Amr Al-Dabbagh (born 1966) (Arabic: عمرو الدباغ) is a Saudi businessman. He headed the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) from 2004 to 2012.[1][2]
Amr Al-Dabbagh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Amr Abdullah M.A. Al-Dabbagh 1966 |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Alma mater | King Abdulaziz University |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman and 2nd Governor of SAGIA (2004–2012) |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Relatives | Yasmeen Al-Dabbagh (daughter) |
Early life and education
editHe was born to Abdullah Al-Dabbagh, a former Saudi Minister for Agriculture in 1966.[3]
He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration from King Abdulaziz University.
Career
editHe is chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group (ADG). The business is a family conglomerate founded in 1962 by his father, Abdullah Mohammed Ali Al-Dabbagh, the former Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia.[3]
He was governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).[4][5][6][7]
He was the founding Chairman of the think tank the Jeddah Economic Forum. He has been a board member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In 2015, he created Philanthropy University which offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to Global South non-profit leaders.[8] The initiative was created with the collaboration of Institute for Business and Social Impact at the Haas School.[9][10]
He founded the UK based Stars Foundation that operated from 2001-2020.[11][12]
Corruption allegations
editIn November 2017, Al-Dabbagh was detained as part of what was called a wide-ranging "anti-corruption" purge that also ensnared Saudi Princes Alwaleed bin Talal and Miteb bin Abdullah.[13][14]
On November 4, it was claimed that Dabbagh was called from Jeddah to the Ritz Carlton, a luxurious Riyadh hotel that had been converted into a makeshift prison for hundreds of Saudis suspected of corruption by the authorities, and was detained together with other prominent Saudi officials and businessmen.[15]
Along with Dabbagh, Adel Fakeih, the former economy minister of the country, and Hani Khoja, were kept in custody.[16]
Dabbagh continued to deny the charges against him.[17][16] Until 20 December 2018, there was no specific charges against Al-Dabbagh, or any legal proceedings. He was released without charge on 23 January 2019.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Al-Dabbagh of Saudi Investment Authority Discusses Reforms and Strategies for Growth | Columbia SIPA". www.sipa.columbia.edu. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "New champion for Saudi's economic cities | Financial Times". www.ft.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b "The Dabbagh Family". Arabian Business.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia | Data". World Bank. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Annual Report of FDI INTO SAUDI ARABIA 2010" (PDF). SAGIA. National Competitiveness Center. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Doing Business 2010 – World Bank Group". Doing Business. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's new desert megacity". BBC News. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
- ^ Paul Sullivan (16 October 2015). "Online University Helps Philanthropic Groups and Their Leaders". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "UC Berkeley and Saudi Donor Start New Online 'Philanthropy University'". The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ "U.C. Berkeley launches Saudi-funded Philanthropy University". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Stars Foundation Impact Awards 2011 | Global development | The Guardian". the Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Scott, Craig (5 December 2012). "STARS Foundation: Ten years of changing lives". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Billionaire prince among dozens arrested in Saudi sweep". ABC. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe". Reuters. 5 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
- ^ "Saudi anti-corruption probe 'finds $100bn was embezzled'". BBC News. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ a b "'Disappeared': Saudi business chiefs languish in jail as MBS chases UK deals". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia makes fresh arrests in anti-graft crackdown: sources". Reuters. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- ^ "Saudi businessman, two consultants released from detention: sources". Reuters. Riyadh. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.