ALKHOBAR, 12 May 2003 — Abdul Aziz Al-Gosaibi, chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi American Bank and a host of other companies, died yesterday after a prolonged illness. He was 82.
A doyen of the business community in the Eastern Province, Abdul Aziz Al-Gosaibi had diverse business interests ranging from the hotel industry, shipping, airline industry and trade to soft-drink bottling. His business group, Hamad Al-Gosaibi and Bros., is among the top ten companies in the Eastern Province.
His group has more than a dozen joint ventures with different international companies in several fields. But his most prominent and popular venture is the Pepsi bottling plant in Alkhobar, which is one of the oldest in the Kingdom. In addition he had more than 22 agencies all over the Kingdom.
Abdul Aziz Al-Gosaibi started his career as an accountant at King Abdul Aziz Seaport and later moved to Saudi Aramco before joining his father, Hamad Al-Gosaibi. His stint with the seaport paid dividends and the company became the agent for several shipping lines.
Abdul Aziz Al-Gosaibi also served on the board of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry and, with businessmen like Saad Al-Moajil, prepared the blueprint for the industrial map of the region.
He was also active in cultural and philanthropic activities in the region. He is survived by his son, Saud Al-Gosaibi, another prominent businessman in the region, and daughters, one of whom is married to top businessman Maan Al-Sanea, chairman of the Saad Group of Companies.
