Ali al-Zaidi Age, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ali al-Zaidi

• Ali al-Zaidi was born and raised in Bhaghdad to a renowned family that originally hails from the southern Iraqi governorate of Dhi Qar.

• Ali pursued a bachelor’s degrees in law and finance as well as a master’s degree in finance and banking.

• After gaining his law degree, he became member of Iraqi Bar Council, although he didn’t has a notable legal career.

• In his early career, Ali worked with Iraq’s Ministry of Trade, where he managed the national ration card system.

• Around 2014, he entered the corporate sector and was appointed chairman of a private multi-sector conglomerate, Al-Watania Holding Group, Iraq, where he handled spanning the company in agriculture, real estate, banking, logistics, and renewable energy.

• As chairman of the board of Al-Watania Holding Group, he sit among Iraq’s more influential business figures of Iraq.

• Ali’s working portfolio also extended to the education and health sectors as well, where he served as chairman of the board for Shaab University and the Ishtar Medical Institute.

• Until 2019, he served as the chairman of the board of directors of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank. In 2024, the bank was sanctioned by the United States over alleged money laundering, fraud, and the illicit use of US currency, and was also banned by the Central Bank of Iraq.

• Over year, Ali built a large business network including, media, education, retail chain, and government supply chain.

• Al-Zaidi serves as the CEO of Dijlah TV and the Taawon Hypermarket chain in Baghdad.

• He also serves as the CEO of al-Oways, a multi-sector conglomerate that has contracts with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade.

• On 27 April 2026, Ali al-Zaidi was nominated as prime minister designate candidate of Iraq by the Coordination Framework (CF), a council of major Iraqi Shiite parties in the Council of Representatives.
  

  Ali al-Zaidi with the top leaders of Iraq

• After his nomination by CF, he was officially tasked by president Nizar Amidi to form a government. As per the Constitution of Iraq, he has 30 days to made his cabinet members and present them to the Council of Representatives for a vote of confidence.

• Ali Zaidi was chosen as the prime minister candidate after an important meeting held at the house of Falih al-Fayyad in Baghdad.
  

  Ali al-Zaidi (Right) with Iraq’s President Nizar Amidi at the Presidential Palace in Baghdad

• Iraq’s top leaders including Nouri al-Maliki and sitting Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani agreed on his time for the prime minister designate of Iraq.

• In an interview, Al-Sudani mentioned that there was no clear agreement on any name during the meeting, so Ali al- Zaidi was chosen as a settlement candidate to end the political deadlock. Faiq Zaidan, the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Council, was involved in al-Zaidi’s nomination.

• Post his nomination, al-Zaidi made his first statement and said that his government will continue working to improve social services and living conditions in Iraq and different political and social groups will work together during his time. He added that he wants Iraq to keep balanced and friendly relations both regionally and internationally.