He was a son of Rezā Shāh and a half-brother of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Abdul Reza Pahlavi was born on 19 August 1924 in Tehran. His parents were Rezā Shāh and Princess Esmat Dowlatshahi, the daughter of Prince Mojalal-e Dowleh Dowlatshahi Qajar.
When his father exiled, he accompanied him in Mauritius and then in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 1941 to 1944.
He studied business administration at Harvard University. He graduated in 1947.
During the reign of his half-brother, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Abdul Reza headed different institutions, On 3 September 1949 he was named honorary head of the supreme planning board of Iran"s seven-year plan. He was the head of the planning organization between 1954 and 1955. He served as the chairman of the Harvard-affiliated Iran centre for management studies from 1969 to 1979.
He also headed the wildlife conservation high council and international council for game and wildlife conservation.
He was also part of the Royal Council that ruled Iran during the international visits of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Pahlavi also dealt with business, being wholly or partly the owner of factories, mining operations and agricultural firms.
In addition, he dealt with environmental affairs during that time. He left Iran before the 1979 revolution together with other relatives.
Abdul Reza Pahlavi died in Florida on 11 May 2004.
In addition to national honours, id est (that is), Grand Cross of the Order of Pahlavi, Pahlavi is the recipient of several foreign honours, including: Knight Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (28 February 1949). Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (15 December 1974). Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Supreme Sun (First Class). Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (24 November 1970). Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (9 February 1978).
She was a member of the Qajar dynasty and the fourth as well as last wife of Rezā Shāh.
