FoundER
The success of the Marzook family in the last century originates from Yousuf, who was born in Kuwait in 1895 and followed his father Marzook to Karachi when he was a teenager. After his father’s death in 1920, he continued to work from Karachi. From there on forward, he built his own network that made him one of the most influential merchants in Kuwait. Yousuf’s adventurous nature was resembled by his frequent travel. His ‘Certificate of Identity’ issued by the British Government shows that he was authorized to go to Iraq, India, Iran, Syria, Aden, Egypt, Hijaz and Port Said. He claimed that he had no property registered in Karachi, and lived in a rented house for about six months a year during the winter. From there he supervised his business, and in the summer he went to Kuwait or to other ports in the Arabian Gulf. The business was specialized mainly in silk and tea. Nonetheless, Yousuf was an innovative merchant and among the first to adopt modern methods that were imitated by his fellow merchants and later trickled down into all areas of Kuwaiti society. After his return to Kuwait, he attempted to revolutionize building structures.
He imported the knowledge of modern building practices and materials from India. Later on, he decided to build a state-of-the-art waterfront house in the coast of Kuwait (today Al-Sadu House) to portray a new of form of architecture not only in Kuwait but in the Arabian Peninsula as a whole. Yousuf learned the principles of business alongside his successful father in Karachi, which gave him a head start on others. Blending between the inherited ideology of his late father and his vivid vision of trade, he managed to create a large and sophisticated network that made him one of the most influential merchants in Kuwait.
AL-Marzook Brothers
Faisal Yousuf Al-Marzook, graduated in 1967 from Hartford University, is the founding father of Pearl Group. Mr. Faisal left behind an illustrious career both on & off the business world, under the guidance of his older brother, the family empire builder Mr. Khaled Yousuf Al-Marzook. Mr. Khaled’s vision made him one of the most prominent economic figures in the region, due to the formation of incredible institutions, starting with Kuwait Real Estate Company (Aqarat) in 1972 in which he served as Chairman. Kuwait Real Estate Company (Aqarat Al Kuwait) is known to have constructed the first retail complex in the heart of Kuwait City in 1972, adjacent to the historical (Souk Al Mubarakiya), in order to merge between the beauty of the past and the wonders of the future.
Aqarat is considered to be the cornerstone of Mr.Khaled’s chairmanship of the Pearls of Kuwait Conglomerate (Al La’ala) which served as the mother company to the whole enterprise.
Faisal served as the General Manager of the Group, working closely under his mentor, his brother Khaled. Later in the 70’s the Al-Marzook brothers were able to further facilitate the growth of the Kuwaiti Economy through the inception of Kuwait Real Estate Bank in 1973, Pearl Al-Marzook in 1975 (the first residential complex in Kuwait), Touristic Real Estate Company in 1974 (Creating the first Amusement Park in the Gulf), Al-Anba Newspaper in 1976, as well as major shareholdings in Bank of Bahrain, Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Petra Bank, Bank of Tunis and, Kuwait Shipbuilding Company. Moreover, the conglomerate was involved in international investing through funneling finances in projects such as Marbella Club & Puente Romano Resorts in Spain as well as, Hotel Breidenbacher in Dusseldorf & the development of cities in California such as Chula Vista. Then in 1991, during Kuwait’s suffering of a horrific Iraqi Invasion the brothers’ contributions extended, Mr. Khaled was the only civilian member of the Al-Tae’f Government which was run by HH The Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah in Ta’ef, Saudi Arabia; whereas, Mr. Faisal spearheaded the civilian resistance in Kuwait until seized by the Iraqi invaders who imprisoned him along with several POW’s in Al-Basra, Iraq.
After the triumph of their country, they happened to return safely back to their homeland and engaged in a Joint Venture with Bechtel, the renowned Global construction conglomerate to rejuvenate Kuwait after the destruction caused by the invaders.
H.H. The Late Amir Shaikh Jaber Al-Sabah (Left), H.H. The Crown Prince Shaikh Saad Al-Sabah (Middle), Mr. Khaled Al-Marzook (Right)
The Late President George Bush (Right), Mr. Faisal Al-Marzook (Left)
HRH King Abdullah Al-Saud (Right), Mr. Faisal Al-Marzook (Left)
H.H The Late Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Sabah (Left), Mr. Yousuf
Al-Marzook (Right)
Today's
Generation
Today Pearl Group serves as a sister company to the Pearls of Kuwait conglomerate (Al La’ala) which is run by the family patriarch Mr. Fawaz Khaled Al-Marzook since 2011, which is responsible today for the mega coastal development in Khiran, South of Kuwait (HH Sheikh Sabah Sea City). Whereas, Pearl Group is under the chairmanship of Mr. Yousuf Faisal Al-Marzook since 2018.
Mr. Fawaz Khaled Al-Marzook (Middle) Yousuf Faisal Al-Marzook (Left) Jassim Faisal Al-Marzook (Right)
Philanthropic
Ventures
Yousuf Al-Marzook and Wife Lulwah Al-Nassar Treatment Center for Islamic Medicine. After the Invasion, Khaled Al-Marzook rebuilt the Islamic Medical Center under his late parents name, on behalf of Kuwait Ministry of Health.
