Suryadharma Ali

He had 5 younger siblings. He received education in SDN Tanjung Priok, Pesantren Darul Qur'an Cisarua Bogor, and SLTA and Pesantren Al Falak Pegentongan Bogor. He completed undergraduate education in IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Faculty of Tarbiyah Islamic Studies program on 1984 and postgraduate education on sociology in the University of Indonesia Faculty of Social and Political Sciences on 2003. At college, he was the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (Pergerakan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia, PMII) Ciputat Branch Chairperson. After graduating, on PMII Congress VII in Bandung, he was elected the 1985-1988 PMII Board Chairperson, beating Iqbal Assegaf by one vote. On 2013, he received an honorary doctorate in Islamic studies epistemology from UIN Malang.

On 1985, he started working at Hero Supermarket, and on 1999, he became its deputy director. He were also active in various Indonesian retail association organisations.

In February 2007, he was elected the United Development Party chairperson, replacing Hamzah Haz. His chairpersonship was assisted by vice chairperson Chozin Chumaidy, secretary-general Irgan Mahfiz, treasurer Suharso Monoarfa, central advisory council head Bachtiar Chamsyah, syariah council head KH Maimun Zubair, and expert council head Barlianta Harahap.

Throughout his career, Suryadharma was seen as a religious traditionalist who was often unwilling to compromise on issues. As religious affairs minister Suryadharma was unwilling to extend government recognition to the Baháʼí Faith, a minority group in the country.