The Olayan Group is a private multinational enterprise that began in 1947 in Saudi Arabia, when Suliman Saleh Olayan started his first business. In Egypt’s real estate market, the group is commonly associated with Somabay on the Red Sea, while its official profile positions it as a diversified investment group with direct real estate exposure.
About The Olayan Group
The Olayan Group’s official website describes it as a global enterprise with origins in Saudi Arabia. It invests across listed equities, private equity, debt, and real estate. The group’s parent company is based in Vaduz, while Olayan Financing Company, responsible for business and investments in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East, is based in Riyadh.
In Egyptian property listings, the group often appears under Arabic names such as Alyan Group, Olayan Group, or Saudi Olayan. This profile uses the official English name, The Olayan Group, while preserving the Arabic SEO phrase شركة عليان جروب العقارية used by buyers searching for the developer behind Somabay.
The Olayan Group Projects
The clearest DeedGate project associated with The Olayan Group is Somabay Hurghada, a large Red Sea coastal destination near Hurghada and Safaga. Market sources describe Somabay as extending across about 10 million sqm, equivalent to roughly 2,471 acres, and positioned as a fully integrated tourism and residential destination.
Somabay includes residential and hospitality components, hotels, a marina, golf facilities, diving and kitesurfing destinations, and a broad range of leisure services. The Soma Bay Development Company profile on LinkedIn describes Somabay as an exclusive resort destination on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast with diverse hotels, residential developments, a marina, spa, golf course, and watersport spots.
Verified Company Figures
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founder | Suliman Saleh Olayan |
| Official English name | The Olayan Group |
| Real estate activity | Direct investment in global real estate assets and association with Somabay in Egypt |
| Main Egypt project | Somabay Hurghada |
| Delivered units | No verified public total is available from a direct official source. |
Investment And Development Approach
The Olayan Group’s approach is built around long-term investment and durable partnerships across several asset classes. In real estate, the official website states that the group invests directly in world-class real estate assets, so its property activity should be understood within a wider investment strategy rather than as a conventional local developer model only.
For Egyptian buyers, the significance of the Olayan name comes from the investment background connected with Somabay: a destination-scale Red Sea community that combines hospitality, residences, leisure, sports, and coastal infrastructure over a large land area.
The Olayan Group FAQs
What is The Olayan Group?
The Olayan Group is a private multinational investment enterprise with activity across several asset classes, including real estate.
When was The Olayan Group founded?
The group traces its origins to 1947, when Suliman Saleh Olayan started his first business in Saudi Arabia.
What is The Olayan Group’s main project in Egypt?
The main DeedGate project associated with the group is Somabay Hurghada on Egypt’s Red Sea Coast.
Are delivered units publicly verified?
No verified public total is available from a direct official source, so no delivered-units field was added.