Ibrahim Al Asmakh

Doctor of Humane Letters from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Ibrahim Al Ashmakh

One of the foremost drivers of economic transformation in the nation of Qatar and other Middle East countries over the past 20 years, Ibrahim Al-Asmakh credits the education he received from the University of Arizona for his renowned business acumen. 

Al-Asmakh graduated from the university in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in finance and business administration, and he established Regency Travel and Tours in Qatar in 1993. When he was chairman of the board of Qatar's General Authority for Tourism, Al-Asmakh played an instrumental role in developing Qatar's tourism industry, opening the country to visitors from across the globe and fostering international connections. For his contributions, he was named Travel Personality of the Year in 2012 by the travel industry's World Travel Awards program. 

Regency Travel and Tours later became Regency Group Holding, which includes several companies active in major economic sectors including real estate, tourism and hospitality. Al-Asmakh serves as president of Regency Group Holding, which employs more than 3,000 people in more than 34 countries. 

In addition to his work with Regency, Al-Asmakh also established the Afif Charity, formerly known as Al-Asmakh Charity, in 2010. The charity is dedicated to the economic transformation of societies in the Middle East, as well as advising and providing financial support to businesses in developing countries. Since its inception, Afif Charity has supported hundreds of social and development programs benefiting impoverished and developing communities across 17 countries. 

Throughout his lifetime, Al-Asmakh has supported and invested in the arts, sports, medical and transportation industries in his native Qatar. He is also a supporter of the University of Arizona Gulf Cooperation Council, one of the largest alumni affinity groups in any country outside the U.S. It includes alumni, friends and affiliates of the university from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.  

Al-Asmakh has worked closely with the Qatar Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on education, research, innovation and community development, and he has been a strong advocate with the country's ministry of education for the University of Arizona to be selected to establish a presence in Qatar.