Zamil Group, established in 1920 by Abdullah Hamad Al Zamil as a trading and services business in Bahrain, has been selected as the winner of the 2025 IMD Global Family Business Award. An independent award jury of family business experts and previous award winners praised the Group for its bold governance model and candid approach to navigating complex family dynamics with unity and professionalism.
Peter Vogel, Director of the IMD Global Family Business Center, said: “The Zamil Group stands as a remarkable example of how tradition and innovation can harmoniously coexist. It is the inspiring story of how twelve brothers have successfully built on their father’s legacy through unity and consensus. The Zamil Group has played a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s industrialization, job creation, and philanthropic development and continues to stand as a beacon of light in the Kingdom’s economy and society.”
The jury also highlighted Zamil’s inclusive and well-structured next-generation development program as a benchmark for family enterprises globally. The holding company is fully owned and governed by the family. Each portfolio company exists with its own governance structure that reflects the level of the family’s ownership.
“IMD is committed to supporting, promoting, and advancing responsible leadership in business, and Zamil Group is a great example of a well-governed, successful, and impactful family enterprise,” said David Bach, President of IMD. “My congratulations to them and my colleagues in the Global Family Business Center.”
“The family’s structured, merit-based approach to nurturing the next generation reflects a forward-looking mindset rooted in strong family values. Zamil’s journey is not only a testament to enduring legacy but also to farsighted leadership in a rapidly evolving region,” Vogel added.
Since 1920, Zamil Group has grown into a diversified investment holding company, with a strong global presence spanning a diverse portfolio of businesses. Its stakes in publicly listed companies include Sipchem, SENAAT (formerly Zamil Industrial), and ADES Holding Company. In 2024, Zamil Plastic Industries Co. partnered with Grohe to establish a factory for sanitary products in Saudi Arabia.
“We are honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award. This recognition will drive us to continue our path of family unity, living our values, and achieving business excellence, all the while fulfilling our duty to society,” said Khalid A. Al Zamil, Chairman of Zamil Group.
“It means a great deal to us to receive this award from IMD, the same institution we sought advice from three decades ago on matters of governance. Such global and public recognition provides an opportunity for us to share a story from our part of the world with a wider audience,” added Adib Al Zamil, CEO of Zamil Group.
A Foot in Both Worlds: Cross-Generational Connection
“This year, we celebrate the first time a Family Business Council Gulf member has received the award,” said Alexis du Roy de Blicquy, CEO of FBN. “Zamil Group exemplifies our theme of the year: A Foot in Both Worlds. In an increasingly polarized world, the most successful business families utilize their skills to bridge the gap between different worlds. They master managing paradoxes and build connections across generations and between business and society.”
Best-in-class family business
The prestigious IMD award, which has recognized and showcased the work of the best-in-class family businesses since 1996, provides a neutral platform for the analysis of the evolving and vital role of family-owned enterprises in the global economy as well as the exchange of best practices to accelerate enhancements in the field.
Swiss watch and jewelry maker Chopard, itself a family business, has crafted the award trophy since 1999. Shaped like a tree, it symbolizes the enduring values of family enterprise – from deep, solid roots to new branches growing from a shared trunk, representing the continuity of generations.
The Family Business Network hosts the annual award ceremony at its annual Global Summit. This year’s 34th edition of the summit is taking place in Miami, US.
