The Abillama Family Business traces its roots back to the early 1930s, when Joseph M. Abillama founded a coachbuilding business in Lebanon. Carrosserie Abillama proved to be a successful vehicle assembly company, as well as building chassis for industrial vehicles and assembling automotive products for Ford.
The company continued to expand under the management of its founder’s two sons, Samir and Nabil Abillama. The family successfully acquired two complementary businesses in France and created Arabian Metal Industries in Saudi Arabia, a joint venture with E.A. Juffali & Brothers, focused upon manufacturing vehicle superstructures.
In 1984, Samir and Nabil Abillama embarked on a new family venture, marking the first significant expansion beyond the automotive sector. Their Mitsulift & Equipment Company became the exclusive Lebanese agent for the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan, responsible for supplying, installing and maintaining elevators and escalators.
During the 1990s, Samir Abillama’s four sons joined the business and today Al Amir Holdings represents the consolidated family enterprises. In recent years, the Abillama family business has continued to grow, expanding into areas including property and automotive services and cybersecurity managed service, as well as real estate and financial investments.
Run and managed by the four Abillama brothers – Youssef, Karim, Raed and Maher Abillama – Al Amir Holdings is today involved in a broad range of complementary businesses and activities around the world.
Our core operating businesses remain focused on providing services and infrastructure for the building and property sector. They include Mitsulift Holding, a joint venture with the Mitsubishi Electric Company, which has continued to expand and now operates exclusively in seven markets across the Levant and West Africa. MMG Holdings is a leading provider of facility, property and energy management services in the Middle East, while Raed Abillama Architects offers comprehensive planning, architectural and project management services. In addition, Auto Shine is an innovative vehicle care and detailing company.
Family interests also include partnerships in a number of additional companies within the real estate, property and automotive sectors, including warehousing, storage, service businesses and consumer brands. Al Amir Holdings’ wider financial interests include investments in a spectrum of asset classes and securities markets, along with shareholdings in regional banks. The venture capital arm of the group focuses on early-stage start up businesses in the technology sector via an administered fund.
At the heart of Al Amir Holdings is the Abillama Family Office, responsible for the continued success of the group and its business interests, along with corporate governance and succession planning. Managed according to a family constitution and overseen by the four directors of the family, the Office is dedicated to wealth preservation, financial strategy and investment decisions as well as future growth, both regionally and internationally..
The Abillama family and Al Amir Holdings remain committed to supporting innovation, progress and sustainability, as well as cultural and artistic endeavor. The Abillamas are dedicated patrons of the arts, with a unique collection of fine art and sculpture. This appreciation of artistic merit and sophisticated aesthetics is reflected in the family’s involvement with, and appreciation for, architecture and design as well as our ongoing commitment to the quality of the built environment.
Al Amir Holdings also promotes a strong philanthropic programme. The Samir & Claude Abillama Foundation was founded as a way for the family to give back to the community, supporting key initiatives within the realms of education, healthcare and culture.