M. A. Kharafi & Sons
M.A. Kharafi & Sons (Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons W.L.L., Arabic: مجموعة الخرافي) is a private company based in Kuwait with a variety of commercial interests and revenues for 2006 estimated at $3.3 billion. The company was run by Nasser Al-Kharafi until his death in 2011. On April 15, 2006, the US doughnut retailer Krispy Kreme announced that MA Kharafi & Sons bought a 6.7 percent stake or 4.13 million shares. Al-Kharafi is also a supplier and integrator to the newspaper industry in Kuwait. In 2011 the Kharafi family was listed at 77th position in the Forbes magazine's list of the richest people in the world.[1][2]
| Type | Private (Limited Liability) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Conglomerate |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Safat, Kuwait City, Kuwait |
Area served | Africa, Middle East, Albania, Belize, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Maldives & Netherlands |
Key people | Nasser Al-Kharafi (chairman) Fawzi Al-Kharafi (CEO) |
| Products | Aluminum, Asphalt, Computer, Concrete, Fertilizer, Food, Prefabricated construction supplies, Real Estate, Steel, Telecom, Wastewater treatment plants |
| Services | Airlines, Airports, Broker, Hotels, Travel services agents |
| Revenue | US$ 4.5 Billion (2008) |
Number of employees | 20,000 (2008) |
| Website | makharafi.net |
The company started in 1956 as a contracting company founded by Mohamed Abdul Mohsen Al Kharafi.[3]
The company sold its shares in Americana in 2016 for $2.3 billion, which was for fast-food-chains business that operated KFC, Hardee's and other brands in Kuwait and several other Middle Eastern countries.[4]
Controversy
Migrant labor abuse
As the largest contractor for the State of Kuwait, M.A. Kharafi & Sons subsidiary Kharafi National has come under increasing criticism by human rights groups and the United States Department of State[5] for migrant labor abuse, including repeatedly not providing acceptable conditions of work, withholding pay, and not providing adequate access to food, drinking water or accommodation for thousands of workers.[6][7]
Involvement in Lebanon’s corruption
M.A Kharafi & Sons undertook many activities in Lebanon, the latest of which was brokering peace between the Lebanese Chief of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Al-Jadeed TV represented by its owner Tahseen Khayyat. In July 2016, M.A Kharafi won a tender related to the investment of parking lots at Rafic Hariri International Airport, at the amount of 6 billion and 700 million Lebanese pounds (approx. $4.46 USD) for a period of 4 years.[8] Al-Jadeed accused Berri of financing his TV station called NBN from this company. Berri has been accused of corruption and the former Lebanese finance minister Ali Hassan Khalil who was named by him and is a high ranked member in the Amal Movement was sanctioned by the United States for corruption and allowing Hezbollah groups and companies to win tenders related to the investment of the public sector.[9]
Organization structure and related entities
As of 30 March 2008[10]
Subsidiaries, associates and affiliates
| Name | Country | Holding |
|---|---|---|
| Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company |  Kuwait |
100.00% |
| Al Nasser Real Estate Company |  Lebanon |
100.00% |
| Emak Paper Manufacturing Company |  Egypt |
100.00% |
| Kharafi Construction[11] | Kuwait |
100.00% |
| Kuwait United Company[12] | Kuwait |
100.00% |
| Kuwaiti British Readymix Company | Kuwait |
100.00% |
| LMAK for Agencies and Trading Company | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| Lebanese Real Estate Commercial Company | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| Lebanese Utilities Company | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| M A Kharafi Construction |  South Africa |
100.00% |
| M A Kharafi and Sons Company - Saudi Arabia |  Saudi Arabia |
100.00% |
| M A Kharafi and Sons Company - The Gambia |  Gambia |
100.00% |
| M A Kharafi and Sons Company (MAK) | Kuwait |
100.00% |
| MAK Bulgaria |  Bulgaria |
100.00% |
| MAK Contracting | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| MAK Hospitality and Touristic Investmests | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| MAK Hospitality and Touristic Investments - Syria |  Syria |
100.00% |
| MAK Lebanon | Lebanon |
100.00% |
| MAK Pty |  Botswana |
100.00% |
| Marsa Alam Tourism Development Company | Egypt |
100.00% |
| Mohamed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi and Sons |  Tanzania |
100.00% |
| Sovereign Hospitality Holdings |  Switzerland |
100.00% |
| Sovereign Hospitality Holdings - Egypt (via Sovereign Hospitality Holdings) | Egypt |
100.00% |
| Alexandria Fertilizers Company | Egypt |
85.00% |
| Kharafi National Company[13] | Kuwait |
80.00% |
| Arab Company for Computer Manufacturing | Egypt |
71.00% |
| Arab Aluminium | Egypt |
68.00% |
| Kuwait Food Company (via Al Khair National Company for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
64.78% |
| National Investments Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
51.73% |
| Admak General Contracting Company |  UAE |
49.00% |
| Al Mal Investment Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
47.85% |
| AutoMak Automotive Company | Kuwait |
45.00% |
| Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
42.62% |
| Kuwait Cryo Industrial Company | Kuwait |
40.00% |
| Coast Investment and Development Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
32.71% |
| Gulf Cement Company - UAE (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | UAE |
26.33% |
| Alamiah Building Company | Kuwait |
- |
| Albania Airlines MAK |  Albania |
- |
| Aluminium Industries Company | Kuwait |
- |
| Al Qebla Al Watya - Kuwait | Kuwait |
- |
| Archi Systems Contractor | Kuwait |
- |
| AutoMak General Trading and Contracting Company - Kuwait | Kuwait |
- |
| Aviation World MAK BV |  Netherlands |
- |
| Bubiyan Fisheries Company | Kuwait |
- |
| Chateau Linza Hotel and Restaurant | Albania |
- |
| Credit Bank of Albania | Albania |
- |
| Cybermak Information Systems Company | Kuwait |
- |
| EMAK Contracting Company | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK International Academy | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK Marsa Alam för Management and Operation of Airports | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK Marsa Alam for Touristic Development and Urban Investment | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK Real Estate Development | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK for Agencies and Trading Company | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK for Tourism and Real Estate Development | Egypt |
- |
| EMAK for Utilities and Services | Egypt |
- |
| Egyptian Marsa Alam Aviation Services | Egypt |
- |
| Egyptian Packing and Wrapping Materials Company (Misr Packaging) | Egypt |
- |
| Egyptian Sponge (Misr Foam) | Egypt |
- |
| Emirates Utilities Holding Company (EUCH) | UAE |
- |
| Express Air and Travel | Egypt |
- |
| Gulf Insulating Materials | Kuwait |
- |
| Integrated Marketing Services | Egypt |
- |
| Isofoam Insulating Materials Plant | Kuwait |
- |
| Isofoam SA | South Africa |
- |
| Kairaba Beach Hotel and Resort | Gambia |
- |
| Kharafi Investments and Development - South Africa | South Africa |
- |
| Kiwan Tourist Investment Company | Syria |
- |
| Kuwaiti Iraqi Holding Company | Kuwait |
- |
| MAK Brake Lining Company | Egypt |
- |
| MAK Farm Foods | Gambia |
- |
| MAK Hospitality | South Africa |
- |
| MAK Travel and Tours | South Africa |
- |
| MAK Travel, Tourism and Airfreight Company | Kuwait |
- |
| MAK United for General Trading | Kuwait |
- |
| MAKXalto Advanced Card Technology | Egypt |
- |
| Mali Robit Golem Resort | Albania |
- |
| Marsa Alam for Touristic Development | Egypt |
- |
| Media Phone for General Trading | Kuwait |
- |
| Mosaic Stairs Factory | Kuwait |
- |
| National Company for Plastic Industries | Syria |
- |
| National Piling Company | Kuwait |
- |
| Pan Arab Research Center | UAE |
- |
| Pan Arab Research Center - Kuwait | Kuwait |
- |
| Sabhan Steel Factory | Kuwait |
- |
| Sheraton Aleppo Hotel and Towers | Syria |
- |
| Sheraton Tirana Hotel | Albania |
- |
| Star Taxi | Syria |
- |
Investments
| Name | Country | Holding |
|---|---|---|
| Kuwait Pipe Industries and Oil Services Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
15.82% |
| Gulf North Africa Holding Company | Kuwait |
15.00% |
| Kuwaiti Syrian Holding Company | Kuwait |
15.00% |
| Rasamny Younis Motor Company | Lebanon |
12.80% |
| Mobile Telecommunications Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
12.49% |
| Egypt Kuwait Holding Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Egypt |
12.42% |
| National Industries Group Holding (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
9.84% |
| National Slaughterhouse Company | Kuwait |
9.35% |
| Kuwait Financial Centre (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
7.2% |
| Al Razzi Holding Company | Kuwait |
5.00% |
| National Ranges and Real Estate Company (via Al Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate Company) | Kuwait |
5.00% |
| ABJ Engineering and Contracting Company | Kuwait |
1.00% |
| Port Ghalib | Egypt |
- |
Companies under management
| Name | Country | Holding |
|---|---|---|
| Marsa Alam International Airport[14] | Egypt |
- |
See also
References
- https://www.forbes.com/profile/nasser-al-kharafi/#23310756188d
- Major Kuwaiti conglomerate Kharafi Group's chairman dies
- Kuwaiti billionaire Nasser al-Kharafi is mourned widely
- https://www.forbes.com/profile/fawzi-al-kharafi/#449ea8bc683b
- "Kuwait". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- "Despite ongoing contracts, many Kharafi employees work without pay | Migrant-Rights.org". www.migrant-rights.org. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- "Kuwait: Construction workers at Kharafi National stranded without pay or valid visas - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre". www.business-humanrights.org. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
- "من هي شركة الخرافي التي أججت الخلاف بين نبيه بري وتحسين خياط؟". Janoubia. 2016-07-27.
- "Treasury Targets Hizballah's Enablers in Lebanon | U.S. Department of the Treasury". home.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
- Mohamed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi and Sons Company - Zawya.com
- http://www.kcmak.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=231
- http://kuc.com.kw/about_us.html
- Kharafi National Co LLC
- Al-Kharafi Group considers Egypt expansion