Abdul Latif Jameel

About the Founder

Abdul Latif Jameel was born in Jeddah in 1909 to Hussein Jameel Mohammed Al-Saadi. He had two brothers, Abdullah and Abdullaziz.^[3] The Al-Saadi family originally came from the village of Kafr Zibad in Palestine, settling in Jeddah during the Ottoman era.^[4]

In 1927, teenage Abdul Latif and his brothers met with a group of about nine friends and fellow football enthusiasts in the wireless room of Jeddah’s telegraph and post office to discuss establishing a new football club.^[5] Launched under the name Al-Ittihad—Arabic for “unity,” reflecting the founders’ inclusive vision—it would eventually become one of the biggest football clubs in the Gulf region.^[6]

Founding Story

Abdul Latif’s first full-time job was as a gas station worker. He subsequently began working with his friend Abdullah Hashim in trade, purchasing basic goods and reselling them in local markets. However, this endeavor proved unsuccessful as they suffered financial losses.^[7]

In 1938, oil was first discovered in Saudi Arabia, kickstarting rapid economic development.^[8]  This economic landscape brought with it a swift expansion of Saudi road infrastructure, changing the way people and goods moved around the country.^[9] In 1945, Abdul Latif identified a business opportunity in the growing demand for personal transportation and established his first automotive venture with a single gas station in Jeddah.^[10] He soon recognized the potential of Toyota’s four-wheel-drive vehicles, though due to financial constraints, he began by ordering only four cars.^[11]

Growth Phase

The 1950s marked the start of a lasting partnership with Toyota, beginning with Abdul Latif’s first visit to its headquarters in Japan. In October 1955, Abdul Latif Jameel became Toyota’s official distributor in Saudi Arabia. As the business expanded and several new Toyota models were introduced to the market, he established a distribution infrastructure that would evolve into one of the region’s largest automotive supply networks. By 1961, a comprehensive parts distribution network was developed to support Toyota’s growing customer base. The 1970s saw further expansion, with new showrooms opening across Saudi Arabia. In December 1976, Toyota reached number one in the Saudi market share.^[12]

Abdul Latif’s son, Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, joined the company after graduating from MIT in 1978.^[13] In 1979, Abdul Latif Jameel began diversifying its business operations with the launch of Abdul Latif Jameel Electronics, which supplied consumer products and services, and Abdul Latif Jameel Finance, which supported Toyota sales. In the following decade, the father and son entered new sectors, including outdoor advertising in 1981 and a national parts distribution center outside Jeddah in 1982.^[14] By that point, the Middle East had become the world’s second-largest market for Toyota, following North America.^[15] In 1993, Abdul Latif Jameel passed away, and Mohammed became the company’s chairman and president.^[16] This period brought continued international expansion, with Toyota distributorships launched in Algeria (1993), Morocco (1995), and China (1998), alongside ventures in advertising and media.^[17]

In 2000, Mohammed’s oldest son, Fady Jameel, joined the company^[18] as it enjoyed continued international growth, with Toyota and Lexus dealerships established in Monaco (2003) and Germany (2004). In 2005, the company launched its first Lexus dealership in Japan and celebrated 50 years of partnership with Toyota. Further expansion followed with dealerships in the UK (2006) and Turkey (2007), while a manufacturing joint venture with DENSO was established in 2001.^[19] In 2006, Fady’s younger brother Hassan Jameel joined the family company.^[20]

The company’s operations expanded with Toyota distributorships in Turkey (2009) and Morocco (2010). In 2012, the company’s international operations headquarters moved to Dubai, and the following year, Abdul Latif Jameel Land was established, marking a move into real estate development.^[21] An Abdul Latif Jameel Ford distributorship was launched in Egypt, alongside a Komatsu distributorship in Saudi Arabia.^[22] Between 2014 and 2017, the family firm sponsored the top Saudi football league, which adopted the name Abdul Latif Jameel Pro League.^[23]

Various community-focused initiatives in healthcare, climate action, renewable energy, and cultural engagement followed, including the launch of the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab at MIT in 2014, which addresses global water and food security challenges. The Jameel Arts Centre opened in Dubai in 2018, followed by the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics. In 2021, Hayy Jameel, an expansive arts complex, opened in Jeddah.

Today

Today, the company still operates as a family business, managed by the second and third generations. Mohammed’s sons, representing the third generation, hold senior positions in the company, with Fady Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel as Vice Chairman, International; and Hassan Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel as Deputy President and Vice Chairman of Saudi Arabia operations.^[25]

The company has diversified into many industries, including transportation, engineering and manufacturing, financial services, land and real estate, energy and environmental services, health, advertising, and media.^[26] Its divisions and subsidiaries operate in 40 different countries across six continents, employing over 11,000 people.^[27]