Ayman Asfari Returns to Syria Through Idlib

Syrian businessman Ayman Asfari and Idlib Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman laid the foundation stone for the Dr. Mohammad Adeeb Asfari Maternity and Children’s Hospital in western Idlib governorate, northwestern Syria.

The project is being supported by the Asfari Foundation and implemented in partnership with the Syrian American Medical Society, SAMS.

SAMS said in a Facebook post on April 18 that the hospital marks an important strategic step toward strengthening maternal and child health services and responding to growing medical needs in the area, particularly specialized care for mothers and children, one of the most urgent health needs at this stage.

According to SAMS, the hospital will also serve as an advanced platform for medical education and training, helping prepare qualified medical personnel capable of leading the health recovery and reconstruction phase in Syria.

Through the project, SAMS said it remains committed to supporting the Health Ministry’s plans and acting as an approved partner in building an integrated, sustainable health system capable of meeting people’s needs with dignity and efficiency.

Idlib Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman said the service projects to be carried out by the Asfari Foundation fall under the Wafaa for Idlib campaign, which pledged $10 million.

Abdul Rahman said the projects will cover vital sectors including health, education, and livelihoods. He added that these initiatives will significantly improve living conditions for residents in the area and help support the safe and dignified return of the population.

For his part, Asfari said he was pleased to return to Idlib, his hometown, adding that the visit represented a historic opportunity for him to contribute, in whatever way he could, to reconstruction efforts.

He described the step as necessary and a duty for every Syrian, adding that he is also working with the governorate to rehabilitate several schools.

Emergency and Disaster Minister Raed al-Saleh said in a post on X that the projects are part of efforts to support the service sector and strengthen stability in the governorate after many years of suffering. He said the launch of real projects affecting people’s lives restores hope in a practical and carefully planned way and helps improve basic services for residents of Idlib governorate.

Businessman Ayman Asfari launches a hospital project in Idlib, northern Syria, alongside Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman, April 18, 2026. (Idlib Governorate)

What Is the Asfari Foundation?

The Asfari Foundation was established in 2006 by Syrian-British businessman Ayman Asfari and his wife, Sawsan Asfari.

The foundation has invested more than £60 million in the Levant and the United Kingdom to strengthen the sustainability of resilient civil society infrastructure and empower young people through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

It provides long-term funding for organizational development and core operating costs, allowing civil society organizations to invest in their growth, impact, and sustainability.

Who Is Ayman Asfari?

Ayman Asfari was born in Idlib governorate in 1958. His father, Adeeb, was among the founders of Syria’s former ruling Ba’ath Party and also served as an ambassador to several countries.

Asfari moved to the United States to study and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Villanova University. He later received a master’s degree in civil and urban engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.

He is one of the world’s wealthy businessmen and an opponent of the Assad regime, which issued an arrest warrant against him on accusations of financing terrorism.

Since the Syrian revolution, he has been involved in social initiatives. He founded the Madaniya organization and also helped finance the Syrian Civil Defense, widely known as the White Helmets.

Alongside his social and business activities, Asfari has also been active politically in Britain on the Syrian file, playing a role within the international community in pressuring the now ousted Assad regime.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the oil sector. He began his career in Oman in contracting before becoming a leading partner in Petrofac, the energy services company.

He is also the chief executive of Venterra, which specializes in offshore wind energy services. In addition, he serves on the board of trustees of the American University of Beirut, on the board of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and on Chatham House’s senior advisory committee.

A Name Raised Politically

Asfari’s name circulated as a candidate to lead Syria’s first new government after Assad’s fall, but he denied the reports in a statement at the time, saying he had neither been asked to do so nor sought the role in any way.

In the statement, Asfari also expressed his full support for the Syrian government and wished it success in carrying out its responsibilities during what he described as a critical stage for Syria.

In a statement issued at the end of February 2025, he said, “The current circumstances our country is going through require the formation of a transitional government based on competence and fair representation, one that reflects the aspirations of all segments of the Syrian people without bias or quotas based on military, sectarian, or other grounds.”

He added, “This government must be effective and vested with real powers, capable of confronting the grave challenges battering Syria and fulfilling the aspirations of our great people in a way that is worthy of their immense sacrifices.”

Wafaa for Idlib Campaign

The Wafaa for Idlib campaign, under which the hospital project falls, followed similar campaigns launched in other Syrian cities, backed by private figures, institutions, and civil society organizations, and sponsored by the government.

Pledges made during the campaign exceeded $208 million. The campaign was held on September 26, 2025, and aimed to raise funds to support affected areas in the governorate and rehabilitate infrastructure destroyed by war.

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