Who Is Raghad Kurdi Taib? Wiki, Age, Kids, Family, Net Worth & Facts About Abdul Taib Mahmud’s Wife
Raghad Kurdi Taib (born 15 January 1980, Age: 44 years old) is a Syrian-born socialite and the second wife of Abdul Taib Mahmud, the former governor and chief minister of Sarawak, Malaysia. She married Taib in 2010, a year after his first wife, Laila, passed away from cancer.
Raghad has been in the spotlight recently due to the controversy surrounding her husband’s health and wealth, as well as the lawsuits filed by his children from his first marriage. Here are some facts about Raghad Kurdi that you may not know.
Early Life and Background
Raghad Taib was born on 15 January 1980 in Damascus, Syria, to Khayami Alkurdi and Waleed Alkurdi. She has three siblings: Samer, Samar, and Mohamad Alkurdi.
Her uncle, Robert Geneid, is a businessman and the husband of Raziah Mahmud, Taib’s sister. Raghad worked as an air hostess before marrying Taib. She also has two children from a previous relationship, who were granted Malaysian citizenship in June 2023.
Raghad Kurdi Taib Wiki/Bio
| Name | Raghad Kurdi Taib |
| Birth date | 15 January 1980 |
| Birthplace | Damascus, Syria |
| Residence | Kuching, Malaysia |
| Spouse | Abdul Taib Mahmud (m. 2010) |
| Children | Waleed Alkurdi, Rayyan Alkurdi |
| Siblings | Samer Alkurdi, Samar Alkurdi, Mohamad Alkurdi |
| Parents | Khayami Alkurdi, Waleed Alkurdi |
| Occupation | Former air hostess |
| raghadtaib | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Marriage to Taib Mahmud
Raghad Kurdi married Abdul Taib Mahmud on 18 January 2010 in a private ceremony at the Astana Negeri, the official residence of the Sarawak governor. She was 29 years old at the time, while Taib was 74. The wedding was arranged by her uncle Robert Geneid, who is also a close associate of Taib.
Raghad became Taib’s second wife, after his first wife, Laila Taib, died of cancer in April 2009. Taib and Laila had four children: Jamilah, Mahmud Abu Bekir, Sulaiman Abdul Rahman, and Hanifah Hajar.
Citizenship and Native Status
Raghad Taib obtained her Malaysian identity card (IC) in 2016, six years after marrying Taib. She also received native status, which granted her special rights and privileges in Sarawak, such as owning native land and voting in native elections.
Her native status has been questioned by some Sarawakian activists, who claim that she does not meet the criteria and that she was given preferential treatment by the authorities. The Astana Negeri lodged a police report against anyone who challenged her native status, saying that it was an insult to the governor and his family.
Wealth and Controversy
Taib is widely believed to be one of the richest women in Malaysia, thanks to her husband’s vast fortune and business empire. Taib Mahmud has been accused of corruption and abuse of power during his 33 years as the chief minister of Sarawak, from 1981 to 2014. He allegedly amassed billions of dollars in wealth and assets, both locally and overseas, through logging, land deals, and state contracts.
He also appointed his family members and cronies to key positions in various companies and agencies. His wealth and influence earned him the nicknames of “Timber King”, “White-haired Uncle”, and “Last White Rajah” of Sarawak.
Raghad Kurdi has been involved in several legal disputes with Taib’s children from his first marriage, who claim that she has taken advantage of their father’s ill health and transferred some of his shares and properties to her name.
In 2020, Taib’s son, Mahmud Abu Bekir, sued Raghad for allegedly transferring 50 million shares of Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS), a publicly listed conglomerate controlled by the Taib family, from his father to her without his consent. In 2021, Taib’s daughter, Jamilah, filed a similar suit against Raghad for allegedly transferring 40 million shares of CMS to her name. Both cases are still pending in court.
Who is Abdul Taib Mahmud?
Abdul Taib Mahmud is a Malaysian politician who served as the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak from March 2014 to January 2024 and the 4th Chief Minister of Sarawak from March 1981 to February 2014, making him the longest-serving head of government of a Malaysian state, serving in the position for 33 years.
He is also the president of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is part of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. He is of ethnic Melanau descent.
Net worth and Income sources
Raghad Taib’s net worth is not publicly known, but she is married to Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is one of the richest and most powerful politicians in Malaysia. According to Forbes, Taib’s net worth was estimated at US$170 million in 2008, but he is widely believed to have amassed billions of dollars in wealth and assets through his tight control over Sarawak’s logging, oil, and gas industries.
Raghad has also benefited from the transfer of shares and properties owned by Taib to her name. According to court documents, Taib transferred 50 million shares worth RM50 million in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (CMSB), a publicly listed conglomerate, to Raghad in June 2023. He also put several of his properties, including a mansion in Demak Jaya, Kuching, in her name.
Health and Whereabouts
Raghad Kurdi has been at the center of a mystery and controversy regarding her husband’s health and whereabouts. Taib Mahmud, who is 87 years old, has been suffering from a life-threatening brain infection and has been in and out of hospital since 2020. He stepped down as the governor of Sarawak on 26 January 2024, due to his poor health condition.
However, his family members claim that they have no idea where he is now and that they have not seen him for months. They allege that Raghad has taken him away from the hospital against his doctor’s advice and without their approval. They also accuse her of isolating him from his children and relatives, and of seeking medical treatment for him from doctors in Turkey via long distance.
Raghad, on the other hand, has denied these allegations and has posted some photos and videos of Taib on her Instagram account, showing him smiling and waving. She has also claimed that she has proof that she did not abduct him from the hospital and that he is in good hands. The police have confirmed that they have received two reports regarding the alleged incident and that they are investigating the matter.
Height & Weight
| Height (approx.) | In Feet Inches: 5′ 6″. In Meters: 1.67 m. In Centimetres: 167 cm. |
| Weight (approx.) | In Kilograms: 58 kg. |
| Hair Color | Black. |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
Controversies
Raghad has been involved in several controversies, mainly related to her marriage to Taib and her citizenship status. Some of the controversies are:
- Raghad married Taib in 2010, a year after his first wife, Laila, died of cancer. Raghad was 29 years old at the time, while Taib was 74, making them 45 years apart in age. Their marriage was arranged by Raghad’s uncle, Robert Geneid, whose wife is Taib’s sister, Raziah.
- Raghad obtained a Malaysian identity card (IC), native-title lands, and voting rights in Sarawak after six years of marriage to Taib. This sparked outrage among many Sarawakians, who questioned how she could get Malaysian citizenship and native status so easily, while many Sarawakian natives have been struggling to get their rights and documents for decades. The Astana Negara, the official residence of the Sarawak governor, lodged a police report against anyone questioning Raghad’s native status.
- Raghad’s two children from a previous marriage, Waleed and Rayyan, were also granted Malaysian citizenship in June 2023. They were born in Syria and had Syrian passports before. Their citizenship was approved by the then Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is now facing corruption charges.
- Raghad was accused of forcibly removing Taib from a private hospital in Kuching against his doctor’s orders in February 2024. Taib was reportedly in intensive care when Raghad, with the help of a butler and bodyguards, wheeled him out to a waiting vehicle and took him away. Sarawak police launched an investigation into the alleged incident, which could amount to rash or negligent behavior that endangers human life or personal safety. Raghad denied the allegation and posted a note from a nurse as proof.
- Raghad faced lawsuits from Taib’s children, Sulaiman and Jamilah, over the transfer of shares and properties owned by Taib to her name. The plaintiffs claimed that Taib was not in a sound mental state when he signed the documents and that Raghad had exerted undue influence over him. The defendants, Raghad and Taib, denied the allegations and said the transfers were done out of love and affection. The case is still pending in court.
Raghad Kurdi Taib is a woman who has been living in the shadow of her husband, Abdul Taib Mahmud, for over a decade. She has been enjoying a lavish lifestyle and a privileged status, but she has also been facing a lot of criticism and controversy. She has been accused of being a gold digger, a home wrecker, and a kidnapper.
She has been sued by her stepchildren, who want to protect their father’s legacy and inheritance. She has been challenged by some Sarawakians, who question her citizenship and native status. She has been caught in a web of mystery and intrigue, involving her husband’s health and whereabouts. She is a woman who has a lot of secrets and stories to tell, but who remains elusive and enigmatic. She is Kurdi Taib, the second wife of Abdul Taib Mahmud.
