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 A History of Success: Abdul Latif Jameel Celebrates 75 years

 
With all its challenges, the Abdul Latif Jameel business began in 1945 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Founder

   

  The Arabian proverb – ‘If a wind blows, ride it!’ – was a favorite of my father, the founder of Abdul Latif Jameel. It sums up his pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit that lives on in our company today.  

 

Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, KBE
Chairman
Abdul Latif Jameel
 

           History of Abdul Latif Jameel

 

For eight decades, Saudi Arabia has been at the center of Abdul Latif Jameel operations, our largest market, and where we have deep local knowledge and roots. Today, Abdul Latif Jameel is a global investor and operates diversified businesses in over 30 countries worldwide. Our growth has been built on the wisdom and tenacity of our entrepreneurial founder, the late Abdul Latif Jameel, who saw that better personal transportation could empower businesses and individuals, advancing the economic development of his nation.

Our automotive story began modestly in 1955, when, having been appointed as a Toyota distributor in Saudi Arabia, Mr. Jameel ordered four Toyota vehicles. Sixty years later, our relationship with Toyota Motor Corporation has helped us transform from a modest Saudi-based company to a global automotive business, delivering end-to-end service to commercial clients and retail customers in 8 countries.

Mr. Jameel was a visionary entrepreneur and dynamic pathfinder dedicated to the needs of his fellow citizens. In the same spirit, we seek opportunities to add value and encourage community development.

In recent years, our pioneering development efforts have taken us from that first vehicle order to being one of the World’s leading independently-owned Toyota distributors, with immense regional, financial, and business development expertise. Today's success is built on proven excellence across the full automotive value chain.

From this strong base, we have grown thoughtfully – engaging new strategic partnerships and building businesses where we saw tangible economic and social development possibilities. This has helped us develop an infrastructure to create value and trade from many angles across several industry sectors.

 

Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises

In 2014, following nearly 70 years of commercial success both at home and abroad, Abdul Latif Jameel increased its focus on its Saudi Arabian operations, forming what is today known as ‘Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises’ – a dedicated and well-resourced venture to identify opportunities and drive investment in the Kingdom – accelerating diversification and business growth, while contributing to the economic development of the country.  

Developing successful businesses

Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises’ key focus is developing multi-brand automotive business solutions for commercial and retail customers adjacent to the traditionally core vehicle distribution and retail businesses. Closing the gaps in the value automotive chain and innovating to develop the ownership experience and new revenue streams. It also includes building business opportunities on our nationwide transportation and logistics capabilities beyond automotive, developing digital capabilities and e-commerce, media, entertainment, and, recently, healthcare solutions, Environmental Services, and real estate development.

Innovation and investment

Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises is also exploring new ventures. With a mission to significantly contribute to Abdul Latif Jameel’s extended diversification mandate, we are developing and maintaining a continuous pipeline of value-add investment opportunities across sectors and at varying stages of the investment life cycle – and remain on the look-out for more. Our investment approach includes green-field opportunities, joint ventures and strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and a desire to incubate and nurture breakthrough innovations in Saudi Arabia.

Investment: Partners in Prosperity

As a respected partner and trusted advisor, we encourage and facilitate trading and investment opportunities that mutually benefit our partners and new markets. Responsive to these opportunities, we have a range of highly experienced international business development professionals across a global network of offices.