The launch of Samir Abdel Hadi Fund for Culture and Arts reflects a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of culture. In 2023, the fund awarded a generous grant to the Arab Cultural Society, leading to the establishment of ZAD for Arts, a platform dedicated to supporting Jordan’s cultural landscape and investing in people’s ability to express, imagine, and create change.
The fund represents a long-term commitment to sustaining cultural and educational initiatives, particularly those that create opportunities for young artists to grow their skills, express their identities, and engage meaningfully with both local and regional cultural life.
Engineer Samir Abdel Hadi was born in Jerusalem in 1942 and raised in a family with a strong political and social presence. His father, Naeem Abdel Hadi, was a prominent Jordanian Palestinian public figure who held various political and administrative positions during pivotal moments in the country's history. Samir received his education at the Ramallah Friends School before pursuing a degree in civil engineering at the American University of Beirut. There, he engaged in student activism and intellectual discourse centered around Arab liberation and the Palestinian cause. That formative period shaped his political and cultural awareness and deepened his belief in culture and knowledge as tools of resistance and collective empowerment.
His professional journey took him to Libya and the United Arab Emirates, where he played a central role in expanding the renowned engineering firm Dar Al Handasah Khatib & Alami. In 1980, he co-founded its Jordan office under the name Alami & Abdel Hadi, which led the design and supervision of critical public service and infrastructure projects across the country.
Yet his contribution went beyond engineering. Throughout his years in the Gulf, Engineer Samir used his professional and social networks to support the Palestinian people on their land. Through personal and thoughtful initiatives, he helped ensure sustained support for Taawon (Welfare Association), mobilizing direct contributions and long-standing relationships built on trust and shared purpose.
For decades, Engineer Samir remained deeply committed to cultural, intellectual, and national causes. In Amman, his support extended to cultural and educational work across Jordan and Palestine. Through his thoughtful, steady approach, he supported numerous institutions, believing that true investment lies in people, and in creating pathways to knowledge, expression, and belonging.
◆ Served on the boards of major cultural and academic institutions, including: Al Hussein Technical University (Jordan), Birzeit University (Palestine), An-Najah National University (Palestine), Taawon (Welfare Association), the Center for Arab Unity Studies (Lebanon), and the Arab Organization for Combating Corruption (Lebanon).
◆ Supported the Institute for Palestine Studies and its intellectual output.
◆ Enabled the development of educational and cultural infrastructure, including: a community arts center in Zarqa in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Mathematics Faculty building at Birzeit University, named in his honor, a football field and fitness center in Hittin Camp (Amman), a vocational training center in Gaza Camp (Jerash), and an architecture lab at Al Hussein Technical University (Amman).
◆Appointed to the 17th Jordanian Senate, where he chaired the Jordan-UAE Friendship Committee. During his term, he continued his philanthropic efforts, making donations to King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan River Foundation, and Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans.
◆ Together with his brother, Dr. Omar Abdel Hadi, Engineer Samir co-established an integrated cultural center in Nablus as a space for knowledge-building and cultural engagement. They launched the “Naeem Abdel Hadi Cultural Award” through the Welfare Association, and contributed to the creation of the Science Centers building at An-Najah National University in Nablus, as well as the Abdel Hadi Family Diwan in Amman’s Shmeisani neighborhood, a space for cultural and social exchange. Their efforts also extended to the town of Arraba, where they supported infrastructure development projects and the restoration of traditional Abdel Hadi family palaces as part of preserving local architectural heritage.