Top 10 Saudi Family businesses in KSA

Since many of the biggest corporations in the Middle East are privately held family-run businesses, family-owned businesses are crucial in forming the region’s economies.

The much-awaited list of the Top 100 Family Businesses in the Middle East will be revealed by Forbes Middle East on Sunday. With 36 private enterprises, Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer and exporter, dominates the rankings. These companies have prospered in tandem with the Kingdom’s economic change, creating billions of dollars in wealth after oil was discovered.

Key Features of the Top 10 Most Important Family Businesses in Saudi Arabia:

• The Olayan Group stands as the most powerful Saudi family business. The Olayan family holds a 4.93% stake in Swiss bank Credit Suisse and 18.24% of the Saudi British Bank.
• Rashed Abdul Rahman Al Rashed & Sons Group follows closely, recognised as one of the largest private-sector investors in the Saudi stock market.
• Abdul Latif Jameel ranks among the world’s largest distributors of Toyota vehicles, with operations spanning 30 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey.

Stay tuned for the full rankings, showcasing the leading family businesses that continue to drive economic growth in Saudi Arabia and beyond.

Saudi Arabia’s Presence in Forbes’ Family Business Rankings

Saudi Arabia’s 36 entries on Forbes Middle East’s list reflect more than wealth concentration. They show how private capital supported national growth long before diversification became policy.

After oil was discovered, these families invested early in infrastructure, logistics, industrial production, and consumer markets. Their businesses grew alongside the state, not in opposition to it. Today, the same Family Business groups are central players in tourism, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and global finance.

The top ten Saudi families represent the most influential layer of this ecosystem.

Saudi Arabia’s 10 Most Influential Family Businesses

1 Olayan Group

Founded in 1947 by Suliman S. Olayan, the Olayan Group built its foundations in contracting and commerce in Saudi Arabia. Today, the conglomerate is famed for its diverse commercial and industrial operations and investment portfolio. The family owns 4.93% of Swiss bank Credit Suisse and 18.24% of the Saudi British Bank. Real estate assets include 550 Madison Avenue in New York City, Knightsbridge Estate in London, and the Hotel Ritz in Madrid, as well as office, retail, and residential assets in Paris’s 8th Arrondissement. Hutham Olayan has also been a board member of IBM.

2 Rashed Abdul Rahman Al Rashed & Sons Group

Founded in 1950 by Rashed Al Rashed, Saudi’s Rashed Abdul Rahman Al Rashed & Sons Group has 26 wholly-owned companies. It operates in seven business areas, including building materials, cement, and bulk materials, finishing materials, real estate, contracting, industrial products, automotive products, and food products. The company’s investments include 9.83% in Banque Saudi Fransi, 9.9% of Arab National Bank, and 16.9% of Al Yamamah Steel Industries making it one of the biggest private investors in the Saudi Stock market.

3 Abdul Latif Jameel

Abdul Latif Jameel was founded in Jeddah in 1945 by Abdul Latif Jameel as a small trading business. Ten years later, the group was appointed as a Toyota distributor and built the largest vehicle distribution network in the kingdom. Today it operates in 30 countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. Its core operations are mainly in transportation, engineering and manufacturing, financial services, land and real estate, energy and environmental services, consumer products, and advertising and media sectors. The group has grown through various investments and acquisitions.

4 Zamil Group Holding

Founder Abdullah Hamad Al Zamil first established his trade and services business in Bahrain in 1920. While its portfolio is dominated by wholly-owned and joint-venture entities, Al Zamil Group also owns shares of two publicly listed companies on Saudi Stock Exchange, Zamil Industrial and Sahara Petrochemical. Zamil Industrial became the first family-owned company in Saudi Arabia to be listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange in 2002 and was later followed by Sipchem in 2006. Khalid Al Zamil was chairman of the Saudi Council of the Chambers of Commerce.

5 Al Muhaidib Group

Investment conglomerate, Muhaidib Group, was founded in 1943 by Abdulkadir Al Muhaidib. Today it has more than 200 companies and investments in the region. It holds stakes in some of Saudi Arabia’s leading organisations, including publicly-listed Savola Group, where it owns 8.2% and Bawan Holding Company. The group’s investments are mainly focused on food and retail, industrial and infrastructure, real estate, and financial services. Abdulkadir Al Muhaidib ran the company until the 1980s and remained involved in decision-making along with his children, who took over the group’s management.

6 Yousuf M.A. Naghi & Sons Group

Family conglomerate Yousuf M.A. Naghi & Sons Group is divided into four diversified companies—each managed by one of the sons of founder, Yousuf M.A. Naghi. The group is Saudi Arabia’s exclusive wide sales and distribution agent for Rolls-Royce, BMW, Mini, and Jaguar. Its FMCG sector includes Reckitt Benckiser products such as Dettol, Harpic and Finish. The group also produces and distributes pharmaceuticals and food products, and electronic brands including LG.

7 Al Nahla Group

The Al Nahla Group, founded by Hasan Abbas Sharbatly, is one of the oldest businesses in Saudi Arabia and belongs to the Sharbatly family. The holding and investment company is composed of four clusters: automotive, real estate, trading, and investment. Under its automotive sector are SAMACO Automotive and Fast Auto Technic. SAMACO Automotive imports and distributes Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini. Fast Auto Technic is Saudi’s exclusive dealer of Ferrari and Maserati.

8 E. A. Juffali & Brothers

Brothers Ebrahim, Ali, and Ahmed Abdullah Juffali founded the E. A. Juffali & Brothers company in 1946 in the fields of electric power, communications, and cement. Juffali began growing its international partnerships with brands in the early 1950s including Electrolux, Siemens, and Massey Ferguson, mainly for product sale, marketing, and distribution. By 1959, Juffali became the exclusive distributor of Daimler-Benz AG’s Mercedes-Benz. From automotive, the company has expanded to technology, AC and refrigerator, construction, and chemicals.

9 Sedco Holding

SEDCO is a Shariah compliant private wealth management and institutional investment company, founded in 1976 by the late Salem Ahmed bin Mahfouz. The Mahfouz family’s businesses include direct, financial, and real estate investments, as well as education and healthcare. SEDCO Holding wholly owns Saudi Arabia’s biggest car rental company, Auto World, which was founded in 1981. It also owns 50% of MENA’s largest pharmacy chain, Nahdi, 49.5% of Red Sea Mall in Jeddah, and 21.3% of Indonesia’s largest Islamic bank, Bank Muamalat.

10 Zahid Group

Headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Zahid Group was founded by Mohamed Mahmoud Zahid. The group’s first business was to represent GM in the Kingdom. Today it has a portfolio of 23 companies operating across 11 sectors and representing over 50 international and homegrown brands, including Volvo and Daewoo. The company specializes in the supply of heavy vehicles and has been dealing Caterpillar vehicles in the kingdom for over a half a century. Chairman Talal joined his family’s company in 1967.

FAQs

What defines a Family Business in Saudi Arabia?
Ownership, control, and leadership remain within one family across generations.

Why do Family Business groups dominate Saudi Arabia’s private sector?
Long-term planning, trust-based governance, and early market entry.

Are Saudi Family Businesses globally active?
Most operate across multiple continents through investments and partnerships.

Do Family Businesses participate in public markets?
Several hold major stakes in listed companies or operate hybrid public-private models.

How do foreign companies work with Family Businesses?
Through partnerships, joint ventures, or structured market entry strategies.

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Arnifi is digital first Corporate service provider helping companies enter the Middle East region, starting with UAE and Saudi Arabia markets. Founded and backed by professionals from Amazon, Souq and other large companies operating in KSA, the team understands what it takes to succeed as a startup in both UAE and Saudi Arabian markets, apart from going through the setup process multiple times.

Arnifi will provide a truly digital experience to entry and scaling up of companies both UAE and Saudi Arabia. The Arnifi promise is simple, yet revolutionary, use technology and a great team to provide transparency, efficiency and a great customer experience in the whole process.

Conclusion

Saudi Arabia’s economy is not driven by institutions alone. It is shaped daily by Family Business groups that combine legacy with strategy. These families built trust before regulations matured and invested before diversification became policy.

As Saudi Arabia opens further to global entrepreneurs and investors, understanding the Family Business landscape becomes a competitive advantage. The families listed here are not just historical figures. They are active architects of the Kingdom’s future.

For companies planning entry into Saudi Arabia or the wider Middle East, navigating this ecosystem requires local understanding and operational precision. Arnifi stands positioned to support that journey, offering clarity where complexity often slows progress