Saleh Abdullah Kamel

Saleh Abdullah Kamel
Saleh Abdullah Kamel
Born	1941; Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Died	18 May 2020
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, businessman
Known for	Founder and chairman of Dallah al Baraka Group; chairman of General Council for Islamic Banks and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce
Notable work	Founder of Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO); owner of Arab Radio and Television Network (ART)

Saleh Abdullah Kamel (1941 – 18 May 2020) (Ṣaleḥ 'Abdullāh Kamel) was a prominent Saudi billionaire entrepreneur, whose net worth was estimated at approximately US$2.3 billion in March 2017. He was the founder and chairman of the Dallah al Baraka Group (DBHC), recognized as one of the largest conglomerates in the Middle East, with diverse investments encompassing sectors such as financial services, banking, healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, transportation, and operations and maintenance. Additionally, Kamel held leadership roles including chairmanship of the General Council for Islamic Banks and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce.

On 4 November 2017, Saudi authorities detained him along with other notable businessmen including Al-Waleed bin Talal.

Early life

Kamel was born in Mecca in 1941 and received his education across Mecca, Taif, and Jeddah. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Riyadh in 1963.

Wealth

In March 2017, Forbes assessed Kamel's fortune at US$2.3 billion. However, by 2018, he was excluded from the Forbes billionaire rankings due to ambiguities surrounding asset ownership. He established and led Dallah Albaraka, a multinational holding company with diversified investments spanning finance, healthcare, real estate, and manufacturing industries.

Career

Kamel served as chairman of both the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce. He earned acclaim as "the father of contemporary Islamic finance," receiving honors such as Malaysia's Royal Award for Islamic Finance in 2010. His efforts concentrated on enhancing trade relations among Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries and elevating Jeddah’s status as an international commercial center. As head of DBHC and the JCC, he championed projects aimed at positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional economic powerhouse by aligning his enterprises with major infrastructure developments including King Abdullah Port, Economic City initiatives, new railway networks, and King Abdullah International Airport to boost local business activity.

Kamel was also the founder of the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), which collaborated with American firms for operational management under government sponsorship while serving as a contractual intermediary. Initially, bus fares within cities were regulated at one Saudi riyal by royal decree before subsequent increases.

A dedicated supporter of philanthropy, Kamel emphasized the transformative capacity of Islamic zakat in Saudi Arabia, estimating its potential at SR 1 trillion and underscoring its importance in resolving economic and social issues. He advocated for zakat collection on real estate transactions to help mitigate housing shortages and engaged in discussions on Islamic economic principles with international leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In 2010, his son—CEO of DBHC—donated $10 million to create the Abdallah S. Kamel Center for the Study of Islamic Law and Civilization at Yale Law School.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Kamel held board memberships across numerous social, charitable, and cultural institutions including the Arab Thought Foundation, King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Giftedness, International Academy for Information & Media Sciences, Arab Academy for Financial & Banking Studies, and Islamic Solidarity Fund. He also presided over organizations such as the Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Council of Saudi Chambers, and Federation of GCC Chambers.

Arrest

On 4 November 2017, Kamel was detained in Saudi Arabia amid a "corruption crackdown" initiated by a newly established royal anti-corruption committee. This event represented the inaugural purge directed by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Kamel earned various prestigious accolades, including:

Jordanian Independence Decoration, First Order, 1986
Gulf Business Man Award, Dubai, 1993
International Golden Knight Belt from World Public House, 1995
Islamic Banker Award, IOB, 1995
Banker of the Year, Union of Arab Banks, 1996
King Abdul Aziz Decoration, First Order, September 2001
Two Nile Decoration, First Class, Sudan, February 2001
Al-Ala Decoration, Leader Class, Morocco, February 2001
Honorary Doctorate in Media, United States, January 2003
Honorary Title "Datuk Seri", Malaysia, September 2003

Resorts

Kamel was the proprietor of Durrat Al-Arus, a luxury resort located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Coded TV channels

He owned the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), which secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cups in 2002 and 2006 across the Middle East. In 2009, these sports broadcasting assets were sold to the Al Jazeera Group.

Civil services

Kamel played a role in various public service initiatives such as waste management systems, traffic police functions including driver licensing examinations, water desalination facilities, and infrastructure projects like road building. His enterprises also oversaw maintenance operations at pilgrimage locations and the Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.

Allegations

The Dallah al Baraka Group, under the ownership of al Baraka Banking and Investment Group chaired by Kamel, was implicated in litigation filed by families of 9/11 victims claiming its subsidiaries provided unlawful financial support to extremist groups. However, all allegations were dismissed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2005. The court determined there was no proof that Kamel knowingly aided extremist organizations. Kamel consistently asserted that his commercial ventures and charitable activities aimed to foster dialogue and enhance interfaith understanding.

Personal life

Kamel was married to Egyptian actress Safaa Abu Al Saud; they had one daughter together. Additionally, he had a son named Abdullah from another marriage. He held the position of chairman of the board for the Arab Radio and Television Network and lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kamel passed away on 18 May 2020 at the age of 79.

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