A new milestone in governance & operational excellence.

The President of The World Federation, Alhaj Safder Jaffer, in accordance with clause 19.1.2 (b) of the Constitution is pleased to announce the appointment of Alhaj Zuhairbhai Hirji as the new Secretary General of The World Federation with effect from Fri 24th April 2026.

Zuhairbhai, originally from Birmingham, has long demonstrated an unwavering dedication to community service combining his professional skills with community services. Having played an active and meaningful role over the years, he brings with him nearly 15 years of experience in senior management and operations, complemented by a Level 5 qualification in Business Management. Professionally, he has built a successful career in commercial real estate and investments across the Middle East.

Within Al-Abbas Islamic Centre [Birmingham Jamaat], Zuhair’s contributions have been both impactful and far-reaching. As Head of the Children’s Tabligh Committee (CTC), he has been instrumental in nurturing educational initiatives that support the spiritual growth and development of young people. His service also extends to the ghusl kafan committee, where he has shown compassion and dedication in supporting families during times of loss.

Zuhair has also served as Secretary General of the Council of European Jamaats from October 2024 to September 2025, where he oversaw the implementation of strategic objectives and the day-to-day operations of the Council. In this role, he fostered unity and collaboration across member Jamaats throughout Europe, strengthened communication, and supported the planning and delivery of key programmes and initiatives. He also serves as an executive councillor of the World Federation since Dec 2024 . During his tenure as SG of COEJ, Zuhair worked to strengthen the coordination of various departments of WF with COEJ and in particular WF AID where he played a prominent role working closely with the WF Aid team in supporting a range of humanitarian projects and disaster relief campaigns.

He also worked closely  with leadership across Europe strengthening governance, promoting community development, including Tarbiyah and youth engagement, and ensuring that the Council’s work remains aligned with its mission, values, and the evolving needs of communities across Europe.

It has been a core manifesto pledge of the WF President and a cornerstone of our vision to appoint a Chief Operating Officer. As the operations of this institution grow in scale and scope, it is unrealistic and unsustainable to expect volunteer Office Bearers to run the day-to-day business of the Charity while attending to their own business or professional commitments.

To that end, we had advertised for this role and, after a documented, robust & transparent process of evaluation under the guidance of the Charity Commission, we are delighted to advise that the panel has recommended our current Secretary General Ali Jawadbhai Hansraj as the ideal candidate for the role. Therefore, Ali Jawadbhai has decided to step down from his current role as SG to become eligible to take up the position of COO. He brings three decades of experience at the helm of various businesses across Europe and West Asia, in addition to his service as a trustee of this august institution for several years.

Please join us in wishing the very best to both Ali Jawadbhai and Zuhairbhai – may Allah (swt) enhance their tawfeeq in serving this institution in their respective roles.