History

Al Jomaih started in 1936 – at the time, a small trading establishment in Shaqra, Saudi Arabia.

Our founders’ initial focus was ensuring a first-mover advantage. One of their strategic moves was to bring the first Ford franchise (later turned General Motors) into the region. Their entrepreneurial spirit led Al Jomaih to assume a prominent market position in the local automobile distribution and maintenance industry. Within 10 years of starting, we opened two new centers on both coasts and moved our headquarters to the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh city.

By the mid-1950s, our operations had scaled significantly, branching into the retail of tires, car parts, lubricants, and specialized heavy equipment.

Some of the more notable partnerships we entered at the time include GM (GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac), Yokohama, Pepsi, and Shell. Many of these partners have kept exclusive distribution agreements with us. Our agreements with Pepsi and Shell led to the formation of our portfolio companies JOSLOC and ABP, respectively.

Our leading position in the local automobile industry continued for another two decades.

As demand for our services grew, we expanded our operational reach, opening car dealerships in almost every major city in the country. These were eventually joined by several petrol stations and blended oil products. Mebco and Coelmo joined our increasing list of partners in 1985, further diversifying our offerings and portfolio. The late 1980s was also when Al Jomaih Holding officially assumed its name, leading to the company’s most promising growth yet.

We invested into private equity, public equity, and alternative asset classes, both locally and internationally.

This set the stage for several portfolio companies to follow suit, commencing operations on a global scale and forging robust partnerships with reputable international corporations. Several new companies were added to the Group’s portfolio, including Al Rabih Real Estate Development Company and Al Jomaih Energy & Water Company. The spectacular growth paved the way for the emergence of several noteworthy entities such as Arcapita, Mobily, and Lesha (previously known as QFB).

The subsequent years have witnessed a sustained growth, marked by the formation of various new portfolio companies and strategic alliances.

Collaborations with distinguished names like Enterprise Holding, GAC Motors, and United Company for Industry have further strengthened our position in the market. During this period, AJAR, our car rental portfolio company, expanded its operations to Austria, while Tayseer, our financial solutions entity, was initiated, enriching our offerings to meet diverse client needs. Furthermore, Al Darah, our second real estate development branch, also commenced its operations, contributing to the group's ever-evolving and diversified real estate portfolio.