Amr Al-Dabbagh
{{Short description|Saudi Arabian businessman (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Amr Al-Dabbagh
| image = File:His Excellency Amr Al-Dabbagh.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Amr Abdullah M.A. Al-Dabbagh
| birth_date = 1966
| birth_place =
| nationality = Saudi Arabian
| alma_mater = King Abdulaziz University
| occupation = Businessman and 2nd Governor of SAGIA (2004–2012)
| years_active = 1984–present
| net_worth =
| boards =
| parents =
| relatives = Yasmeen Al-Dabbagh (daughter)
| signature =
| website =
}}
Amr Al-Dabbagh (born 1966) (Arabic: عمرو الدباغ) is a Saudi businessman. He headed the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) from 2004 to 2012.{{Cite web |title=Al-Dabbagh of Saudi Investment Authority Discusses Reforms and Strategies for Growth {{!}} Columbia SIPA |url=https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/news/aldabbagh-saudi-investment-authority-discusses-reforms-and-strategies-growth |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.sipa.columbia.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=New champion for Saudi’s economic cities {{!}} Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6c25a83c-ae25-11e1-b842-00144feabdc0 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=www.ft.com}}
Early life and education
He was born to Abdullah Al-Dabbagh, a former Saudi Minister for Agriculture in 1966.{{cite web |title=The Dabbagh Family |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/rich-list-290689-htmlitemid290981 |website=Arabian Business}}
He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration from King Abdulaziz University.
Career
He is chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group (ADG). The business is a family conglomerate founded in 1962 by his father, Abdullah Mohammed Ali Al-Dabbagh, the former Minister of Agriculture of Saudi Arabia.
He was governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).{{Cite web |title=Saudi Arabia {{!}} Data |url=http://data.worldbank.org/country/saudi-arabia |accessdate=3 December 2015 |publisher=World Bank}}{{Cite web |date=10 October 2010 |title=Annual Report of FDI INTO SAUDI ARABIA 2010 |url=https://www.sagia.gov.sa/Documents/Download%20center/SAGIA%20Publications/Annual%20Report%20of%20FDI%20into%20Saudi%20Arabia%202010%20.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235829/https://www.sagia.gov.sa/Documents/Download%20center/SAGIA%20Publications/Annual%20Report%20of%20FDI%20into%20Saudi%20Arabia%202010%20.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |accessdate=3 December 2015 |work=SAGIA |publisher=National Competitiveness Center}}{{Cite web |title=Doing Business 2010 – World Bank Group |url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/reports/global-reports/doing-business-2010/ |accessdate=3 December 2015 |work=Doing Business}}{{Cite news |date=20 March 2015 |title=Saudi Arabia's new desert megacity |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31867727 |accessdate=3 December 2015}}
He was the founding Chairman of the think tank the Jeddah Economic Forum. He has been a board member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
In 2015, he created Philanthropy University which offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to Global South non-profit leaders.{{Cite news|title = Online University Helps Philanthropic Groups and Their Leaders|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/17/your-money/online-university-helps-philanthropic-groups-and-their-leaders.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=16 October 2015|access-date=2 December 2015|issn = 0362-4331|author=Paul Sullivan}} The initiative was created with the collaboration of Institute for Business and Social Impact at the Haas School.{{Cite web|title=UC Berkeley and Saudi Donor Start New Online 'Philanthropy University'|url=https://philanthropy.com/article/UC-BerkeleySaudi-Donor/232791|work=The Chronicle of Philanthropy|accessdate=2 December 2015}}{{Cite web |title=U.C. Berkeley launches Saudi-funded Philanthropy University |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2015/09/u-c-berkeley-launches-saudi-funded-philanthropy.html |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}
He founded the UK based Stars Foundation that operated from 2001-2020.{{Cite web |title=Stars Foundation Impact Awards 2011 {{!}} Global development {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/stars-foundation-impact-awards-2011 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Scott |first=Craig |date=2012-12-05 |title=STARS Foundation: Ten years of changing lives |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2012/dec/05/stars-foundation-ten-years-changing-lives |access-date=2023-10-04 |issn=0261-3077}}
Corruption allegations
{{Main article| 2017 Saudi Arabian purge}}
In November 2017, Al-Dabbagh was detained as part of what was called a wide-ranging "anti-corruption" purge that also ensnared Saudi Princes Alwaleed bin Talal and Miteb bin Abdullah.{{Cite web|title = Billionaire prince among dozens arrested in Saudi sweep|url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/saudis-arrest-11-princes-dozens-ministers-shake-50940094|work=ABC|accessdate=5 November 2017}}{{Cite news|title = Saudi Arabia detains princes, ministers in anti-corruption probe|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests-names-factbox/factbox-saudi-arabia-detains-princes-ministers-in-anti-corruption-probe-idUSKBN1D5080|work=Reuters| date=5 November 2017 |accessdate=5 November 2017}}
On November 4, it was claimed that Dabbagh was called from Jeddah to the Ritz Carlton, a luxurious Riyadh hotel that had been converted into a makeshift prison for hundreds of Saudis suspected of corruption by the authorities, and was detained together with other prominent Saudi officials and businessmen.{{Cite news |date=2017-11-09 |title=Saudi anti-corruption probe 'finds $100bn was embezzled' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-41932490 |access-date=2023-10-04}}
Along with Dabbagh, Adel Fakeih, the former economy minister of the country, and Hani Khoja, were kept in custody.{{Cite web |title='Disappeared': Saudi business chiefs languish in jail as MBS chases UK deals |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/disappeared-saudi-business-chiefs-languish-jail-mbs-chases-uk-deals |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}
Dabbagh continued to deny the charges against him.{{Cite news |date=2017-11-08 |title=Saudi Arabia makes fresh arrests in anti-graft crackdown: sources |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests-detentions-idUSKBN1D81ET |access-date=2023-10-04}} Until 20 December 2018, there was no specific charges against Al-Dabbagh, or any legal proceedings. He was released without charge on 23 January 2019.{{cite news|title=Saudi businessman, two consultants released from detention: sources|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests/saudi-businessman-two-consultants-released-from-detention-sources-idUSKCN1PH2XX|accessdate=5 June 2020|work=Reuters|date=24 January 2019|location=Riyadh}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- http://aldabbagh.com/
{{Authority control}}
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Category:20th-century Saudi Arabian businesspeople
Category:21st-century Saudi Arabian businesspeople
Category:Alumni of London Business School
Category:Harvard Business School alumni
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni