Saudi Aramco

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Lore & Background

Founded in 1942 by the late Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Tamimi, the company is owned and managed by his heirs. The current chairman is Tariq Ali al-Tamimi. Beginning as a general supplier to the predecessor of Saudi Aramco, the Tamimi Group of Companies has several joint ventures, with companies as diverse as General Electric and Safeway. Tamimi Markets opened its headquarters and largest store in Dammam, with the opening date of the largest store not consistently recorded as 2018; it may have opened earlier. The group is active in import and distribution via Tamimi Commercial Co. (since 1949), real estate development (since 1953), power and industrial activities (since 1976), food services and facility management (since 1977), food industry (since 2009), food retailing via Tamimi Markets (since 1979, with over 110 stores in Saudi Arabia), and construction (since 1998).

Reader's Guide

The Tamimi Group of Companies is a large Saudi Arabian conglomerate with operations spanning supermarket chains, hotels, catering, real estate, oilfield services & supplies, road construction, transportation and trucking, power generation, and water filtration. It was founded in 1942 by the late Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Tamimi and remains owned and managed by his heirs, with Tariq Ali al-Tamimi as chairman. The group began as a major parts supplier to Saudi Aramco and has since formed joint ventures with companies including General Electric and Safeway. A key retail milestone came in 2018 when Tamimi Markets opened its headquarters and largest store in Dammam. The group's activities are organized by sector and start date: Tamimi Commercial Co. for import and distribution (since 1949), real estate development (since 1953), power and industrial activities (since 1976), food services and facility management (since 1977), food industry (since 2009), Tamimi Markets food retailing (since 1979, with over 110 stores in Saudi Arabia), and construction (since 1998). The company is also in partnership with Pakistani businessman and politician Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan.

Did You Know?

• The Tamimi Group of Companies was founded in 1942 by the late Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Tamimi.
• The current chairman is Tariq Ali al-Tamimi.
• The group began as a general supplier to the predecessor of Saudi Aramco, not as a major parts supplier to the company itself.
• Tamimi Markets opened its headquarters and largest store in Dammam, though the largest store's opening date is not consistently recorded as 2018 and may have opened earlier.

Origins & Family Stewardship

Founded in 1942 by the late Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al-Tamimi, the company is owned and managed by his heirs. The current chairman is Tariq Ali al-Tamimi.

From Oilfield Supplier to Multi-Sector Conglomerate

Beginning as a major parts supplier to oil giant Saudi Aramco, the Tamimi Group of Companies has several joint ventures, with companies as diverse as General Electric and Safeway. The Tamimi Group is active in the following sectors: Import and distribution: Tamimi Commercial Co. - TCCM (since 1949); Real estate development (since 1953); Power and industrial activities (since 1976); Food services and facility management (since 1977) and food industry (since 2009); Food retailing: Tamimi Markets (since 1979), with over 110 stores in Saudi Arabia; Construction (since 1998).

Retail Footprint & the Dammam Landmark

In 2018, Tamimi Markets opened its headquarters and largest store in Dammam. Tamimi Markets has been operating since 1979, with over 110 stores in Saudi Arabia. Food services and facility management have been running since 1977, and a food industry division was established in 2009.

Cross-Border Partnerships & Joint Ventures

The company is in partnership with Pakistani businessman and politician Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan. The Tamimi Group of Companies has several joint ventures, with companies as diverse as General Electric and Safeway. Tamimi Commercial Co. - TCCM has been active in import and distribution since 1949.

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