Behold! Here comes the new Aga Khan.
His Royal Highness, Prince Abdul Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V has been named the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismailia Sect.
The new Aga Khan was named on the 6th day of February 2025, following the unsealing of the will of his late father, His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, who passed away in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 88.
Mawlana Hazar Imam HRH Prince Abdul Rahim, on the other hand, was born on October 12, 1971. He is the eldest son of Marhum Prince Abdul Karim.
The deceased Aga Khan IV Prince Abdul Karim and his younger brother Prince Amin grew up and spent their childhood in East Africa, precisely Kenya, living at their house which was located along Dennis Pritt Road in Nairobi City.
The two brothers were brought up by nannies, tutors and guardians appointed by their grandfather Aga Khan III who lived in Switzerland.
Their estranged father had divorced their beloved mother and spent most of his life having a great time in glitzy holiday destinations of Europe.
That’s why the Aga Khan III skipped his son in succession and designated his grandson Prince Abdul Karim as his successor.
Obviously, the mother having been divorced by their father couldn’t be entrusted to bring up the boys, one of them the heir apparent to the Al-Hussaini Aga Khan lineage.
The boys turned out well with the elder Prince Abdul Karim reigning very successfully as the Aga Khan IV for 68 years until his demise at 88 in February 2025.
The Aga Khan IV married Princess Salimah, who was a former British model.
Now the newly designated Mawlana Hazar Imam, HRH Aga Khan V Prince Abdul Rahim is taking over from where Abdul Karim left.