Aswan, Egypt, 9 February 2025 - His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was laid to rest today, 9 February 2025, at a private burial ceremony in Aswan, Egypt.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, the 50^th Ismaili Imam, and family members were present, together with leaders of the global Ismaili community.

The Governor of Aswan, Major General Dr Ismail Kamal, as a mark of respect, facilitated and participated in a dignified procession through the city to the banks of the River Nile. The casket of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was transferred by boat in a ceremonial crossing to the private domain where Villa Nour El Salam and the mausoleum of Aga Khan III are situated. The casket was carried by hand in a procession which was led by family members. His Highness’s body was interred in the existing mausoleum at the top of the hill overlooking the Nile.

The ceremonies were in accordance with Muslim tradition and after they were completed, the leaders present had the opportunity to express condolences to the family.

After the ceremonies, Major General Dr Ismail Kamal presented Prince Rahim Aga Khan V with a symbolic key to the City of Aswan as a mark of respect.

Egypt was the centre of the Fatimid Caliphate, which was governed by Ismaili Imams during the 10th and 11th centuries. The Fatimid Imam-Caliphs founded the city of Cairo, a major centre of learning, culture, and trade. Their support of pluralism, education and the arts led to a series of advancements in science, architecture, and philosophy, and their legacy can be observed today in the rich history and culture of the region.

Aswan is the final resting place of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, and his wife, Mata Salamat. They both enjoyed warm relations with the people of Aswan, which have been sustained by the late Prince Karim and his family, through the work of the Om Habibeh Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), founded by the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, has been improving the quality of life for communities in Cairo and Aswan for decades. One notable project is the Al-Azhar Park in Cairo. Created by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the 30-hectare Park opened in 2005, welcomes two million visitors per year, providing much-needed leisure and recreational space to the city’s inhabitants, and is known as ‘Cairo's green lung’. The Al-Azhar Park project has proven to be a powerful catalyst for urban renewal through the restoration of monuments and public spaces, and socioeconomic initiatives such as housing rehabilitation, microfinance, crafts apprenticeships, and health care for thousands of residents in the adjacent Darb al-Ahmar neighbourhood.

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