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The Omani Al Aulaqi family heritage

Yemini royalty: A brief history of the Omani Al Aulaqi family.

The Al Aulaqis (or “Al Aulakis”) are one of the oldest and largest tribes on the southern Arabian peninsula and have for centuries been entrenched in the cultural, political, religious and social fabric of Yemen, notably marked by their rule over several Sultanates and Sheikdoms.

The Al Aulaqi family of Oman has its roots in the Upper Aulaqi Sultanate (1800s-1967) which became part of the British Aden Protectorate (1872–1963) and the Federation of South Arabia (1964-1967), later evolving to become the South Yemen (1967-1990) and in time the Republic of Yemen (1990-).

    Lawyer & warrior: The illustrious life and legacy of His Highness the late Sheikh Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi.

    H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi (SAF) is a direct descendant of Sultan Awad ibn Salih Al Aulaqi, the last ruler of the Upper Aulaqi Sultanate, who in the 1970s emigrated to the Sultanate of Oman and settled in the capital Muscat, forming what is today the Omani Al Aulaqi family. Sheikh Ahmed Farid has no known birthdate but he was born in the remains of the ancient city of Shabwa and was educated lawyer at University College London in the British capital where he throughout his lifetime maintained residence aside his adopted home in Muscat.

    Dhofar War · In the early 1970s, Sheikh Ahmed Farid returned to his tribal roots when he was asked by the late Omani ruler, H.M. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said (1940-2020), to quell the communist uprising and help win the Dhofar War (1963-1976). The Sheikh and his men fought alongside the Sultan’s troops and the British Special Air Service (SAS) and for his services, he was given Omani citizenship in 1975 by H.M. the Sultan whom the Sheikh maintained a life-long friendship with.

    Business career · Sheikh Ahmed Farid established in 1977 the EPC & infrastructure contractor Desert Line Projects LLC which today remains one of the oldest companies in the Sultanate of Oman. From this, considered the original source of wealth of the Omani Al Aulaqi family, many notable companies, acquisitions and projects followed both at home and abroad, including Gulf Petrochemical Services & Trading LLC (GPS), the Abdali towers in Jordan, Sohar International Bank as well as the lavish Grand Hyatt Muscat, often described as a testimony to Sheikh Ahmed Farid’s generosity.

    Salvaging SS John Barry · In 1994, acting on behalf of the Omani Government, Sheikh Ahmed Farid rose to international prominence as he and a group of American partners won the salvaging rights to the SS John Barry; a US Navy transport ship torpedoed in 1944 by a Nazi-German submarine 130 kilometres off the coast of Oman, that was rumored to carry 1,688 metric tonnes of silver bullion for the Soviet Union in addition to 3 million US-minted 1-rial silver coins for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The salvaging was a success with 3 million silver coins recovered worth an estimated USD70million in 1994 (source: Los Angeles Times), however, the much larger treasure of “Stalin’s Silver” was never found and became instead the research subject and title of the 1995 non-fiction novel by British journalist John Beasant (1944-2023).

    Rescuing French hostages · In 2011, Sheikh Ahmed Farid was once again in the international spotlight as he was credited with personally negotiating and securing the release of three French hostages held captive in Yemen (source: Le Point). For his services, Sheikh Ahmed Farid was given the Medal of Honor by H.M. Sultan Qaboos as well as bestowed honors by French President Nicolas Sarkozy (medals pictured).

    On May 27, 2017 H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi passed away in London following a five year long battle against cancer. He left a family of six children that today carry onwards the late Sheikh’s legacy and Holdings.

    Next generation: The Omani Al Aulaqi family today – and tomorrow.

    The Omani Al Aulaqi family considers new investment opportunities to diversify into new markets and ventures such as e.g. Insurance and Private Equities in line with key principles of wealth preservation while maintaining investment focus on its three core areas i.a. Energy & Infrastructure, Hospitality and Real Estate.

    Additionally, the Omani Al Aulaqi family carries on the late Sheikh’s wide array of charitable efforts and events, including sponsoring youth foundations, orphanages, scholarships and treatments against cancer and other illnesses.

    Sheikha Sara Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi

    B.A. Visual Communication & Marketing

    Born in 1984, Sheikha Sara Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi is the daughter of the late Sheikh Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the American University in Dubai and is the founder and director of the Cure8 Art Gallery in Muscat. In 2024, she was chosen to represent the Omani pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

    Sheikh Qannas Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi

    M.A. Entrepreneurship & Management

    Born in 1990, Sheikh Qannas Ahmed Farid Al Aulaqi is the youngest son of the late Sheikh Ahmed Farid. He holds a Masters of Arts in Entrepreneurship and Management from Regent’s University London and is the founder of the insurance and indemnity company Affinite and the loss and assessment company Reclaimo. Additionally, he is Vice Chairman and board member for the SAF group of companies.