Early Life
Bahaa El-Dine Rafic Al-Hariri was born on April 26, 1966, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He is the eldest son of Rafic Hariri, a prominent Lebanese businessman and politician who later became the Prime Minister of Lebanon. His upbringing in Saudi Arabia exposed him to a business-oriented environment, influencing his future career path. He received his early education at Collège des Frères Maristes in Sidon, Lebanon, and later pursued higher education in the United States.
Rise to Success
Bahaa Hariri earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University in 1990. After completing his studies, he worked with the family's construction and development company, Saudi Oger Ltd. He founded Horizon Group in 2002, a real estate holding company focused on property investment and development, which became a core component of his wealth. Horizon Group has undertaken major projects in Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, including the Abdali district revitalization in Amman.
Key Business Strategies
Horizon Group's key strategy involves urban regeneration and mixed-use projects, often partnering with local governments. The company has a focus on commercial and mixed-use developments, such as the ABC Verdun shopping center in Beirut. Hariri's diversified business interests include ownership of Globe Express Services, a logistics company operating worldwide. He is also a proponent of anti-corruption measures in Lebanon.
Philanthropy
Bahaa Hariri is involved in philanthropy through the Bahaa and Hassnah Hariri Foundation, supporting initiatives for sustainable development, job creation, and relief efforts in Lebanon. He has also donated $15 million to Boston University to establish the Rafik Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science and Engineering. The Hariri family also has the Hariri Foundation, founded by Rafic Hariri in 1979, which focuses on education, social welfare, and reconstruction efforts.