Umar Farooq Zahoor

Businessman, Philanthropist

Norwegian, Pakistani Oslo, Norway

Quick Info

ProfessionBusinessman, Philanthropist
NationalityNorwegian, Pakistani
Date of Birth26/10/1975
Age50 years
BirthplaceOslo, Norway

Latest News about Umar Farooq Zahoor

21/04/2026

Umar Farooq Zahoor, a Dubai-based Norwegian-Pakistani businessman wanted in Norway for major bank fraud and money laundering involving over 60 million NOK, was introduced to US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad during US-led peace talks with Iran on April 11. The interaction, captured in a viral video shared by Norwegian media Verdens Gang, occurred amid Vance's visit hosted by Pakistani officials including Army Chief Asim Munir. Zahoor, who denies the allegations and has received Pakistani state honors, was presented as a prominent figure facilitating foreign investment.

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Bio/Wiki

Full NameSheikh Umar Farooq Zahoor
Other Name(s)
  • Umar Farooq
  • Umar Farooq Zahoor
  • Ameri
Known ForBeing a wanted absconder for alleged multi-million-dollar financial crimes in Norway

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourSalt and Pepper

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolNorway High School, Oslo
College/UniversityUniversity of Oslo, Norway
Educational QualificationMaster of Business Administration in Finance (1991-1993)

Personal Life

ReligionIslam

Relationships & More

Marital StatusDivorced
Affair/GirlfriendVeena Malik (actress) (2013)
Marriage Date2006

Family

Wife/Spouse
  • Sophia Mirza (actress) (m. 2006
  • d. 2009)
Children
  • Zainab Umar
  • Zuneirah Umar
Parents
FatherFarooq Zahoor (businessman)
SiblingsUsman Farooq Zahoor (businessman)

Career

Awards, Honours, Achievements
  • Best Norwegian-Pakistani businessman (2014)
  • Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2024)
  • Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2025)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Umar Farooq Zahoor was born in Oslo Norway to Pakistani parents, who were originally from Sialkot.
2. Before moving to the Middle East, Umar grew up and studied in Oslo.
3. He belongs to one of the largest mafia families of Norway.
4. At the age of 18, Farooq started his professional career by starting a travel company, and operated his business in Switzerland, Mexico, Dubai, and Egypt, among other places.
5. In 2000, through his travel agency, Zahoor fraudulently took tickets worth over 15 million NOK.
6. In 2003, Farooq was sentenced to one year in prison for embezzling airline tickets; however, he didn’t show up for sentencing and left Norway soon after.
7. In 2003, Zahoor founded a fake bank named, Banque Internationale Ltd. in Switzerland.
8. In 2004, Umar Farooq Zahoor was arrested in Pakistan after a complaint by a Turkish businessman and politician, Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh.
9. In 2006, Zahoor got married to a Pakistani actress, Sofia Mirza, the couple later had twin daughters in 2007, but divorced in 2009.
10. After their divorce, his wife was granted custody of the twins, and they were put on a no-fly list to prevent them from leaving the country.
11. In 2010, Umar Zahoor became a fugitive wanted by Interpol.
12. In the same year, the Supreme Court of Norway issued arrest warrants for Umar, involving money laundering.
13. In 2013, Zahoor became engaged to Pakistani actress Veena Malik.
14. In 2015, he was involved in discussions around a $510 million power deal with Ameri Group and the Government of Ghana.
15. Despite many allegations in Europe, Zahoor’s image in Pakistan has been markedly different.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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