Our History

The Beginnings

Sharaf Din Group Companies was established in Saudi Arabia by Mr. Mahfouz family management by Mr. Sharaf Al-Din Mahfouz, after the death of my father and re-ground the companies with my sibling starting out as an electrical appliances store selling General Electric products, Mr. Mahfouz, who was at that time the member of State for Saudi Arabia, had a clear vision of becoming a leading business that introduces the best products and services to Saudi Arabia. This vision marked the beginning of a long journey that has been going on for more than 50 years, and continues to this day with the same values it was built upon in the first place.

Pioneering the Automotive Industry

1948 to 1970, the company struck a deal to be the sole distributor for Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth automobiles in Saudi Arabia. That was before the Middle East oil boom – when Saudi Arabia was a very small market, but Mr. Sharaf Din saw an opportunity and he seized it. This partnership has grown stronger with the years, embodying our chairman’s belief in building enduring partnerships.

Diversifying the Business

As the company achieved substantial success in the automotive sector, it was time to expand into other lines of business. Sharaf Din Group of Companies, as a family business, was not after immediate profits; it was intent on being sustainable and agile to cope with changing market conditions. Therefore, it started operating in new domains such as engineering, financing, marine equipment, foodstuff, insurance, and travel.

Tying up with Mitsubishi

In 1972, the Group arrived at yet another milestone in its successful journey: it became the sole distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in Saudi Arabia. This partnership proved to be extremely successful and is flourishing until today. The Group even expanded the Mitsubishi presence into Egypt through a joint venture.

Different Names, One Brand

The company expanded exponentially over the years, changing its shape and structure, and  started building subsidiaries and other arms for the business to serve the growing needs of its customers. It established new business lines and created new paths for growth: started a company for office automation systems, a new manufacturing division, a financial services company, a special unit for security services, and a money exchange company and several other businesses – all of which are leaders in their sectors in Saudi Arabia.

Today, the Group has grown to more than 40 companies and subsidiaries under its umbrella, all adhering to Sharaf Din’s core essence.

It has kept its unwavering commitment to the original beliefs of its founder. The core values of excellence, professionalism, and innovation continue to be the cornerstone of Sharaf Din Group of Companies and an intrinsic part of its brand that it has maintained over more than 80 years.

Executive Team

Our Brands

Corporate Governance

As a closed shareholding company, Sharaf Din Group of Companies manages all its companies and subsidiaries based on stringent standards of corporate governance to maintain the highest levels of  integrity in the conduct of the Group’s operations. To ensure a high level of compliance with international standards, national laws and regulations and industry best practices, we work with internationally reputed Consulting Firms to improve our processes and make sure we have a work environment built around the highest levels of transparency, integrity and honesty.

The Group is privately held by the Sharaf Din family with Board members predominantly from the third generation. The shareholders - via the Board, set the vision and business outlook of the Group and the executive management team translate this vision into a business strategy to run the operations of all business units accordingly.

The Board is responsible for the systems of risk management and internal controls, which are designed to manage risk and provide reasonable assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Board implements effective policies and procedures for both operational and finance activities across the Group. Additionally, all policies, business processes and finance procedures are subject to scrutiny of an independent in-house Internal Audit Department, which reports to the Board Audit Committee. Further, another independent in-house Compliance Department, which also functionally reports to the Board Audit Committee, ensures compliance with approved Policy & Procedures, applicable laws and regulations and terms and conditions of distributor agreements.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Sharaf Din Group of Companies Board members share a common belief in the pivotal role of the private sector in community development. This belief emanates from the family's values of being an active constituent of society whose well-being is not only an objective, but also a necessity for economic growth and social harmony.

The Group is keen on building strong partnerships with the civil society, government entities, and other businesses to achieve common goals of improving the quality of life for the community as a whole, and those who need it most in particular.

Whether it is a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia Investment Authority to equip Saudi Arabiai youth with valuable vocational skills, assisting in the distribution of food to needy people, contributing to a relief initiative by Saudi Arabia Red Crescent Society, granting scholarships to brilliant students at Saudi Arabia College of Science and Technology, or a simple offer of internships for students to improve their skills and real-world competencies, Sharaf Din Group of Companies is committed to operate its businesses responsibly and always act as a good corporate citizen.

A major part of the Group's social responsibility is its special dedication to its core values of excellent customer service: ensuring that customers receive top-quality products and services, and that customers’ rights are protected. The Group interacts with its customers on all channels, listens to their opinions, and acts upon them to improve its operations, processes and products.