Fawaz Alhokair

Fawaz Alhokair is a Saudi billionaire property developer who has built one of the Middle East's leading retail and lifestyle empires. Founded in 1991 by Fawaz Bin Abdulaziz Alhokair alongside his brothers Salman and Abdulmajid, Cenomi Retail has grown from a handful of stores into a powerhouse of regional retail, operating as more than 800 stores across 165 shopping malls in 8 countries.

Cenomi Retail is the largest and foremost franchise retailer in Saudi Arabia and the only listed business of its kind in the Middle East. Cenomi Retail operates a portfolio of over 65 international brands, and is anchored by a retail platform spanning over 330,000 square meters. The company was rebranded to Cenomi Retail in late 2022 as part of a broader consolidation under the Cenomi holding company umbrella.

Alhokair holds an undergraduate degree from Loughborough University in 1989 and a doctorate from Loughborough University in 2008. Beyond Cenomi Retail, his business portfolio is extensive: he serves as Chairman at Arabian Centres Co. (now Cenomi Centers) since 2017, and General Manager at multiple holding companies including FAS Saudi Holding Co. Ltd. since 2005. Former roles include Director at Depa PLC in 2013, Director at IPlayCo Corp. Ltd. from 2014 to 2018, and Chairman at Saudi Indian Co. for Co-operative Insurance.

Career History

• Founder and Former Chairman, Cenomi Retail (founded 1991)
• Former Chairman, Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co. (Cenomi Retail) — resigned September 2024
• Chairman, Arabian Centres Co. (Cenomi Centers) since 2017
• Chairman, FAS Saudi Holding Co. Ltd. since 2005
• Director, Depa PLC (2013)

What Fawaz Alhokair could bring to his founder role at Cenomi Retail: With three decades of hands-on leadership in building regional retail infrastructure, Alhokair's founder perspective is instrumental in guiding Cenomi Retail's strategic positioning as the Middle East's largest listed franchise retailer. His deep expertise in omnichannel retail transformation, international brand partnerships, and shopping mall ecosystem development—demonstrated through simultaneous leadership of both Cenomi Retail and Cenomi Centers—positions him to steward the company through digital innovation and geographic expansion. His doctoral credentials and experience navigating market cycles underscore his capability to mentor management teams through complex operational turnarounds and shareholder transitions.