Ali Esmaiel

Ali Esmaiel is an International Management and Communication Consultant and Former CEO for Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Syria. Known for his groundbreaking work in post-conflict urban development, cultural heritage preservation, and humanitarian strategy, his most recognized achievement is the restoration of Aleppo’s Souq Saqatiyeh, which earned the ICCROM Sharjah Award and stands as a global benchmark for heritage-led recovery. Ali’s expertise spans Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Switzerland, and Canada, where he has worked with governments, communities, and multilateral institutions to bridge policy with lived experience. His academic path, spanning the UK, France, the US, and Syria, brings together strategic insight, diplomatic finesse, and grounded cultural fluency. Ali doesn’t just rebuild physical spaces—he revitalizes memory, identity, and hope where they’ve been most endangered.