Spotlight
Jarir
Information last updated on 18 December 2023
About the Founders and Founding Story
Abdul Rahman Al-Agil was born in 1928 in the Saudi town of Harmah, into a family with limited financial means. His father was blind, and his mother, Noora Alduwaihi, passed away when he was five years old. Abdul Rahman’s early education involved studying the Quran under the guidance of Sheikh Othman bin Sulaiman at the school affiliated with Harmah Mosque in Riyadh. At the age of 11, he moved to Al-Ahsa, where he briefly stayed with an uncle, before relocating to Al-Jubail, where he lived with a cousin for two years, studying reading, writing, and math before returning to Harmah. In 1945, at around the age of 17, he married Noora Abdul-Karim.[8]
In his early years of employment, Abdul Rahman worked in accounting. In 1951, he was appointed to an educational position in the town of Al-Attar. He was then tasked with inaugurating an elementary school in the city of Tumair, where he served as principal for around three years. Continuing as a principal for various other schools, he also owned the Al-Wai’ Al-Arabi Bookstore in Riyadh with his brother Abdulaziz.[9]
In 1974, the Al-Agil family acquired a new outlet in Riyadh’s Malaz neighborhood: Jarir Bookstore.[10] Purchased at a modest price, the establishment was stocked with books and supplies transferred from Al-Wai’ Al-Arabi, which was transformed into a real estate office run by Abdul Rahman.[11] Jarir was managed by his sons at different points over the years: Ibrahim (born in 1948), Mohammed (born in 1952), Nasser (born in 1953), Abdullah (born in 1956), Ahmad (born in 1957), Abdul Karim (born in 1959), and Abdulsalam (born in 1966).[12] In 1977, the company hired its first non-family member, Mohammed Al-Assar, to help run the bookstore while the younger sons were busy attending school or pursuing their education.[13]
Growth Phase
In the late 1970s, the Al-Agil family faced one of their first major challenges when Jarir’s landlord mandated their departure. They relocated the business to a new Riyadh site under a 10-year lease. The annual rent of half a million riyals compelled the family to take out a substantial loan.[14]
Following the relocation, the business expanded and experienced a gradual growth in sales. In 1979, Jarir Marketing Company was established in Riyadh, with the founder’s sons assuming central roles: Abdullah as managing director and head of wholesale marketing, Mohammed as chairman of the board, and Abdul Karim as CEO.[15] Jarir Bookstore Co. took charge of the retail operations, while Jarir Marketing Co. handled the wholesale business.[16]
In 1980, Jarir Bookstore Co. expanded, as the business introduced the Roco brand for the production and import of a variety of goods, including school and office supplies.[17] In 1982, Jarir established a second branch in Riyadh.[18] In 1985, Abdul Rahman passed away at the age of 57.[19]
During the following decade, Jarir grew its international trade,[20] and in 1999, it founded Jarir Publication to publish and translate books into Arabic, focusing on personal development, education, and children’s literature.[21]
The 2000s witnessed major changes in the company’s structure and marked substantial developments in its operations beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia. While Jarir’s retail and wholesale divisions had long been overseen by separate entities, in January 2000, Jarir Bookstore Co. was merged into Jarir Marketing Co., leading to synergies in product offerings.[22] In 2002, Jarir became a joint stock company, which was listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) the following year.[23] During the same period, Jarir expanded into neighboring GCC countries, launching operations in Qatar in 2001, Abu Dhabi in 2002, and Kuwait in 2004.[24]
Today
Today, Jarir Marketing Co. is a Saudi joint stock company (SJSC) engaged in the wholesale and retail trade. Its subsidiaries include United Company for Office Supplies and Stationeries WLL, Jarir Trading Company LLC, United Bookshop, Jarir Bookstore, and Jarir Egypt Financial Leasing Co SAE. From its headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Jarir maintains a total of 68 showrooms, both within and outside the Kingdom, with a workforce of 5,524 employees.[25] The business is led by Chairman Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al-Agil and CEO and Vice-Chairman Abdul Karim Abdul Rahman Al-Agil. The third generation of the Al-Agil family is actively involved on the board of directors.[26]
Notes
Photo Credit: Abdul Karim Al-Agil in Riyadh. Image Credit: Al-Agil Family. Image Source: Al-Agil Family.
[1] “Partners.” Unified Real Estate Development, https://unified.com.sa/partners/. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[2] “Company Profile.” Jarir, https://www.jarir.com/sa-en/about-jarir/company-profile. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] “Sustainability Report 2022.” Jarir Marketing Co., https://wps-media.jarir.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Jarir-sustainability-report_2022-EN-1.pdf Accessed 18 December 2023.
[8] عبدالله بن عبدالرحمن، العقيل. بصمة حياة – سيرة وأفكار وذكريات. معالم للنشر والطباعة والتوزيع ذ. م. م.
[9] Ibid.
[10] “عائلة العقيل جرير التجارية: انطلقنا من مكتبة صغيرة بالرياض واليوم بين الأغنى.” Arrajol, 1 December 2021, https://www.arrajol.com/content/173566/%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D9%88%D8%A3%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84/%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7-%. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[11] عبدالله بن عبدالرحمن، العقيل. بصمة حياة – سيرة وأفكار وذكريات.
[12] The years cited in the following sources are in the Islamic calendar and have been converted to the Gregorian calendar. See: “ملخص عقد تأسيس: شركة جرير للاستثمارات التجارية.” الجزيرة, 1987, https://archive.org/details/AlJazirah1987SaudiArabiaArabic/Oct%2030%201987%2C%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9%20%28Al-Jazirah%29%2C%20%235510%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%20%28ar%29/page/n9/mode/2up?q=%22%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85.
عبدالله بن عبدالرحمن، العقيل. بصمة حياة – سيرة وأفكار وذكريات.
[13] “العقيل يروي قصة نجاح «جرير» التي بدأت بمكتبة صغيرة راهن الجميع على خسارتها.” Al-Jazirah.
“عائلة العقيل جرير التجارية: انطلقنا من مكتبة صغيرة بالرياض واليوم بين الأغنى.” Arrajol.
[14] “العقيل يروي قصة نجاح «جرير» التي بدأت بمكتبة صغيرة راهن الجميع على خسارتها.” Al-Jazirah.
عبدالله بن عبدالرحمن، العقيل. بصمة حياة – سيرة وأفكار وذكريات.
[15] “Jarir Marketing Co. Annual Report 2021.” Argaam, https://argaamplus.s3.amazonaws.com/445744ec-557a-4b96-85a7-b9472ec31160.pdf. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[16] “Jarir Marketing Co.” NCP Capital.
http://content.argaam.com.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/d79cb11a-ea6c-4bb9-997c-c944bb0c663d.pdf. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[17] عبدالله بن عبدالرحمن، العقيل. بصمة حياة – سيرة وأفكار وذكريات.
[18] Ibid.
[19] “ذكريات Memories.” Twitter, 29 May 2020, https://twitter.com/iMemories_SA/status/1266362988585345025. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[20] Interview with Muhammad Alagil, interviewed by Don Babai, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, November 22, 2019, Creating Emerging Markets Oral History Collection, Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School. https://www.hbs.edu/creating-emerging-markets/interviews/Pages/profile.aspx?profile=malagil. Accessed 18 December 2023.
[21] “Sustainability Report 2022.” Jarir Marketing Co.,
[22] “Jarir Marketing Co.” NCP Capital.
[23] “About Jarir.” Jarir.
[24] “Jarir Marketing Co.” NCP Capital.
[25] “Sustainability Report 2022.” Jarir Marketing Co.
[26] “Board of Directors.” Jarir, https://www.jarir.com/sa-en/about-jarir/board-of-directors. Accessed 18 December 2023.
To cite this article please use:
“Jarir” Family Business Histories Research Project, New York University Abu Dhabi and Tharawat Family Business Forum, 15 Aug. 2024, familybusinesshistories.org/spotlights/jarir