Upbringing and education
Hassan Abdul Qader El-Ali was born in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor to an Arab family, where he grew up and developed his cultural and social identity. He studied at the University of Aleppo and graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering. From an early age, he was influenced by the difficult conditions in his city and community, which gave him a deep appreciation for the value of education, work, and diligence, values that later formed the basis of his approach to charity work and management.
Migration and career
He left Syria in the 1980s and settled in the United Arab Emirates, where he started his career with limited resources, founding ZMI Holdings,which specializes in offshore support services for oil and gas platforms. The company gradually grew to become one of the world's leading companies in this field, owning one of the largest fleets of self-elevating offshore platforms in the world, with offices in the UAE, the Gulf countries, China, and Europe.
The company distinguished itself by adopting a humane approach to management, providing technical training, improving living conditions for employees, and attracting thousands of workers from Syria and other Arab countries. In late 2022, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company acquired ZMI in a deal that experts described as one of the most significant acquisitions in the global marine services sector, according to a report published byBloomberg magazine .
As part of the move towards sustainable energy, El Ali founded HEA Energy,which operates a state-of-the-art fleet of battery-powered electric ships and is involved in renewable and clean energy projects alongside oil and gas. Its operations cover the North Sea, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and Denmark, with notable platforms such as HEA Hydra, HEA Leviathan, HEA Hercules, and HEA Vantage.
He also founded Magellan Holding Group, an international investment group operating out of London, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. One of its most notable investments was the acquisition of Danish Ship Finance in Copenhagen, which has specialized in financing the maritime transport sector for more than 64 years.
Humanitarian and social activities
For more than forty years, El Ali has funded large-scale charitable and development programs that have benefited tens of thousands of people, including:
Medical support for those lacking healthcare ·
Scholarships for young people in need ·
Emergency assistance to communities affected by conflict ·
Employment programs for poor families ·
With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, he focused his efforts on supporting internally displaced persons, providing education for children, and securing medicine for patients. With the collapse of the regime's authority in parts of eastern Syria, he played an important role in revitalizing the health, service, and education sectors in Deir ez-Zor.
HADF Foundation and Future Projects
In 2024 , Hassan Alifounded the Hassan AbdelKader El-Ali Development Foundation,a non-profit organization that aims to support Syrian society and the most vulnerable groups, continue sustainable development projects, provide job opportunities, and promote education, sports, and culture in affected areas.
His foundation continues to expand, with ambitious plans to support sustainable economic and humanitarian development in local communities, based on a vision that focuses on social solidarity and charitable work as the cornerstone for building a cohesive society that gives its members hope for a better future.