Early Life & Upbringing
Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan was born in 1962 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, into a family with deep roots in commerce. Raised in an environment that valued diligence and entrepreneurship, he absorbed the culture of business from a young age — a foundation that would shape one of the most remarkable careers in the Arab world.
Education
Abunayyan’s path diverged from conventional academia early on. After completing his secondary education in 1979, he chose the school of experience over university halls — a decision that, in retrospect, proved transformative. He believed that real learning happens in the field, and the decades that followed validated that belief entirely.
Career Beginnings & Rise Through the Ranks
Fresh out of school, Abunayyan began working in his father’s agricultural equipment warehouse in Riyadh — learning the mechanics of supply chains and business operations from the ground up. He then joined the Abdullah Abunayyan Holding Group, not as a manager, but as a regular employee.
This deliberate choice to start at the bottom reflected a philosophy of deep learning over fast-tracking. Over the years, he steadily climbed the ranks through merit and tenacity, eventually being appointed General Manager in 1993 — a company that had been operating since 1950. Under his leadership, everything changed.
The ACWA Power Empire
In 2004, Abunayyan founded ACWA Power, a company that would grow into a global powerhouse in electricity generation and water desalination. In 2021, he took it public on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) — a landmark IPO that cemented its status as one of the region’s most significant infrastructure companies. He currently holds 4.5% of its shares.
ACWA Power operates across 12 countries: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Oman, Turkey, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, South Africa, China, and Mozambique — with total investments exceeding $20 billion, a generation capacity of over 15,000 megawatts of electricity, and 2.4 million cubic meters of desalinated water produced daily.
Business Holdings
Abunayyan’s portfolio extends well beyond ACWA Power. He chairs Vision Invest, a major Saudi holding company with stakes in publicly listed and private firms spanning water treatment, logistics, and flour milling. He also owns 8% of Abunayyan Trading Company, which holds 50% of Vision Invest — a carefully structured ecosystem of strategic, high-growth assets.
He also serves on the boards of several companies listed on Tadawul and is a member of the advisory body of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Economic Council.
Wealth & Global Standing
According to the Forbes Middle East Richest Arabs 2025 list, Mohammad Abunayyan ranked 13th among the wealthiest Arabs, with a net worth of $3.2 billion. His journey from a modest family warehouse to a Forbes billion-dollar ranking stands as one of the most compelling stories in Gulf business history.
Achievements & Legacy
Abunayyan’s greatest achievement may be his role in leading one of the world’s largest solar energy projects — earning him recognition as a pioneer of renewable energy in the Middle East. At a time when the global energy map is being redrawn, he sits not on the sidelines but at the center of the transformation.
Over more than three decades, he transformed a family-run enterprise into a transcontinental empire — one that provides electricity and clean water to millions of people across three continents.
Personal Life
Abunayyan is known for keeping a deliberate distance from the media spotlight — a rarity among billionaires. He lets results speak for themselves. For a new generation of Saudi entrepreneurs, he represents a powerful model: ambition tempered by discipline, and growth built on substance.
