Sulaiman Al Rajhi, the Founder of the First Islamic Bank in Saudi Arabia

Sulaiman Bin Saleh Al Rajhi is a Saudi businessman and one of the leading figures in the field of Islamic economy, a symbol of giving and hard work.

Sulaiman Al Rajhi did not receive academic education, preferring to learn through his experiences in life. When he was nine years old, he worked as a bag holder to earn a little money, while his peers were in school.

After that, Sulaiman Al Rajhi worked as a cook in one of the companies that provided services to the State, but he did not last long because of poor payment, after which he had many experiences in various areas that helped him prepare to enter the world of commerce and business

He also worked in construction and other occupations that weighed him down with extensive experience in market conditions and the arts of dealing with different categories and ways of trade

After years of working in various occupations, Sulaiman al-Rajhi moved in 1945 to Jeddah, where he joined his older brother Saleh's business, and managed the exchange business in Jeddah and Mecca

After a while, the two brothers set up a special exchange agency to serve the pilgrims, and years later, they were joined by brothers Abdullah and Mohammed al-Rajhi to promote this work.

Sulaiman Al Rajhi founded Al Rajhi Bank, the first Islamic bank in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest Islamic banks worldwide.

He also owned a number of companies that contributed to agricultural and industrial development and food sectors, including poultry and fish, and expanded his business to other Arab countries

Through his career, Al Rajhi has been constantly travelling, driven by his passion to gain successful experiences from different countries and in various disciplines. Through his foreign exchange trips and business, he has dealt with many international banks, enriching his experience and earning him an international place in the banking sector.

Since his younger years, Sulaiman has been devoting his time to carrying zakat himself and distributing it to the eligible, through which he has identified businessmen known for their dedication to good works.

Al Rajhi began to stop some real estate and land, followed by allocating quotas from companies he owned in specific proportions to charity, and in an additional step, decided to stop one third of his wealth to God's face.

Sulaiman al-Rajhi exceeded the limits of traditional giving, deciding to distribute his wealth between charity endowments and his family members during his lifetime, after consulting the people of science and advice and his family