Founder's Message

Abdulla FouadFounder & Chairman
(1925-2015)

When I established AFG as a young man, I never dreamed that it would have such a lasting influence and such huge impact on so many. I am genuinely humbled by what we have achieved, none of which would have been possible without the support and dedication of our people throughout this wonderful and exciting long journey. I am also grateful to my country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for providing the right environment and motivation to young entrepreneurs like me, and encouraging us to participate in the economic development of the country. It has been extremely rewarding for me personally to witness AFG expand from one small location in Ras Tanura to becoming a highly reputed diverse group with over 1,200 employees spread over six locations in three countries. This exponential growth brought us a wealth of experience across a range of sectors and enabled us to give something back to our beloved country. We are proud of both our Saudi heritage and to have been a part of this country’s success since its early days.

My aim at the outset was to create a company that was customer focused, putting clients’ needs before its own. This principle was instituted in each new business line we added as AFG expanded and diversified over the years. Where we felt further experience was needed to better serve our customers, we tied up with the best partners, both locally and internationally, all the while staying true to our values and Islamic traditions. I believe that this customer-focused approach and our willingness to innovate are what make AFG stand out among its competitors.

But by far the most valuable wisdom that I have discovered over the years is that the human element must always be respected, encouraged and coached. No matter how much technology may change our lifestyles for the better or worse, it is crystal clear that employees are the most valuable assets an organization can have. It is vitally important to invest in people because they are the ones who make the difference. This has proven to be a winning formula for thousands of years and will continue to do so for many years to come.

These philosophies are now entrenched within our organization at all levels and will continue to drive our strategies in the years and decades ahead.

On behalf of AFG, we look forward to serving you