Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Prominent Saudi Businessman, Saleh Abdullah Kamel, Dies at 79


Tue 19 May 2020 | 01:00 AM
H-Tayea

On Monday evening, prominent Saudi businessman, Saleh Abdullah Kamel, passed away at 79 after long struggle with disease, according to Saudi media reports.

He was one of the most key investors in the mass media field; he was the owner of the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART), which was founded in the 1990's. He was the founder and chairman Dallah al Baraka Group (DBHC), which is one of the largest conglomerates in the Middle East.

He also was the Chairman of Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (ICCIA) as well as General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI).

Saudi Sheikh Saleh Kamel in lines....

Saleh Kamel was born 1941 in Saudi Arabia. He was a billionaire businessman. He had a net worth estimated at US$2.3 billion.  

He was called "the father of contemporary Islamic finance", receiving Malaysia's Royal Award for Islamic Finance in November 2010. He was involved in efforts to significantly expand trade among member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries.

He had led numerous projects to promote the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a regional economic force.

Kamel sought to combine the efforts of his DBHC and the Chamber of commerce with ongoing mega-infrastructure projects such as King Abdullah Port, the Economic City, the new railways, and the King Abdullah International Airport to catalyze domestic business across the Kingdom.

Kamel was also a member of the boards of trustees and directors in many social, charitable and cultural societies and foundations such as the Arab Thought Foundation, King Abdul Aziz and His Companions Foundation for Gifted, the international academy for info & Media Sciences, Arab Academy for Financial & Banking and the Islamic Solidarity fund.

Kamel was also the president of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Council of Saudi Chambers and Federation of GCC Chambers.