Upon his arrival at the airport, Mawlana Hazar Imam was presented with military honours by the Air Base Commander and was greeted by state and government officials as well as leaders of the Jamat and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

After departing the airport, Mawlana Hazar Imam drove past Parque Eduardo VII where arrangements had been made for members of the Jamat to safely congregate and welcome him to Portugal.

Thousands of members of the Jamat from around the world rejoiced as Hazar Imam’s motorcade passed by Jardim Amália Rodrigues.

Sana Momin from Houston, USA said “It was great to see members of the Jamat coming together from all over the world. You could tell how excited everyone was. It made me realise how blessed I am to have this opportunity.”

During his visit, Mawlana Hazar Imam will meet with the Portugal jurisdiction Jamat, and grant a Darbar to the global Jamat assembled in Lisbon.

At the invitation of the Government of Portugal, Hazar Imam will meet with various government representatives and will engage in activities relating to initiatives of the Ismaili Imamat and the AKDN. Mawlana Hazar Imam will also address the Portuguese Parliament on 10 July.

In June 2015, the Ismaili Imamat signed a landmark agreement for the establishment of a Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal. This agreement, unanimously ratified by Portugal’s Parliament, will result in intensified cooperation between Portugal and the Ismaili Imamat in improving the quality of lives of the people in Portugal and elsewhere.

During the Diamond Jubilee year, Hazar Imam has visited Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. During each visit, Hazar Imam met with leaders of government, civil society, development organisations, and partners of the Network. These meetings have strengthened and expanded AKDN’s ability to improve the quality of life of those in the greatest areas of need.