosen to continue serving as president by the PLO Central Council on 23 November 2008.
Social Network
Mahmoud Abbas maintains a significant presence on social media, using platforms to communicate his vision and policies to both Palestinians and the international community. His social network includes official pages on Facebook and Twitter, where he shares updates on his political activities and engages with followers about issues impacting Palestine.
By early 2003, as Israel and the United States refused to negotiate with Yasser Arafat, it was thought that Abbas would be a candidate for the kind of leadership role envisaged by both countries.
As one of the few remaining founding members of Fatah, he had some degree of credibility within the Palestinian cause, and his candidacy was bolstered by the fact that other high-profile Palestinians were for various reasons not suitable (the most notable, Marwan Barghouti, was a prisoner in Israeli jail after having been convicted on charges of be
ing responsible for multiple murders by an Israeli court).
Abbas's reputation as a pragmatist garnered him favor with the West and some members of the Palestinian legislature. Under international pressure, on 19 March 2003, Arafat appointed Abbas Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority.
According to Gilbert Achcar, the United States imposed Abbas on Arafat, the democratically elected leader, though the majority of Palestinians thought of Abbas as a Quisling.
Education
Mahmoud Abbas's educational background is notable; he attended Al-Najah National University in Nablus, where he pursued a degree in law. He later studied at Moscow State University, obtaining a doctorate in history. Abbas's education has informed his approach to leadership and negotiated diplomacy, providing him with a strong academic foundation for addressing complex geopolitical issues.
The Connection between the Nazis and the Leaders of the Zionist Movement 1933–1945 is the title of Abbas's CandSc thesis, which was completed in 1982 at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, and defended at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.The dissertation and book discussed topics such as the Haavara Ag
reement, in which the Jewish Agency signed a pact with Nazi Germany to facilitate Jewish emigration to Palestine.
Some content of his thesis has been considered as Holocaust denial by some Jewish groups, especially where he disputed the accepted number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust and claimed Zionist agitation had been the cause of the Holocaust.
