Background
Adaya was born in Bantva Kathiawar, in the Gujarat state of India. At the young age, he worked with his father and uncle in the salt distribution business.
Adaya was born in Bantva Kathiawar, in the Gujarat state of India. At the young age, he worked with his father and uncle in the salt distribution business.
University of Karachi.
In 1947, when India was partitioned, Adaya migrated to Pakistan. He received Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from University of Karachi in 1950. Later he began textile business as a distributor of yarns made in Japan and Europe.
Adaya went to southern California to visit his family in mid of the 1970s, where he had a heart attack and he made a decision to stay in the United States.
Adaya started his career in America buying and leasing industrial properties in the Los Angeles area. Soon after, he established the Meridian Group, a property management company based in West Los Los Angeles
He owned the Shangri-Louisiana Hotel in Santa Monica, along with several other industrial properties. His executive assistant from 1989 to his death, Teresa J. Arreola, assisted all relations throughout the hotel and was his right hand throughout many important dealings with fellow executives.
He donated land for Westside campus, one of the four campuses of the New Horizon School in 1984, and the money to build an auditorium for the Pasadena campus.
He also sponsored Islamic art exhibitions in Los Angeles County Museum of Art and funded a publication on Islamic artefacts. There is also a fellowship called the Ahmad Adaya Cardiothoracic Research Fellowship established at Street Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in his honor. An endowment under the name of Ahmad Adaya Cardiothoracic Research Fellowship Program has been established at Street.Luke"s - Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.