As Chief Investment Officer and a board member for Asyad Holding Group, Ihab Hashani has closed transactions totaling SR6 billion (US$1.6 billion) and structured, operated and exited a number of businesses in real estate, technology and energy over the past five years.
After graduating from George Washington University with a bachelor of science degree in Physics and minors in Mathematics and Finance, Mr. Hashani enjoyed a stint in the professional world before returning to school to obtain a post-graduate degree from the Harvard Business School. Since then, he has served as Country Director for Pepsi Cola International, Managing Director of Egon Zehnder International for MENA and Chief Strategy Officer of the National Commercial Bank (NCB). In 2005, Mr. Hashani was appointed Senior Vice President of the Olayan Financing Company (OFC) and headed OFC’s Consumer Business Group, managing the manufacture, distribution and marketing of a portfolio of global brands.
Mr. Hashani served as CEO of a multi-billion dollars Royal Saudi Family Office before founding BIS – a US Investment bank, specializing in private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions while advising US and Middle Eastern clients on cross-regional enterprises.
Javaid Akhtar is Group CFO for Asyad Holding and CEO of the Group’s Aviation Division. He has a long history of managing the financial operations of major multinational corporations beginning with MSD (Pak), a Merck subsidiary, before serving as Controller/Manager Finance for Saudi Pharmaceutical Indus. & Medical Supplies Corporation (SPIMACO). He has also been Director, Finance & Administration for NAFT, a subsidiary of MIDROC Holding Saudi Arabia, and Financial Controller – MEA at MIDROC Holding. Mr. Akhtar joined Asyad in 2005 and has used his specialization in aviation and wide-ranging finance expertise in the direct financial management of 18 diverse companies. Mr. Akhtar holds a number of academic and professional certifications in accounting and other corporate-related specialties. He currently sits on the Board of 23 diversified companies.
Rula Junblat began her banking career with BMB Investment Bank, Bahrain, where she spent 10 years working as a proprietary trader on the Equity and FX desks. She then served as General Manager of Capital Growth Management, Bahrain, a third-party advisory company. In 2007, she joined Barclays Wealth, first in Dubai then Geneva, as Senior Investment Advisor servicing Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals. Remaining in Geneva, Ms. Junblat joined Citi Private Bank as Senior Investment Counselor, covering the Middle Eastern desk. During her stay with Citi Bank, Ms Junblat pioneered a Multi-Asset Advisory Desk targeting Sophisticated Ultra-High Net Worth clients and Single Family Offices which she set up in London. She most recently joined APS in London, advising the company on legal and financial matters relating to Sharia Law.
Faisal Al Sayed has been involved in the family business since the age of 17 when he began to spend his summers working for the family companies. After completing his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Industrial Engineering, Faisal began his professional career as a Brand Manager at P&G/Abudawood Group before moving to the family business as an Investment/Business Development Manager. After taking time out to obtain his MBA from Imperial College London, Faisal joined Asyad Holding as Business Development Director and joined the Board of Directors of Four Corners International, Advanced Triad Turbine Services and Al Mathaaq.
Faisal also represents Asyad on the board of directors of a number of local and international companies. He is the CEO of Asyad Holding’s Private Equity Division and a member of the group’s Investment Committee. He also serves as the Vice Chairman of the group’s real estate development arm, Alsunbula, where he is involved in the real estate strategy and the development of several projects.
A “Class 1” general construction company and a leading name in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, FCI was originally established in 1987 and, since then, has built an impressive track record of projects, including Al Safi Farms in Kharj, numerous projects for the Ministry of Defense and Aviation (MODA), Al-Arabi Bank headquarters in Jeddah, the Ibrahim Al-Khalil Hotel in Makkah and the Buraida and Madinah sport stadiums. One of the best-known construction companies in Saudi Arabia, FCI is dedicated to providing the best in construction for the development of Saudi Arabia and creating a legacy of quality.
A specialized company in power generation and attendant services, engineering and industrial services and energy solutions for the chemical, environmental and water treatment sectors. Employing the skills of highly trained technicians, engineers, business analysts and strategic professionals, ATTS is today a major player in the field of energy, gas turbine and power plant services, IPP operated on HFO or diesel engines, spare parts supply, fuel additives, water treatment, environmental solutions and engineering services.
ATTS owns and operates a 10,000sqm workshop facility, fully equipped to execute major overhauls, assembly processes, calibration of injectors and pumps, and repair services. ATTS also maintains a warehouse of spare parts.
Based in Saudi Arabia, ATTS handles projects across the Kingdom and operates in business-partnership with some of the top international companies in the power and services industry.
Established in 1979, Khayala is a retail tailoring outlet, specializing in exclusive designer Saudi men’s wear. It sells unique materials from local and international suppliers including its sister company, Tessuti Italiano, for bespoke men’s clothing. Currently, Al-Khayala operates five showrooms in Jeddah and Makkah, four in Riyadh and one in Al Khobar as well as a state of the art tailoring factory located in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) near Rabigh. As upscale traditional apparel has become increasingly important in Saudi Arabia’s business and social milieu, Khayala has expanded to meet the need for the perfect look and the perfect fit.
The Siraj Sanad brand is named after one of the most famous Saudi designers of traditional clothing of Saudi Arabia and the GCC. Siraj Sanad is known for his elegant innovations, and is the preferred designer and tailor for Saudi royalty. Siraj is known as the designer of the Janadria festival, the Saudi Olympic team, and famous Saudi celebrities such as Mohamed Abdu, Rabih Saqr, and Abady Aljohar. This high-end market is growing and the Siraj Sanad brand continues to expand to meet demand.
Tessuti Italiano was established in 1997 as a wholesaler and manufacturer of textiles and accessories for the traditional Saudi thobe. Tessuti pioneered the concept of branding designer quality thobes, shomaghs and ghutras, and today is the market leader in the premium segment in Saudi Arabia, with some 40% of that market. Tessuti is the sole agent in the region for wool, textiles and headgear from the internationally renowned designer fashion houses Valentino, Ferre, Marzotti and Zegna.
With the expansion of the Saudi healthcare market and the increased role of private providers in the healthcare system, Al Ettisam was founded to build and operate hospitals and clinics. With a solid management team and extensive knowledge of the local market and regulations, Al Ettisam is currently at work on a 200-bed specialty hospital in Jeddah with plans to replicate the efficiency of its planning and construction around the Kingdom.
SNC supports global defense companies through the delivery of innovative solutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company specializes in delivering state-of-the-art systems including the C4I System, Mission Planning System, Electronics Warfare Center & Training, Air Defense System, Land System and Large Scale ERP solutions (IT & Security). As a System Integrator, SNC specialises in the delivery, installation and long-term maintenance of operation command and control systems, surveillance radar and ground-based support systems.
Located in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, Deef’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities produce a variety of over-the-counter treatments in varying forms -- antiseptics, oral liquids, semi-solid and oral solid dosage forms – for distribution throughout the MENA region. With ISO certification of its manufacturing facilities and solid relationships with distributors around the region, Deef brand multivitamins and minerals, analgesics and antipyretics, pulmonics, gastrointestinal drugs, anti-histamines, appetite stimulants and disinfectants and antiseptics are well-known and popular remedies across MENA.
On the cusp of an international culinary boom in Saudi Arabia, Almathaaq is responsible for many of the most exciting new restaurants to open in the cosmopolitan Red Sea port of Jeddah. Adapting international cuisines to local tastes and providing a comfortably hip and casual atmosphere, Almathaaq’s formula for success derives from its stakeholders’ extensive experience in retail, F&B and investment banking leveraged to build a solid foundation with a scalable platform to ensure and maximize success.
Founded in 2012 and based in Riyadh, Kayanat develops, owns and manages shopping malls and other large projects in retail, entertainment and hospitality. Kayanat is currently working on Addiriyah Festival City in suburban Riyadh, a sprawling complex that encompasses an opulently adorned shopping mall, an ice skating rink and an indoor snow bubble for sledding and other snow-related activities. Situated within 20km of Riyadh’s city center, the mall is expected to draw significant crowds to enjoy its unique and ornate architecture, endless shopping possibilities and family restaurants and entertainment venues.
Dubai-based Barajoun Entertainment is world-renowned for its technical and artistic capacity to contribute to various visual media projects, including major Hollywood studio feature films, with animation and special effects. Barajoun produced the soon-to-be-released animated feature, Bilal, and has a number of exciting projects in the pipeline.
ISE is the leader in providing integrated value-added solutions and services for the A & D and public sectors in Saudi Arabia. The company has been an integral part of many large-scale strategic programs in the Aerospace and Defense sector, such as the Peace Shield, SAWARI II, Peace Sentinel, King Fahad International Airport (KFIA), and Advanced Simulation Systems programs. ISE offers IT consultancy, project management support and operational support not only in the Aerospace and Defense sector but across numerous other industries.
Founded in 1988 as an offset program company, AEC quickly became a national and regional leader in the field of avionics, forging a very strong relationship with the Saudi military to develop state-of-the-art digital systems designed to maximize national defense capabilities. While AEC proudly has become an integral part of the Saudi defense sector, it has diversified its operations to provide customized security and network solutions to ICT programs, renewable energy programs, healthcare programs, telecom programs and manufacturing. AEC partners with world leaders in aerospace and defense, ICT, energy, security and heath IT to offer products, services and solutions. With a team of engineers that includes 200 Saudis, AEC offers a full range of support that includes electronic repairs, logistics, engineering & development and manufacturing, ranging from Battlefield Command & Control Systems to the integration of healthcare infomatics. AEC enjoys a stellar reputation locally, regionally and internationally for efficient and accurate service with an eye on controlling costs.
ULC was incorporated in 2012 to market a wide range of lubricants to both retail and industrial clients. At the same time that ULC was established, parent company Asyad Holding Group joined forces with Malaysia’s state oil company, Petronas, to form United Fuel Company LLC, which provides aviation fueling services at airports in Saudi Arabia. Soon after, an agreement was reached for ULC to be the exclusive distributor of Petronas products in the Kingdom. Starting in the first quarter of 2016, ULC began distribution of Petronas products that range from lubricants for automobiles to oils for industrial uses in Saudi Arabia. The products employ Petronas’s new Cooltech formulation that absorbs and transfers excessive heat from engine parts to prevent damage and maximize engine power.
Wafi Energy Company (Wafi) is an operator of gas stations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was established in 2013 in partnership with the founders of the first Saudi company to operate retail and car service gas stations across the Kingdom in 1957 under Tas’helat Group. With the new regulations in the industry the essential goal of Wafi was to provide international standard services in state of the art stations for consumers all over the Kingdom.
Today, Wafi operates a large number of service stations in prime locations across all regions of the kingdom. It continues to expand by realizing its development plans and transitioning today’s existing gas station services and standards into high-tech, customer service-oriented one-stop stations delivering the best and most convenient service to customers.
Sabbar Creative Hub has partnered with some of the best-known names in local and regional mobile telephone services, building a reputation as a savvy mobile applications developer and publisher that excels at identifying the needs of Arab users and developing apps and services that keenly meet those needs. Sabbar has become a leading VAS (value-added services) provider to the mobile telephone sector, a content-provider for mobile devices, an RBT designer and website builder with projects that span not just the region but the entire world.
A true success story, PASA has become a benchmark in the development of the private aviation industry in Saudi Arabia. Established in 2011, PASA owns and operates five aircraft and offers aircraft management, charter, sales, purchase and consulting services. Plans call for the establishment of an FBO at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, which will offer aircraft and passenger handling, aircraft maintenance, training and catering services.
LAT is a licensed charter airline and ground handling company registered in Beirut and operating at the Lebanese capital’s Rafik Hariri International Airport. LAT services leading regional and international airlines flying into and out of Beirut, and provides a full range of traffic services in addition to operating a 24-hour VIP passenger lounge for first- and business-class passengers. LAT’s freight division handles all incoming and outgoing shipments, and its engineering and line maintenance division provides a full array of ground support services. The aircraft services division provides interior cleaning services for aircraft.
Saudi Arabia’s first flight school is located on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah and currently offers 15 single- and multi-engine fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft for those seeking a full-range of pilot licenses and accreditation. RWAA has contracted with Saudi Arabian Airlines to train 25 pilots a year. Other top students remain with the academy to train incoming candidates. RWAA plans to introduce helicopter pilot training in the near future as well as expanding its fleet of fixed-wing aircraft.
BWAA is a pilot training academy licensed by the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority and offering courses for Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Training (IT) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL). BWAA also conducts English language training as a pre-requisite to pilot training programs. Beyond its training activities, BWAA operates discovery flights for tourists and provides hangarage at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport. Asyad Aviation Holdings owns 60% of Beirut Wings.
This joint venture with the petroleum powerhouse Petronas Malaysia – ranked on Fortune’s Global 500 as the 68th largest company in the world in 2014 with revenue of US$100.6 billion – was established to provide aviation fueling services at all civil, military, domestic and international airports across Saudi Arabia. The company is GACA-approved to engage in airport fuel depot operations, into-plane fueling services, aviation gas and importation of spare parts for aircraft and aviation fuels and derivatives.
Based in Riyadh, Al Salam is a Boeing subsidiary authorized to perform maintenance and repairs on Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Handling both military and civil aircraft, Al Salam is contracted to perform work on the entire Royal Saudi Air Force fleet, including its F15 fighter jets, and has contracts with commercial aircraft, as well.
Based in Geneva, PrivatPort is an executive aviation handling company specializing in the exclusive private jet handling business. It works with partners to provide comprehensive services to its very discerning clientele, including flight planning and rostering, airport handling, limousine services, catering, safety measures, security services and a wide array of VIP services. PrivatPort is jointly owned by PrivatAir and Swissport.
- M Hotel Makkah by Millennium is a 5-star hotel launched by end of 2016, located in Makkah, 1.8 km from Masjid Al Haram
- With its unique design, M Hotel Makkah reflects the spirit of originality and luxury with five stars standard of service
- The hotel has 785 rooms and suites, 2 coffee lounge areas, and all day dining restaurant, as well as retail space.
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Located in Makkah where there is a significant demand for suitable accommodations for pilgrims and religious tourists, the Mansour Hotel series comprises four 4-star hotels totaling some 6,000 keys. Two of the hotels, with a total of 700 keys, are ready for construction while the remaining two properties are slated for design and construction in mid-2016. The hotels, designed specifically to accommodate Hajj pilgrims, will anchor a complete religious tourism enterprise that will include transportation, telecom, meals, accommodation and other necessities.
- This ultra-luxurious hotel is planned to create a “Resort in the City” for guests and local residents in a superprime location of Paris (30 Avenue George V, Eighth Arrondissement)
- The hotel is planned to have 60 rooms and suites, a large pool and sophisticated spa, as well as street-level retail/commercial space and world-class restaurants.
- The hotel is perfectly located for major tourist sights, such as the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. Flagships of Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Chanel are nearby, as well as
the headquarters of LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods house.
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Situated just north of Jeddah, in rapidly developing South Obhur, this 40-apartment, 16-villa housing compound is fully approved and licensed. Unit sizes range from 120sqm and 400sqm. Construction is set to begin in July, 2015.
- Sarah Village covers an area of 1.5 sq km in Al Khobar and offers 952 residential units designed to house employees of BAE systems.
- Each of the compound’s 15 neighborhoods overlooks a neatly landscaped park with lawns, rock gardens gazebos, pergolas and paved walkways.
- The compound offers indoor and outside entertainment facilities, retail stores, sport centers, restaurants, as well as a medical clinic.
- An expansion of the compound is currently being undertaken.
