• Saudi's Olayan Group tops the ranking for the first time.
  • Companies based in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. make up over 60% of the ranking.
  • 87% of the 100 family firms are diversified, with operations in multiple sectors. 

Dubai: Forbes Middle East has unveiled its annual ranking of the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses for 2021, celebrating some of the Middle East's longest-standing business success stories. The list recognizes many companies that have helped shape the region and handed down their legacies through generations.

Among the 100 listees, those headquartered in Saudi Arabia lead (36), followed by the U.A.E. (25) and Kuwait (7). Saudi's diversified Olayan Group leads the pack at the top spot. First founded by Suliman Olayan as a contracting and trading company, the conglomerate today has a diverse commercial, industrial, and investment portfolio. Egypt's Mansour Group and U.A.E.-based Majid Al Futtaim round up the top three.

Diversified business corporations – groups that invest in various sectors and geographies – dominate the ranking with 87 entries. Saudi-headquartered Assila Investments is the only non-diversified group in the top 10. Assila Investments is also the ranking's youngest business alongside MASIC, both of which were founded in 2010. In comparison, Oman's WJ Towell & Co. stands as the oldest family firm, established in 1866.

Of the top 100 family-run companies in 2021, 32 are still chaired by the original founders or cofounders, and only three are headed by women: Mohsin Haider Darwish, headed by Areej and Lujaina Darwish; the Olayan Group, run by Hutham Olayan; and the Orientals Group, chaired by Yasmine Khamis.

To formulate this list, Forbes Middle East only considered businesses or holding companies that are jointly-owned or run by family members. Only Arab families were considered for the list. Listed companies were not considered to be family-owned businesses, but as investments of the family holding groups. We collected information from stock exchanges, reports from consulting firms and universities, and other primary sources. The ranking measured the company's holding size and performance, age, legacy and how diversified the business is in terms of sector and geography.

>

Top 100 Arab Family Businesses in the Middle East 2021

1 | Olayan Group 

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 1947

Sector: Diversified

 

2 | Mansour Group

Country: Egypt

Established: 1952

Sector: Diversified 

 

3 | Majid Al Futtaim

Country: U.A.E.

Established: 1992

Sector: Diversified

 

4 | Al-Ghurair Investment

Country: U.A.E.

Established: 1960

Sector: Diversified

 

5 | Al-Futtaim Group

Country: U.A.E.

Established: 1930

Sector: Diversified

 

6 | Al Muhaidib Group

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 1943

Sector: Diversified

 

7 | Rashed Abdul Rahman Al Rashed & Sons Group

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 1950

Sector: Diversified

 

8 | Abdul Latif Jameel

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 1945

Sector: Diversified

 

9 | Assila Investments

Country: Saudi Arabia

Established: 2010

Sector: Investments 

 

10 | Al Ghurair Group

Country: U.A.E.

Established: 1960

Sector: Diversified

Click here to view the complete list of the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses 2021.

-Ends- 

About Forbes Middle East

Forbes Middle East is a licensee of Forbes Media and extends the Forbes brand of journalism across the Arab world. Forbes Middle East's distinctive editorial style attracts a readership of Arab leaders, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, government officials, and investors united by a belief in the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurial values. 

Across the region, Forbes Middle East sets the pace for preemptive business journalism. By uncovering trends and anticipating opportunities in the regional marketplace, each monthly issue brings top executives the information critical to their success – in both Arabic and English language editions. The magazine researches and publishes original rankings based on methodologies set by Forbes Media. For more information, please visit www.forbesmiddleeast.com  or follow us social on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Media Contact
Juweyria Hersi,
+971 504665013
Hersi@forbesmiddleeast.com 

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.