HeadquartersManama, Bahrain
CEOHoussem Ben Haj Amor
IndustryBanking, Financial Services

About

Al Baraka Group B.S.C. is a Bahrain-based Islamic banking group headquartered in Manama. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain as an Investment Business Firm Category 1 (Islamic Principles) and states that it has banking subsidiaries in 13 countries, with operations in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Sudan, Turkey, South Africa, Algeria, Pakistan, Lebanon and Syria, three branches in Iraq and a representative office in Libya.

Wikipedia, citing the group annual report, gives 2025 total assets of US$31 billion, equity of US$2.1 billion, operating income of US$1.3 billion, 11,074 employees and 690 locations. The group itself says more than 600 branches. It is led by Chairman Shaikh Abdullah Saleh Kamel and Group Chief Executive Houssem Ben Haj Amor, a Tunisian banker in post since October 2022.

Founding date: Wikipedia shows 1982 in its infobox but also says the group was established and registered on 27 June 2002; its Jordan operations date from 1978. Its Bahrain Bourse and Nasdaq Dubai listing (2006) ended with a delisting in July 2024.

Key figures

US$31 billionTotal assets2025Wikipedia citing the 2025 annual report
US$2.1 billionTotal equity2025
US$1.3 billionOperating income2025
11,074Employees2025
690Locations2025Group site says more than 600 branches
13 countriesBanking subsidiariesGroup statement
US$2.5 billionAuthorised capitalGroup statementAuthorised, not paid-in

Figures are as published by the sources listed on this page. Where a figure comes from the company itself we have not audited it.

Scope of operations

  • Islamic retail, corporate and investment banking through subsidiaries
  • Banking subsidiaries in Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Sudan, Turkey, South Africa, Algeria, Pakistan, Lebanon and Syria
  • Three branches in Iraq; representative office in Libya

Founders and key people

  • Shaikh Abdullah Saleh Kamel Chairman
  • Mohamed Ebrahim Alshroogi Vice Chairman
  • Abdul Malek Mezher Board Secretary

Timeline

  1. 1978Jordan operations begin, the group first international presence (Wikipedia)
  2. 1980Egypt operations begin
  3. 1983Tunisia operations begin
  4. 1985Sudan operations begin
  5. 1989South Africa operations begin
  6. 1991Algeria operations begin
  7. 1992Lebanon operations begin
  8. 2002Group established and registered in Bahrain (27 June)
  9. 2006IPO raising more than US$630 million; listed on Bahrain Bourse and Nasdaq Dubai
  10. 2007Syria bank operates as a joint-stock company
  11. 2017US$400 million Tier-1 sukuk, listed in Ireland
  12. 2020Abdullah Saleh Kamel becomes chairman, succeeding his father Saleh Abdullah Kamel (June)
  13. 2022Name changes from Al Baraka Banking Group to Al Baraka Group after licence conversion (July); Houssem Ben Haj Amor becomes Group CEO (October); Central Bank of Lebanon takes control of Al Baraka Bank Lebanon (19 November)
  14. 2023Shareholders approve delisting and conversion to a closed company (November)
  15. 2024Delisted from Bahrain Bourse (July)