Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is internationally acknowledged for his global philanthropic activities, business acumen, bold investments and farsightedness into West and East relations. His tireless work has been once again acknowledged and Prince Alwaleed has been recognised as one of the World’s most influential men.

Prince Alwaleed has been awarded numerous awards and ranked in many lists that document and celebrate his achievements in business and philanthropy. After being featured in 2008 Time 100 List of the World's Most Influential People: “Builders & Titans” & Newsweek Magazine’s “Superclass in Action,” Vanity Fair magazine has listed Prince Alwaleed among the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World” 2008 list in the October issue of the magazine.

Entrepreneurial finesse acknowledged

Prince Alwaleed received the ‘Leading Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award by naseba Group who were the organizers of 2008 Real Estate Investment World Summit that was held in Riyadh. The award was presented to the Prince at his office in Riyadh by Mr. Scott Ragsdale, naseba group Chairman and CEO and Mr. Fabien Faure naseba Managing Director, Middle East who personally congratulated him and handed HRH the trophy for the category Leading Entrepreneur of the year. Prince Alwaleed has been awarded for his high contribution to the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s market by opening up the country and helping to bridge the gap between the East and the West.

 Prince Alwaleed commented: “The Saudi market is untapped for foreign investors. The initiative to organize such a high level summit definitely helps them discover new opportunities the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has to offer as well as build long-term investors’ confidence. I believe that platforms such as the Real Estate Investment World Summit will enable local players to become more transparent and attract foreign investments. I appreciate the recognition as leading entrepreneur and look forward to following naseba’s future activities.”  Mr. Ragsdale commented: “It was an incredible honor to meet with HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, someone whose extreme work ethic, visionary leadership and generous spirit gives a real meaning to the expression ‘success is a choice.’”

Tallest Tower in the World

Prince Alwaleed: “Kingdom Holding has many grand investments in real estate in Saudi Arabia and this is one of them”

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques unveiled and inaugurated the two colossal projects of Kingdom City in Jeddah and Kingdom Tower in Jeddah in the presence of HRH Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, HRH Prince Khaled Alfaisal Governor of Makkah Province, HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and Eng. Adel Muhammad Faqih, Mayor of Jeddah and other members of the royal family. 

The unveiling of the designs and plans of the tower that will adorn the city of Jeddah and will be over 1,000 meters high, was held at the opening of a major international architectural exhibition “Towards the First World” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 11th October 2008. KHC was the main sponsor of this historical event. KHC’s two projects: Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower were the highlight of the exhibition with a major presentation. It was the first time the design for Kingdom City and the iconic Kingdom Tower were revealed publicly. During the event, King Abdullah and Prince Alwaleed toured KHC’s exhibition of the master plan and designs of the project with a total investment of more than SR100 billion.

Prince Alwaleed commented: “KHC has many grand investments in real estate in Saudi Arabia and this is one of them. We are extremely delighted at the unveiling of the designs and plans of KHC’s iconic Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower projects in the city of Jeddah by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz which will signify KHC’s contribution in placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the first world and reaffirming KHC as one of the world leading real estate developers.” The centerpiece of the development will be the landmark Kingdom Tower. Kingdom City is expected to house 80,000 residents and accommodate 250,000 visitors who will enjoy its facilities; lakes, canals, water sports and other leisure activities.

Kingdom Tower’s timeless beauty derives from its simplicity and purity of form.  The tower will rise from a large retail and conference centre podium to 1,000+ meters in height –the tallest building in the world – and include five-star hotel accommodations, office space and luxury residences that encompass dramatic, sweeping views of the Red Sea, Obhur Creek and the mountains to the east.  Essentially triangular in plan, Kingdom Tower is conceived as a graceful, sculptural form that reflects not only the unique character of Jeddah but also the sky, water, and land from its taut glass skin.

Investments

Prince Alwaleed Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company announced the Company’s financial results of operations for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  The consolidated net income for nine months totaled SR 1,065 million and resulted in an increase of 11.6% when compared to the same period in 2007.  The consolidated net income for the third quarter of 2008 of SR 226.5 million reflect a minor increase of 0.2% with compared to the results for the third quarter of 2007. The decline in the distribution of foreign dividends was offset by the increase in dividends domestically.  The hotel operations, for both the Company’s owned and managed hotel properties, showed a minor decline in operating results due to the slowdown in global tourism and hotel occupancy.

The Company successfully concluded a financing arrangement and is in the process of negotiating other facilities to take advantage of several opportunities that are available to it. Prince Alwaleed, the Chairman was pleased with the third quarter results, which showed an increase of almost 12% over last year, he added, “We are pleased with Kingdom Holding’s results & with our grand real estate projects in Saudi Arabia that reaffirms our place as one of the world’s leading real estate developers.”

Prince Alwaleed is recognised as the largest private investor on the Saudi stock exchange with SR53.47 billion (US$14.3 billion) worth of direct and indirect shareholdings. About 90 percent of HRH’s holdings in Saudi shares are in Kingdom, in which he owns 94 percent of the conglomerate’s 6.3 billion shares, the stock exchange said on its website. Kingdom holds 5 percent of Samba Financial Group, Saudi Arabia’s second-largest listed bank, 10.1 percent of Savola Group and 6.2 percent in Saudi industrial group Tasnee.

Support

Prince Alwaleed donated $235,282 to Oxfam’s project to Increase Market Access for Women in Senegal. The project aims to improve the livelihoods of poor women food producers in the Dakar area, by reducing the significant gaps such as poor marketing techniques and lack of access to credit that have prevented women from accessing local markets. It is aimed at increasing the marketable skills and direct employment of approximately 330 women and increase product sales and income for kiosk employees and suppliers. Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice.

To assist in Cairo Prince Alwaleed announced his readiness to donate over 100 housing units with a total of SR5 million to victims of the run down slum areas HRH’s donation will help alleviate the suffering of the families in these areas.

Diplomatic Meetings

Prince Alwaleed received at his office in Riyadh Mr. Robert M. Kimmitt, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and an accompanying delegation During the meeting, HRH and the delegation discussed the long standing friendship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. The meeting focused on the current economic crisis and exploring positive strategies to overcome it. HRH has significant investments in the US through KHC in Citigroup, in the media and entertainment sector through News Corporation, Time Warner and Walt Disney, and in the hotel sector through Fairmont and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Moreover, HRH through Kingdom Foundation has funded many cultural and educational projects aimed at bridging the gap between East and West.

Prince Alwaleed has been discussing bilateral and investment opportunities with many international leaders and diplomats. Recently Prince Alwaleed received at his office in Riyadh HRH Raja Nazrin Shah, Malaysian Crown Prince of Perak Darul Ridzuan and Financial Ambassador to the Malaysia Islamic Financial Center (MIFC) who was accompanied by a delegation. The two discussed the warm friendship between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. The Crown Prince also focused on topics such as the stock exchange, the Islamic financial system, small enterprises and ways of supporting them in the Saudi market. The delegation presented project proposals in Malaysia to Prince Alwaleed.

Prince Alwaleed received at his office Ambassador of Eritrea to Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Omar Mahmoud. The ambassador handed the Prince a letter of thanks from the President of Eritrea Isaias Afworki for HRH’s contribution to the school of the blind in Asmara and re-extended his invitation to Prince Alwaleed to visit Eretria. The Prince and ambassador Mahmoud discussed investment, economic, philanthropic issues, and the bi-lateral relations between their respective countries.

Prince Alwaleed received at his office an Egyptian trade and business delegation headed by HE Mr. Rasheed Mohamed Rasheed Minister of Trade and Industry, HE Mr. Mamdouh Mustafa, First Deputy Trade and Industry Minister and HE Mr. Mahmoud Mohamed Ouf the Egyptian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The Prince and Mr. Rasheed discussed investment and economic issues and the Minister discussed ways of strengthening bi-lateral trade relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt aimed at combating the current global economic climate. He suggested ways the two countries can participate in funding investment projects. Also discussed were the latest developments concerning the Toshka project and the Prince’s investments in Egypt in the various sectors that include, banking, hotels and the media sector and the Prince’s humanitarian contributions to the country.

Prince Alwaleed received at his office Afghani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia His Excellency Aziz Ulla Karazai. The ambassador said that HRH’s recent visit to Afghanistan was a success and left a positive impact on Afghanistan and its economy. The Afghani ambassador expressed his governments’ wish for the Prince to invest in his country in light of Prince Alwaleed’s regional and global investments. Mr. Aziz Karazai said that Afghanistan was currently witnessing a reconstruction phase which will make investing there very promising, especially in the private sector that will in turn help boost the economy.  Prince Alwaleed’s support and continuous humanitarian contributions to Afghanistan dates back to when the country was occupied by the Soviet Union.

H.E Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemeni President received Prince Alwaleed recently at the Four Seasons hotel in Cairo. The Yemeni President and Prince Alwaleed discussed the strong friendship between their respective countries. The President commended the Prince on his global and regional investments and invited him to invest in Yemen. President Saleh thanked HRH for his kind and generous humanitarian efforts towards rebuilding the Al-Dhafir village.

Prince Alwaleed attended the 10th Anniversary Dinner of the Future Generation Foundation accompanied by his spouse HH Princess Ameera Altaweel, pursuant to an invitation from Mr. Jamal Mubarak the son H.E President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. The anniversary dinner was held at the Air force building in Cairo under the patronage of First Lady of Egypt, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak. The Prince was greeted by the First Lady and Mr. Jamal Mubarak who cordially welcomed him at the event. The event was attended by Queen Rania of Jordan, PM Ahmed Nazif and H.E. Ms. Leila El Solh, Vice Chairman of Alwaleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation in Beirut, officials and dignitaries including Mr. Tony Blair former British PM who was the guest of honor and gave a key note speech at the event. Prince Alwaleed had donated EGP 2 million to support the programs of the Future Generation Foundation and during the 10th Anniversary Dinner occasion HRH pledged a further EGP10 million donation. Founded in 1998 the Future Generation Foundation is a nonprofit organization, with the aim of bolstering Egypt’s bold strategy for achieving sustainable economic growth through global competition by helping to create a tech-oriented and skilled workforce that could confront the needs of the new century.