Non Executive Chairman
Dr. Mohamed
Ben Laden
Founding visionary and Non Executive Chairman of Armada Holding, guiding the group through 27 years of integrated excellence in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Interview
What does twenty-seven years of building Armada mean to you personally?
It means watching something that began as a conviction — that business can be both profitable and principled — become a living proof. Every year has brought its own challenges, but the consistency of our values has been our greatest strength. We've never chased trends; we've pursued enduring relevance.
When I look at what Armada has become — an integrated group with over 1,000 employees, operating across five countries and three core pillars — I see not just a business, but a philosophy made tangible. The buildings we construct, the materials we source, the services we deliver — each one carries the DNA of our founding principles.
"We don't adapt to change — we are the change we wished to see in Saudi business."
How does Armada see its role in Vision 2030?
Vision 2030 is not just a national plan — it is a call to every Saudi business to reimagine its contribution to the Kingdom's future. For Armada, this alignment is natural. Our eco-conscious foundations, our integrated approach, our investment in human capital — these are not adaptations to Vision 2030, they are principles we've held for decades.
What excites me most is that the Kingdom's ambitions now match the scale of our own aspirations. The mega-projects, the emphasis on sustainability, the diversification of the economy — these create an environment where a group like Armada can contribute meaningfully while continuing to grow.
What distinguishes Armada from other diversified groups in the region?
Integration. Many groups diversify by acquiring unrelated businesses and managing them as a portfolio. We built our pillars to work together. Our contracting division uses materials sourced by our trading arm. Our services division maintains the facilities we build. This creates a virtuous cycle of quality and accountability that standalone companies simply cannot replicate.
And then there is the matter of values. Eco-consciousness was not added to our brochure five years ago because it became fashionable. It has been in our founding charter since 1998. That depth of commitment is visible in everything we do, and our partners and clients recognize it.
"The measure of a company is not how quickly it grows, but how deeply it roots itself in values that outlast market cycles."
What is your vision for Armada's next decade?
Deeper, not just broader. We are investing in technology — smart building systems, sustainable material innovation, digital facility management. We are investing in our people — training programs, Saudization initiatives, leadership development. And we are investing in our principles — pushing our sustainability standards even further, measuring our environmental impact with greater precision, and holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards. The next decade is about proving that our model doesn't just work — it leads.
