Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2024

Big homegrown businesses in the Middle East are not only economic entities but also cultural and social institutions deeply rooted in tradition and heritage. Middle Eastern family businesses, once characterized by traditional sectors such as hospitality, retail, and manufacturing, are increasingly diversifying into emerging industries. The push for innovation and adaptation is crucial in the face of global competition and rapid technological advancements. Many family businesses are investing in research and development, digital transformation, and sustainable practices to secure their place in the evolving market.

In recent decades, Middle Eastern family businesses have undergone a transformation, expanding their horizons beyond regional borders and venturing into the global arena. Apart from the traditional real estate as well as hospitality investments in Europe and the U.S., Middle Eastern families are now investing in tech startups as well as sustainability ventures, in both the developed and developing world. For example, Abdul Latif Jameel and the Al Faisaliah Group have invested in EV manufacturers Rivian and joined forces with BeyonCa, respectively, while the Mansour Group has been an early investor in companies like Spotify and Airbnb. The AlNowais Investments Group has more than 1,230MW of clean energy projects in Africa Burkina Faso, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Togo, either in operation or under construction.

The family businesses on our list have stood the test of time, with six being established in the 1800s and 26 established before 1950. Just six were established in the 2000s, all of which were formed due to a split or sale of an earlier business or the consolidation of pre-existing assets to form a holding group.

GCC families are the most successful in the family business space, with 34 of the 100 family businesses coming from Saudi Arabia, 28 from the U.A.E., and seven businesses each from Qatar and Kuwait.

1. Abdul Latif Jameel

2. Al-Futtaim Group

3. Mansour Group

4. Majid Al Futtaim Holding

5. Olayan Financing Company (OFC)

6. Al Ghurair Investment

7. SEDCO Holding

8. Al Muhaidib Group

9. Al Ghurair Group

10. DAMAC Group

11. Al Faisal Holding

12. Power International Holding (PIH)

13. AlNahla Group

14. Juffali

15. Suhail Bahwan Group

16. Yousuf M.A. Naghi & Sons Group

17. Alfardan Group

18. AW Rostamani Group

19. Alghanim Industries

20. Rashed Abdul Rahman Al Rashed & Sons Group (RAR Group)

21. O Capital Group

22. Nesma Group

23. S.S. Lootah Group

24. Alshaya Group

25. Zamil Group Holding Company

26. The Zubair Corporation

27. Zahid Group

28. Cevital Group

29. Mohamed & Obaid Almulla Group

30. Al Masaood Group

31. Abdullah Alothaim Holding Company

32. Ajlan & Bros Group

33. Bait Al-Batterjee

34. Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG)

35. Jarir Marketing Company (Jarir Bookstore)

36. Saud Bahwan Group

37. Rawabi Holding

38. Al-Dabbagh Group (ADG)

39. Mohammed Ibrahim Alsubeaei & Sons Investment Company (MASIC)

40. AlNowais Investments

41. Alkhorayef Group

42. Al Faisaliah Group (AFG)

43. Obeikan Investment Group (OIG)

44. Al Jomaih Holding Company

45. Crescent Group

46. MAG Group Holding

47. Al Othman Holding

48. GMG

49. Abunayyan Holding

50. Tiger Group

51. Y. K. Almoayyed & Sons Group

52. ALSAYER Holding

53. BoodaiCorp

54. Elsewedy Electric

55. Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group (YBA Kanoo)

56. Khalifa Juma Al Nabooda Group

57. Manaseer Group

58. Rajhi Invest

59. ELARABY Group

60. Ghassan Aboud Group (GAG)

61. Mohsin Haider Darwish

62. Alesayi Holding

63. Darwish Holding

64. Al Mulla Group

65. Gargash Group

66. Al Khayyat Investments (AKI)

67. Bukhamseen Group Holding Company

68. Sumou Holding

69. Safari Group

70. Al-Bahar Group

71. Sayegh Group

72. Hayel Saeed Anam Group (HSA Group)

73. Almana Group

74. Hassan Allam Holding

75. Alturki Holding

76. Seddiqi Holding

77. Aljabr Holding

78. Oasis Investment Company (Al Shirawi Group)

79. Bin Hamoodah Company

80. Khansaheb

81. Nuqul Group

82. Alzayani Investments

83. AbuIssa Holding

84. Chalhoub Group

85. Naif Alrajhi Investment

86. Tamer Group

87. Sultan Holding Company (SHC)

88. Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Holding (Al Naboodah Group)

89. Mohammad Omar Bin Haider (MOBH) Holding Group

90. ASTRA Group

91. Holmarcom Group

92. GB Corp

93. Mouawad

94. Diana Holding

95. Fakhro Group

96. Towell Group

97. Fattal Group

98. Al-Rushaid Group

99. Morshedy Group

100. Almuftah Group