Yemen’s location in the Persian Gulf. The country has 1,100km of coastline and is active in the pusuit of greater visitor numbers

The business empire of Sheikh Mohammed Al-Amoudi is as diverse as it is extensive. The Saudi Arabia-based businessman has interests in oil through ownership of Swedish company Svenska Petroleum, but made his fortune via construction and real estate and has an international portfolio of businesses including mining, hotels, hospitals, banking and finance and agriculture. Al-Amoudi’s predominant interest, however, is in philanthropy. Born in Ethiopia, he is believed to be the single largest investor in the impoverished East African country. Although his investments span the globe, Al-Amoudi takes an almost fatherly interest in his homeland. His mining arm National Mining Corporation–purchased from the Ehtiopian government in 1997 at a cost of $172 million–recently struck gold in Ethiopia, which is expected to generate up to $1 billion in revenue for the government.

Mohammed Al- Amoudi Chairman, Midroc Group

Abdulrahman Al-Amoudi CEO,Midroc Group

In May 2007 he donated $20 million to support the Clinton Foundation’s efforts to combat HIV/Aids in Ethiopia. Earlier this year, Al-Amoudi signed an agreement to develop agricultural advancements in the notoriously arid state. Through Ethiopia Horizon Plantation, a subsidiary of Al-Amoudi’s holding conglomerate Midroc, the project will create 50,000 jobs and provide consultancy, technical and training services and infrastructure including schools and residences. Midroc is also active in Ethiopian sports, sponsoring St. George FC, one of Ethiopia’s elite clubs, and delivering ad-hoc support to athletes.

Al-Amoudi paid for the Ethiopian Olymic team to travel to the Atlanta games, and also paid the medical bills for Ali Redi, the national team’s goalkeeper, when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Listed among the Forbes richest 100 people, the Sheikh holds an honorary doctorate from Addis Ababa University, the Millennium Golden Medal for ‘exemplary deeds for the development of Ethiopia and its people’ and Swedish Royal Order of the Polar Star. The company’s investments in Yemen are multitudinous, but perhaps the most exciting is the development of Hodeidah Golden Leaves Hotel and conference center, one of the first integrated 5-star hotel projects in the country and a sign of the country’s investment potential and economic maturity. “This change has come about because of President Ali Abdullah Saleh,” said Midroc CEO Abdulrahman Al-Amoudi. “He has been working hard to improve the country and you can see it and feel it. He talks openly about problems and the need to solve them. In the last ten years things have changed dramatically. There is more confidence in government and more confidence in the people’s work mentality.”