Now, it has been revealed the 44-year-old - previously reported as being a fruit shop owner - has actually run Cigara tobacconist and specialist convenience store in Sutherland, in Sydney's southern suburbs, since 2021.
Mr El-Ahmed is a Muslim who arrived in Australia in 2006 from Syria. He sells gifts, toys, board games, leather bags, and mobile phones and accessories from his shop on Old Princess Highway.
More than 12,000 people have already contributed to a GoFundMe that has been set up by Bondi-Junction based business, Car Hub, to help support Mr El-Ahmed in the wake of the terror attack.
Among the donors is one of the world's richest men, Jewish investment banker Bill Ackman, who has contributed $100,000. He is the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management.