Who are the detained Saudi businessmen? | Business and Economy
In a major shake-up by a newly formed anti-corruption committee, a number of senior ministers have been dismissed and nearly a dozen princes detained in Saudi Arabia.
State-run Al Arabiya news channel reported on Saturday at least 11 princes, four current ministers, and several former ministers had been arrested in the anti-corruption probe ordered by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Saudi authorities have not confirmed the names of those detained.
However, 14 former and current ministers, officials and businessmen were mentioned on social media as being among those held.
Al Jazeera takes a closer look at the profiles of the reportedly detained business moguls.
Alwaleed Bin Talal
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is a billionaire businessman and owner of Saudi investment giant, Kingdom Holding.
With a net worth of $17bn, according to Forbes magazine, he is one of the richest men in the world.
Bin Talal and his company have high-profile shares in ride-sharing firm Lyft, Twitter, Apple, Citigroup and News Corp.
In 2008, the 62-year-old dual national of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia was listed on Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people.
Waleed al-Ibrahim
Waleed al-Ibrahim is the chairman of the media group Middle Eastern Broadcasting Company (MBC).
He founded MBC, considered to be the largest private media company in the Middle East and North Africa region, in 1991.
Renowned for changing the face of Arab media, Ibrahim is regularly featured in the Arabian Business top 50 Power List.
In its 26 years of operation, MBC has expanded to a total of 18 TV channels.
Amr al-Dabbagh
Amr al-Dabbagh is the chairman and CEO of Jeddah-based family-owned holding company Al-Dabbagh Group.
He is also the former president of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).
Al-Dabbagh stepped down from public service in 2012 after two four-year terms at SAGIA with a rank of minister.
Al-Dabbagh Group, which was founded in 1962, is a diversified conglomerate with companies in more than 60 countries.
In 2015, al-Dabbagh set up the Philanthropy University to provide free online courses in leadership and management for entrepreneurs seeking to bring about social change.
Saleh Abdullah Kamel
Saleh Abdullah Kamel is the founder and chairman of Jeddah-based conglomerate Dallah Albaraka Group.
The multi-sector company focuses on healthcare, environment, food and financial services.
According to Forbes, Kamel has a net worth of more than $2bn.
He is also the president of Al Baraka, the Islamic banking group, which operates throughout the Middle East, Indonesia and Pakistan.
Ibrahim al-Assaf
The incumbent state minister of Saudi Arabia has been in office since November 2016.
Al-Assaf is also a former finance minister and a current member of the board of directors of Saudi oil giant Aramco.
The 68-year-old PhD holder in economics has also held positions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group.
Bakr bin Laden
Bakr bin Laden, 69, is the brother of the late al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.
He is the owner and largest shareholder of the Jeddah-based construction company Saudi Binladin Group (SBG).
Among its various national and international projects, the company has been involved in the expansion of the Holy Mosque in Mecca, the construction of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, as well as other airports in Cairo, Aden, Doha and Damascus.
Saud al-Dawish
Saud al-Dawish is the former CEO of Saudi Telecom Company (STC).
Al-Dawish resigned from his post in 2012 after a three-year term.
Khaled al-Mulhem
Khalid Abdullah Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Mulhem is a former director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), the kingdom’s national carrier.
Before his stint at Saudia, Mulhem also served as the president of the Saudi Telecom Company for five years.
He is currently overseeing the family-owned Dammam-based Khaled A Al-Melhem & Bros Company, which operates the sale of sanitary ware and plumbing materials.
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