Saleh bin Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Turki is a Saudi businessman whose professional career spans over 35 years.
He began his journey from scratch and has achieved remarkable success since the founding of Nesma,
a company that has since grown into a conglomerate of over 47 companies, making significant strides across both public and private service sectors.
Early Life
Saleh Al-Turki was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1947, where his family initially resided and his father, Ali, served as an officer in the Iraqi army.
Later, his family returned to Riyadh and then relocated to Dhahran in the Eastern Province following King Saud’s call for Saudi families to return home.
Education
Al-Turki and his brother Abdulaziz moved to Beirut, Lebanon, in 1958, where they studied at Al-Maqasid Islamic Schools.
He later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the American University of Beirut,
and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of California in the USA.
Professional Background
Born in 1947, Saleh Al-Turki’s early years were spent between Iraq, Kuwait, and Lebanon.
He began his professional career in the late 1970s and is best known as the founder and chairman of Nesma Holding.
Al-Turki is also widely recognized for his charitable efforts and social initiatives that have positively impacted Saudi society—such as establishing training centers for Saudi youth and supporting the Al-Birr Charity Society.
In 2018, a royal decree was issued appointing him as the Mayor of Jeddah.
Achievements
Saleh Al-Turki faced many challenges on his path to success. His career began in the private sector,
where, alongside colleagues Marwan and Imad Ghalayini, he co-founded Nesma Holding in 1979 — short for National Engineering Services and Marketing Co. Ltd.
One of the company’s earliest and most notable milestones was partnering with a Korean firm, for which Nesma acted as the exclusive marketer in Saudi Arabia.
This led to a landmark project in Yanbu, worth over 50 million SAR, earning Nesma a 2.5% commission.
From there, Nesma expanded under Al-Turki’s leadership to become one of the most successful companies in Saudi Arabia, known regionally and globally.
Nesma now oversees 47 subsidiaries, including Nesma Airlines, launched in July 2010 with main hubs in Hail and Cairo.
Nesma has also been involved in key infrastructure projects such as Makkah Metro and the Jabal Omar development near the Holy Mosque.
Today, over 80% of Nesma’s workforce is composed of Saudi nationals, with a strong commitment to supporting local companies and talent.
Public Sector & Philanthropy
Saleh Al-Turki also serves as:
- Chairman of Jeddah Holding Company
- Head of the “Tarahum” Committee for prisoners in Jeddah
- Chairman of the Al-Birr Charity Society in Jeddah
- Advisory member of Coutts Bank, London (Middle East)
- Board member of Amat Poultry Company
- Board member of Raya Healthcare Holding
He holds advisory positions at:
- Dar Al-Hekma University (Jeddah)
- Prince Muqrin University (Medina)
- Effat University (Jeddah)
In recognition of his wide-ranging achievements, King Salman appointed him as Mayor of Jeddah on July 27, 2018,
with a mandate to lead reform and development projects and crack down on violations.
Among his most impactful social contributions:
- Launched a tailoring and textile business to employ the hearing impaired
- Sponsored the Marriage Association in Jeddah
- Established multiple training and development centers for Saudi youth
Signed agreements between Jeddah Municipality and Makkah Province to promote volunteering in the Kingdom
Personal Life
Saleh Al-Turki is married and known as Abu Faisal. He has a daughter named Noura, who:
- Was the first Saudi woman appointed as Vice President of a Sports Federation
- Serves as Executive Director of HR and CSR at Nesma
Represents Saudi Arabia’s business delegation at the International Labour Organization in Geneva
Net Worth
Saleh Al-Turki’s net worth is estimated to exceed 50 million SAR.
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