A bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Washington State University in 1983 marked the beginning of Yasser Mahmoud Reda Abbas's professional trajectory. As the son of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, he established a career spanning multiple industries, including tobacco distribution, construction, and real estate, while maintaining citizenship in both Canada and Palestine.
Early Career and Canadian Residency
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Abbas resided in Montreal, Canada. During this period, he operated a business focused on the renovation of apartment buildings. It was in Canada that he secured his citizenship. Before his move to Ramallah, he gained professional experience working for various contracting firms located throughout the Persian Gulf region, beginning in the 1980s.
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In 1997, Abbas relocated to Ramallah to establish his own corporate entities. He serves as the chairman of the Falcon Holding Group, an investment firm. This group oversees the Falcon Electric Mechanical Contracting Company. His portfolio further extends to tobacco distribution, as he owns Falcon Tobacco, which manages the sales of American-made cigarettes across Palestinian territories. Additional ventures based in Ramallah include an insurance company, a civil engineering firm, and real estate operations, as well as an advertising agency co-owned with his brother, Tariq Abbas.
Public Scrutiny and Legal Challenges
Abbas’s business activities have faced public scrutiny regarding the origins of his wealth. In 2012, political analyst Jonathan Schanzer published an opinion piece questioning the legitimacy of the assets held by Yasser and Tariq Abbas. Yasser Abbas subsequently initiated a libel case, which a judge dismissed in October 2013. Separately, in 2015, reports surfaced linking him to a controversy involving public funds and the acquisition of luxury apartments in a complex in Ramallah.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962
- Education: Washington State University
- Citizenship: Canada, Palestine
- Key Business: Falcon Holding Group
- Religion: Sunni Islam
- Languages: English, Arabic
- Spouse: Malak Jaafar
Questions readers ask
What is the nature of the Falcon Electric Mechanical Contracting Company?
It is an engineering firm owned by the Falcon Holding Group, which once secured a $1.89 million contract from the U.S. government for a sewage project in Hebron.
Who is Yasser Abbas married to?
He married Malak Jaafar, a Lebanese presenter for BBC Arabic Television, in 2015.
Achievements
- Educated at Washington State University
