Shahzada Dawood (Urdu:شہزادہ داؤد; 12 February 1975 – 18 June 2023) was a Pakistani[a] businessman and philanthropist.
Dawood, his 19-year-old son, Suleman, and three others were killed inside the submersibleTitan when itimploded on a tourist expedition to view thewreck of theTitanic.
Dawood had been on the board of the Engro Corporation since 2003. He became the vice-chairman of Engro in October 2021. Before this, he had been the vice-chairman of theDawood Hercules Corporation.[10] He had invested in finding growth opportunities throughmergers and acquisitions in textiles, fertilizers, foods, and energy in public-listed companies.[11]
In 2002, Shahzada Dawood married Christine Dawoodnée Meckel (born 1975), who was born and raised in Germany. After having lived in Pakistan andSingapore, they settled in the United Kingdom in 2014. They had two children together: a son, Suleman (2004–2023), and a daughter, Alina (born 2006)[1][18][19][20][21]
Dawood became aMaltese citizen in 2016, reportedly through an Individual Investor Programme.[2]
Media reports indicate that Dawood had a keen interest in investigating natural habitats and renewable energies.[22] He was described as a "photography enthusiast",[23] particularly passionate about wildlife photography and exploring different natural habitats.[16]
Dawood and his family departed from their residence in London and journeyed to Canada for the duration of one month. Dawood, aTitanic enthusiast with a "years long passion for science and discovery,"[24] booked tickets for himself and his wife over Father's Day weekend to embark on theTitan submersible to view thewreck of theTitanic.[22] His wife later gave her ticket to the couple's nineteen-year-old son, Suleman.[25] The dive, which was expected to bring the travellers to a depth of 3,800 metres (12,500 ft),[26] began on the morning of 18 June 2023 and was expected to last eight hours.[2] Approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after beginning the descent,Titan lost contact with the surface ship, theMVPolar Prince.[1][27][28] Search and rescue missions involved water and air support from the United States, Canada and France.[29]
On 22 June 2023, theUnited States Coast Guard confirmed that they had found debris approximately 1,600 feet (500 metres) from the bow of theTitanic that was "consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber", and concluded that the passengers aboardTitan – Dawood and his son, Suleman, as well asHamish Harding,Paul-Henri Nargeolet, andOceanGate CEOStockton Rush — had all died instantly.[30][31][32]
^"Shahzada Dawood Vice Chairman".Engro, board of directors & committees. Engro Corporation Limited. 29 May 2018.Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved23 June 2023.
^Saunders, Angel (13 January 2024)."Widow of Titanic Sub Victims Remembers Son Ahead of 19th Birthday".People. Retrieved7 December 2024.Her daughter Alina was 17 when the incident happened." [...] "Christine said she chose to do the interview because Suleman's birthday is coming up on Jan. 15 and she wants to remember him.
