The Passing of Dr. Ahmad Rateb Al-Shallakh: A Prominent Syrian Businessman
November 6, 2024, 2:19 pm

The Passing of Dr. Ahmad Rateb Al-Shallakh: A Prominent Syrian Businessman

شهبندر تجار سوريا

On Wednesday morning, November 6, the well-known Syrian businessman Dr. Ahmad Rateb Al-Shallakh passed away in the Syrian capital, Damascus, at the age of 92.

Al-Shallakh, who bore the title "Shehbندر تجار سوريا" ("The Grand Merchant of Syria"), was one of the most prominent figures in Syria's commercial class in recent decades. His death marks the end of a long era of economic and commercial leadership inherited from his father, the famous Damascene merchant Badreddin Al-Shallakh. So, who is businessman Rateb Al-Shallakh?

Dr. Rateb Al-Shallakh was born in Damascus, the eldest son of Badreddin Al-Shallakh, a notable figure in 20th-century commerce in Damascus. Badreddin Al-Shallakh was an influential and pioneering figure in the local economy, establishing a strong commercial foundation for the family, where Rateb grew up in a business-oriented environment that encouraged excellence and hard work.

The Al-Shallakh family was distinguished by its deep connection to trade, and the father was keen on educating his children and providing them with the best opportunities. He sent them to prestigious schools, such as the Brummana High School in Lebanon, with the aim of establishing a well-educated generation capable of preserving and developing the family legacy.

Dr. Rateb continued his higher education abroad and earned a Ph.D. in Finance and Business Administration from the University of California. Additionally, he obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford. This academic excellence was not just a personal achievement; it was a strength that Rateb added to the family business, contributing to its development in a strategic manner based on deep knowledge of the economic field.

Dr. Rateb Al-Shallakh's influence extended beyond the economic sphere, as he also contributed to the academic field, serving as a lecturer in the Economics Department at Damascus University and teaching at the American University of Beirut.

He was also a member of the Board of Governors of the Graduate Institute in Damascus and the Nile Islamic University in Sudan, where he worked to strengthen academic ties between Syria and Arab and international institutions. Dr. Rateb Al-Shallakh received several international honors, including the Sudanese Nile Medal of the First Class, the Foreign High Order of Honor from the Republic of Austria, the Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor from the Republic of Italy, in addition to the "Zlati Medalion" gold medal from Czechoslovakia.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”