MUSCAT — Sheikh Suhail Salim Bahwan, Chairman of the Suhail Bahwan Group (SBG) and one of Oman’s most prominent business figures, has died.

Bahwan, long regarded as one of the Arab world’s leading industrialists, transformed a modest trading venture into a multibillion-dollar empire.

Born in Sur, Bahwan began his commercial journey in the mid-1960s when he and his brother established a small shop in Muttrah souq selling fishing gear, tools and building materials. The business rapidly expanded during Oman’s economic transformation in the 1970s, securing major international distributorships, including Seiko and Toshiba.

The Suhail Bahwan Group (SBG), which he founded and led independently, grew into one of Oman’s largest private-sector conglomerates.

Its portfolio spans automotive, fertilizers, petrochemicals, engineering and construction, ICT and telecoms, healthcare, logistics, consumer products, trading and manufacturing. The group employs thousands of people and operates across multiple markets in the Gulf and Asia, playing a significant role in Oman’s diversification beyond oil.

Under Bahwan’s leadership, SBG became a cornerstone of the Sultanate’s industrial growth — particularly through large-scale projects in heavy industry, manufacturing and infrastructure development. The company also expanded into sectors such as medical services and technology solutions.

Bahwan was widely respected for his entrepreneurial foresight and community engagement. He contributed to philanthropic initiatives in education, healthcare and social welfare, earning recognition for his commitment to national development.