Suhail Bahwan
Saud Bahwan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938/39 Sur, Oman |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businessman |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Known for | Founder of Saud Bahwan Group |
Saud Bahwan (Mohammed Saud Bahwan) (born 1938/39) is a billionaire entrepreneur from Oman.
Early life and career
Starting his journey as a modest trader in Sur, Bahwan operated a single dhow inherited from his father, facilitating commerce between Oman and India. In 1965, he relocated to Muscat and, together with his brother Saud, launched a retail outlet in the Muttrah Souq called Suhail & Saud Bahwan, initially focusing on construction tools and fishing gear.
By 1968, he had obtained local distribution rights for Seiko and subsequently for Toyota. Today, the Saud Bahwan Group stands as the largest privately held enterprise in Oman, with diverse operations including fertilizers, healthcare services, construction projects, and automotive sales.
Following a division with his brother in 2002, the Saud Bahwan Group was split into two separate organizations. By 2016, Bahwan entrusted the leadership of much of the group’s operations to his sixth son, Mohammed Nasser, and his second eldest daughter, Amal Bahwan. In 2021, he was recognized as the only Omani on the Forbes World's Billionaires list.
In April 2022, French authorities issued an international arrest warrant for Bahwan alongside former Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn amid probes into alleged misuse of Renault funds for personal benefit. That same year, his net worth reportedly experienced a reduction of $600 million.
Awards
- 2017: Arab League’s Sheikh Issa bin Ali al Khalifa Award for voluntary service
Personal life
Bahwan is married with fifteen children and lives in Muscat, Oman.