From a family grocery business to a multibillion-dollar business empire, Abdullah Saleh Al Othaim’s story is a long journey of expansion, investment and entrepreneurship.
According to Forbes Middle East, Al Othaim’s net worth is estimated at $2.2 billion in 2026, placing him 21st among the world’s richest Arabs and among Saudi Arabia’s leading billionaires.
But his journey to billionaire status did not begin with billions. It began with a family trading business established decades ago.
It Started With a Grocery Business in 1956
The origins of the Al Othaim business date back to 1956, when Sheikh Saleh Al Othaim established Saleh Al Othaim Trading Establishment in Riyadh.
The business later became the foundation for what grew into the Al Othaim group.
After his father’s death in 1979, Abdullah Al Othaim and his brothers continued developing the family business.
In a 2021 interview with Abdullah Al-Mudaifer on the Saudi television program “Al Liwan,” Al Othaim said his father left the family assets worth around SAR 17 million. He said those assets grew to approximately SAR 62 million by 1990 and SAR 260 million by 1996, while the company’s total assets later reached around SAR 10 billion.
From Food Retail to a Diversified Business Group
The family business eventually expanded far beyond food retail.
Today, Al Othaim’s business interests span retail, food industries, real estate, shopping malls, entertainment, hospitality, fashion and restaurants.
Forbes Middle East ranked Al Othaim Holding 11th among the Top 100 Arab Family Businesses in 2026, highlighting its diversified operations and investment portfolio.
What Happened to the Alleged SAR 100 Million Loss?
This is where the story requires careful fact-checking.
A claim circulating on social media says that Abdullah Al Othaim suffered a loss of more than SAR 100 million through an investment roughly two decades ago.
However, our review of reliable financial and media sources did not identify a primary source in which Abdullah Al Othaim personally confirms losing SAR 100 million, nor did we find sufficient documentation establishing the details of such an investment.
For that reason, the SAR 100 million figure should not be presented as an independently verified fact without the original interview or statement in which the figure was mentioned.
There are, however, documented stories of financial setbacks involving members of the Al Othaim family. In his 2021 appearance on “Al Liwan,” Abdullah Al Othaim spoke about his brother Abdulaziz’s early experience in the gold business. He said his brother lost around SAR 2 million during his first year, before later moving into the pearl trade and eventually becoming highly successful in that field.
2005: A Major Turning Point
The year 2005 marked an important stage in the group’s investment expansion.
Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Company was established in October 2005 with initial capital of just SAR 1 million.
By 2006, its capital had risen to approximately SAR 622.5 million. The company later became a closed joint-stock company in 2008, increased its capital to SAR 1 billion in 2016 and eventually to SAR 1.5 billion in 2023.
This period demonstrates that the years around two decades ago were not the end of the story, they were the beginning of a major investment expansion.
2008: Entering the Saudi Stock Market
Another major milestone came in 2008, when Abdullah Al Othaim Markets became publicly listed.
Forbes reports that Al Othaim Markets went public in 2008 and that Abdullah Al Othaim owns a significant stake in the company. Its 2026 profile puts his ownership at approximately 36%.
The supermarket business has since grown into one of the Kingdom’s largest food retailers, with more than 400 stores in Saudi Arabia and around 50 in Egypt, according to Forbes.
From Family Assets to a Billion-Dollar Fortune
The transformation is visible in the scale of the group today.
Forbes estimates Abdullah Al Othaim’s net worth at $2.2 billion in 2026, placing him 21st on its World’s Richest Arabs list.
Al Othaim Holding was also ranked among the region’s leading family businesses, reflecting its expansion into multiple sectors.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Al Othaim Markets reported SAR 11.09 billion in revenue for 2025, according to Saudi Exchange disclosures.
The Real Lesson Was Not Avoiding Losses
During a 2024 session hosted by the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce, Al Othaim emphasized the importance of reinvesting profits, expanding gradually, managing risk and continuously learning from previous experiences.
He also warned entrepreneurs against excessive spending on appearances and non-investment expenses during the early stages of building a business.
He stressed the importance of proper investment, continuous monitoring and avoiding the temptation to leave investments entirely in the hands of others.
From SAR 1 Million to SAR 1.5 Billion
The growth of Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Company alone illustrates the scale of the transformation.
The company grew from SAR 1 million in capital in 2005 to SAR 1.5 billion in 2023.
The group also expanded into shopping malls, entertainment, real estate, restaurants and other sectors.
In 2023, Abdullah Al Othaim Investment signed a cooperation agreement with the Tourism Development Fund to develop tourism projects across the Kingdom, including projects in Riyadh, Dammam, Khobar, Hail, Madinah and Asir.
A Billionaire With a Growing Philanthropic Footprint
Al Othaim’s activities have also extended beyond business.
In 2023, he committed SAR 100 million to the Jood Housing charity campaign, supporting housing solutions for families in need.
The Abdullah Saleh Al Othaim and Sons Charitable Foundation also established a SAR 100 million endowment investment portfolio in the name of his late son, Abdulmohsen Al Othaim, with proceeds allocated to charitable and humanitarian initiatives.
In 2026, the Sakan Foundation announced another SAR 100 million endowment contribution from Al Othaim Charity to the Jood Endowment Fund, in addition to a SAR 10 million donation to the “Al Jood” campaign.
The Bigger Story Behind Abdullah Al Othaim’s Wealth
If the widely circulated SAR 100 million loss did occur, the most important part of the story is not simply the amount lost, it is what happened afterward.
The family business that began as a modest grocery operation in Riyadh evolved over decades into a diversified business group, while Al Othaim Markets became one of Saudi Arabia’s major retailers.
Today, Forbes estimates Abdullah Al Othaim’s personal fortune at $2.2 billion.
That makes the real question bigger than:
“How did Abdullah Al Othaim lose SAR 100 million?”
The more important question is:
“How did he turn decades of challenges, risks and business lessons into a multibillion-dollar fortune?”
That is the real story behind Abdullah Al Othaim.
Editorial Note
If we want to keep “How Did Al Othaim Lose SAR 100 Million?” as the main Facebook hook, I recommend verifying the original interview or video where the SAR 100 million figure was mentioned before presenting it as a confirmed fact. This keeps the headline powerful while protecting the article’s credibility.
