Although Dalia Asafi may not be the most well-known person right now, she has been in the spotlight since the 1990s when she wed former NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon. Particularly because she was only 18 at the time, their marriage wasn’t without its share of drama.
The couple has remained happy together for many years while maintaining a very private lifestyle with their kids. Furthermore, Dalia Asafi has been such a secretive person that it has been difficult to learn anything significant about her.
Facts You Should Know About Dalia Asafi Olajuwon
1. Dalia Asafi was born here in the country.
information about Dalia Asafi’s life story and formative years. She was born in Houston, Texas, in 1978, it is known. Additionally, she was raised there.
2. The spouse of Hakeem Olajuwon is a devout Muslim.
Dalia’s religion, Islam, is one of the things she values most in life. Her parents instilled faith in her from birth, and she was raised according to Islamic principles. She still faithfully adheres to Islam’s teachings today. Hakeem is a devout follower of Islam as well.
3. She desired a career in medicine.
Before Dalia and Hakeem’s wedding was planned, she was getting ready to start medical school and had been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Hakeem’s charity, The Dream Foundation. She renounced the scholarship as a result of her connection to the athlete because family members of those involved in the foundation were not eligible to receive it.
4. Olajuwon and Dalia never dated.
Dalia and her husband did not go on a first date before getting hitched, in contrast to many other couples. In actuality, they had never even spoken before their families set up their wedding. The father of Dalia and the former basketball player both attended the same mosque, which is how their parents first became acquainted and came to the decision that the two should wed. They had their first encounter in 1995, and by 1996 they had tied the knot.
5. She was 18 when they got married.
Dalia Asafi married Hakeem when she was just 18 years old even though he was already 33. Olajuwon made it clear at the time that although Dalia was still a young adult at the time, she had knowledge, experience, and wisdom well beyond her years, just like many other Muslim women. He also disclosed that Muslim women in Nigeria, where he was born, go into marriage at much younger ages—15 and 16—than other cultures do.
6. Hakeem Olajuwon’s oldest child is not the mother of Dalia Asafi.
Although Dalia was the first woman the former basketball player married, he had previously dated other women. In the 1980s, Hakeen had a committed relationship with TV producer Lita Spencer. Abisola Olajuwon, the basketball player’s first child, was born in 1987 as a result of the relationship. After their relationship ended, Lisa took Hakeen to court for breaking his promise to marry her and having her prove she could procreate.
7. She has four children.
Four children—two boys and two girls—have been born into Dalia and Hakeem’s union. Before the family moved back to the United States, their sons Abdullah and Abdul were born in Jordan. They lived there for three years and developed a passion for sports akin to their father. The boys grew up playing basketball and soccer, and they are still interested in those sports today.
Aisha Olajuwon and Rahmah Olajuwon are their two daughters. Hakeem’s daughter from the aforementioned previous relationship, Abisola, has since followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a professional basketball player. In 2010, she qualified for the WNBA draft, and Chicago Sky chose her. She spent three seasons as a player with various clubs before transitioning into coaching in 2014.
8. Her family splits its time between Jordan and the US.
For many years, Dalia and her husband from the Hall of Fame divided their time between the US and Jordan. The couple and their kids now call each of the two nations home. Hakeem claimed that one of the factors in their decision to settle in Jordan was the fact that it is an Islamic nation that welcomes immigrants very warmly. He initially moved to Jordan to pursue Islamic studies, but over time, he grew to love the country.
9. Dalia’s husband is an extremely wealthy person.
Dalia’s professional history is unknown, so her earnings have never been made public. However, based on his various contracts, basketball star Hakeem Olajuwon is known to be a very wealthy man who has earned over $100 million in his career. His current net worth is thought to be $200 million. His career, endorsement deals, and investments among other things helped him amass his wealth.
10. She leads an extremely private life.
Dalia has always led a private life, as has been made abundantly clear. She is not the most visible person on social media, and she is only occasionally seen.