Dialogue & Tolerance

The organisational base for much of Nadhmi Auchi’s recent charitable work has been the Anglo Arab Organisation (AAO), which was founded in 2002 with the purpose of fostering greater understanding between people of Arab origin and their adopted countries.

Mr Auchi believes strongly that the problems of the Middle East cannot be solved by governments alone. There is consequently a vital role for non-governmental organisations, charities, religious and humanitarian bodies in creating an atmosphere in which differences can be resolved peacefully and in which economic development can lay the foundations of political stability.

For these reasons he has funded major construction projects in Lebanon, Iraq and Pakistan and has a played a highly influential behind-the-scenes role in organising the release of French, British and Italian hostages in Iraq.

Nadhmi Auchi’s long-standing work on behalf of inter-church and inter-faith dialogue was honoured in 2003 by the Roman Catholic Sacred Military Constantian Order through the award of the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I. A year later he received further recognition for these activities when he was knighted by Pope John Paul II. In 2009 he was awarded the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal by Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his support for humanitarian and inter-faith understanding in the former Yugoslavia.