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 back in 1948 – 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 the years.