Mr. Hussam Abu Issa

Mr. Hussam Abu Issa has distinguished himself in a variety of fields, including entrepreneurship, business, finance, philanthropy, and intercultural relations. His interests lie in promoting higher education, research on health issues, and inter-Arab trade and investment. He is a regular attendee of various international forums and council meetings.

He began his career in 1980 as operations manager at his family business, Salam Studio & Stores, Qatar. A founding member and co-partner in establishing Salam Holdings, he took on a major role in the merger of Salam Holdings with Salam International in 2002 to form Salam International, a conglomerate of companies that is the first family-owned company to be traded in Qatar’s stock market.

A prominent business leader and philanthropist, Mr. Abu Issa is the vice chairman of LiBank Lebanon, a board member of Doha Insurance Co. Qatar, and an advisory council member of the College of Business & Economics at the University of Qatar. He also serves on the boards and councils of several academic, cultural, and charitable organizations in the United States, Turkey, Singapore, and Lebanon, including Amideast. He was formerly the COO of Salam Group of Companies & Salam International and a board member of the Industrial Committee Qatar Chamber of Commerce. He was also involved in several bilateral business councils between Qatar and other countries.

A Qatari national, Mr. Abu Issa holds a BS in marketing from San Diego State University and more than 35 years of professional experience.