Dr. Nasser bin Ibrahim Al-Rashid is a Saudi businessman and engineer, renowned as the founder of Al-Rashid Engineering Office, which he established in 1973.
Born in 1939 at the Saudi consulate in Damascus, Syria, Al-Rashid came from a distinguished lineage—his grandfather, Rashid Al-Lailaa, was King Abdulaziz’s commissioner in Syria and Lebanon.
Education and Academic Achievements
Al-Rashid pursued his early education in Hail, then moved to Medina, and later to Damascus.
In 1960, he completed high school at Souk Al-Gharb School in Lebanon, after which he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin in 1961.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1965 and later obtained a PhD in Civil Engineering in early 1970 after working as a teaching assistant at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).
Due to his outstanding academic performance, he received a financial award from the Saudi Scholarship Office.
Professional Career
Al-Rashid is the founder and chairman of Al-Rashid Engineering Office, established in 1973, which has become one of Saudi Arabia’s leading engineering consultancy firms.
He served as the Dean of the College of Engineering Sciences and Applied Engineering at KFUPM and was also an advisor to the Royal Court under King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.
Career Milestones
- 1965: Began as a teaching assistant at KFUPM.
- 1970: Became Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering and later appointed Dean of the College of Engineering Sciences and Applied Engineering until 1974.
- 1975: Established Al-Rashid Engineering Office, which grew to become Saudi Arabia’s top engineering consultancy within just five years.
- 1977: Appointed engineering consultant to King Khalid and Crown Prince Fahd.
- 1982: Designed and supervised the construction of the Hail Government Complex, an innovative initiative to centralize over 30 government ministries in one location.
- 2007: Appointed member of the National Committee for Drug Control for a three-year term.
His firm was responsible for designing and supervising royal palaces, government complexes, hospitals, schools, and major national projects.
He continued serving as a trusted advisor under King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, further cementing his legacy in Saudi Arabia’s development.
Personal Life
Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid was married to Mouna Ayoub, a Lebanese businesswoman and investor in real estate and stocks, known for owning the world’s largest couture collection, valued at $300 million.
He has six sons (Fahd, Ramzi, Ibrahim, Salman, Mohammed, Yusuf) and three daughters (Moudi, Noura, Sara).
Wealth and Influence
In 2009, Arabian Business magazine ranked Nasser Al-Rashid as the fourth-richest Arab, estimating his fortune at $8 billion.
In 1990, he purchased the world’s largest private yacht, “Lady Moura,” measuring 344 feet, for a record-breaking $200 million.
See More: Saudi Billionaire Mohammed Al Jaber The Visionary Leader of MBI Group
