Chairman's Profile
Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber
International entrepreneur Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber is the founder, Chairman and CEO of MBI International and its subsidiaries. The group has over 9,000 employees across three continents and operates in four market sectors.
Born in 1959 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he is an extraordinarily dynamic, self-made businessman. His passion for history led him to explore ancient and recent civilisations and culture. His drive to champion the development of democracy throughout the Arab world has, through his foundation, provided many under-privileged students throughout the Middle East with the opportunity to study in top universities in Europe and around the world.
With a combined asset value in excess of $9bn, the MBI Group of businesses have grown over the past 30 years into major international companies with their chairman taking a hands-on approach and working relentlessly at the helm.
In 1982, he established his first major endeavour in Saudi Arabia where he founded Jadawel International Construction & Development. By positioning the quality of the residential compounds to a far higher standard to that of competitors, he was able to take the lead in a specialised and highly competitive market. Within twelve years his tenacity was rewarded when was Jadawel ranked 21st largest privately owned company in the country.
JJW Hotels & Resorts was established in 1989 in Portugal and is now the owner-operator of more than 60 hotel and leisure resorts in Europe and the Middle East. Included in the 5-star European portfolio are the Grand Hotel Wien in Vienna, Threadneedles in the City of London and the Scotsman and Glasshouse in Edinburgh. The group also owns boutique hotels Balzac, De Vigny and La Trémoille in Paris. The famous Dona Filipa and San Lorenzo Golf Course were recently acquired and complement Pinheiros Altos, a luxury private residential resort amid a 27-hole golf course. All are located in the exclusive Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago areas in the Algarve.
AJWA Group for Agro and Food Industries commenced operations in 1992 following the construction at Jeddah Islamic Port of what was and still is the largest rice storage and processing facility in Saudi Arabia. The food group now owns many factories in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, processing and distributing a variety of produce from rice and grains, edible oil and ghee, to frozen foods including vegetables, fruits and breaded products and exports to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, USA and parts of Europe.
In March 2008, Sheikh Al Jaber was ranked 5th in Forbes’ Saudi rich list. He has risen to 3rd place in 2009 in the August Forbes’ Saudi richest list.
MBI Al Jaber is also founder, chairman and sole patron of the MBI Al Jaber Foundation and a UN Spokesperson for Global Forums on Reinventing Government. A passionate philanthropist, he is UNESCO Special Envoy for Education Tolerance and Cultures in the Middle East which is aimed at helping to build peace and democracy in the Middle East.
