How do family businesses transform from relying on individual decisions to an institutional system that ensures business continuity across generations? What does it take to move from family-based management to clear governance that unifies references and regulates decision-making? These questions were the focus of the session presented by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer, CEO of Salem Balhamer Holding Group, at Al Yamamah University on Monday, November 9, 2026 AD, corresponding to Jumada Al-Awwal 18, 1448 AH, under the title «Governance in Family Businesses.»
During the session, Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer reviewed a real experience of Salem Balhamer Holding Group in building an integrated institutional system through a presentation entitled «The Construction Process and Family Governance», in which he discussed the stages of the group’s development, the motives that led to change, and the importance of establishing a clear governance framework that regulates the relationship between family members and supports institutional decision-making.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Al Yamamah University honored Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer with a certificate of thanks and appreciation, presented by Dr. Bashayer bint Faisal II, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Admissions, Registration, and Student Affairs, in appreciation of the experiences and insights he provided on the role of governance in enhancing the sustainability of family businesses and developing their operations.
Governance in family businesses… From real-life experience to institutional management
The session «Governance in Family Businesses» focused on a real-life experience of the Salem Balhamer Holding Group, where Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer reviewed the construction process that began with the founder and father, Mr. Salem bin Ahmed Balhamer, all the way to a diverse group working today in a number of economic sectors.
The discussion did not limit itself to reviewing the stages of growth and expansion but also addressed the organizational and administrative challenges facing family businesses as they move from the establishment stage to more advanced stages of institutional work.
One of the most prominent questions discussed during the session was, “Where did the group begin?” What prompted us to change?
These are questions that reflect the importance of understanding the stages that the family business has gone through and identifying the variables that require developing management and decision-making methods.
The session also addressed the shift from a management model that relies on multiple references within the family, which was expressed in the session title with the phrase «the elders of the family have an elder… and each one is an elder himself,” to a model based on a single reference and clearer and more organized institutional decisions.
This transformation highlights the importance of separating family relationships from business management requirements and establishing clear rules that help organize responsibilities and powers, which supports the stability of the company and gives it the ability to deal with expansion and future changes.
By sharing this experience, Mr. Ahmed Balhamer presented a practical model that shows how the accumulated experiences within family businesses can be transformed into institutional knowledge that can be used and developed.
From the founder’s legacy to a diverse collection… Salem Construction March in Balhamer Holding
The roots of the Salem Balhamer Holding Group go back to a journey started by the founder and father, Mr. Salem bin Ahmed Balhamer, who laid the foundation for a commercial activity that developed over the years into a group operating in multiple economic sectors.
During the session, Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer reviewed the stages of this journey, explaining how the business developed from its beginnings into a diverse system that includes trade, industry, contracting, real estate, training, health care, and services.
This diversity reflects the evolution of the business model within the group and the need to develop organizational and administrative structures that suit the breadth of activities and the diversity of companies and sectors.
As family businesses grow, development requirements are not limited to increasing business volume or expanding markets but also include building clear management systems, defining roles and responsibilities, and enhancing coordination between different business units.
Hence, the importance of governance as a framework that regulates the relationship between family, management, and subsidiaries helps unify references and improve decision-making mechanisms.
The experience of Salem Balhamer Holding illustrates the importance of keeping pace with business developments by developing the corporate system, preserving the founder’s legacy.
This approach also provides subsequent generations with an organizational foundation that enables them to continue building and expanding.
This journey also demonstrates how the company preserves the values that shaped its family business while adopting management practices that support growth and meet the demands of today’s evolving business environment.
Managing difference and enhancing the sustainability of family businesses through governance
One of the important topics that the session also addressed was how to deal with differences of opinion within family businesses and to answer a fundamental question:
How can differences remain healthy without turning into a dispute that affects business stability within the group?
The presence of multiple viewpoints within the family is related to the nature of family businesses and the diversity of their generations and experiences.
However, the real challenge lies in having clear mechanisms to manage these differences and transform them into constructive discussions that serve the company’s interests.
In this context, governance emerges as a system that helps organize dialogue, clarify powers, and define decision-making mechanisms, thus reducing reliance on individual efforts and enhancing work according to clear institutional references.
Governance also provides a framework that helps balance family interests with business continuity requirements by regulating the relationship between ownership and management, clarifying responsibilities, and enhancing compliance with approved decisions and regulations.
The session also discussed the importance of governance in ensuring the sustainability, growth, and intergenerational transmission of family businesses, which is one of the most prominent issues facing this type of company over time and the expansion of its business scope.
Sustainability depends not only on the continuation of business activity but also on the company’s ability to develop its systems and maintain institutional stability.
It is also important to prepare an administrative system that facilitates the organized transfer of responsibilities and experiences between generations.
By reviewing the group’s experience, Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer highlighted the importance of moving from management based on multiple references to a clear institutional system that allows family businesses to continue growth while preserving their legacy and values.
Al Yamamah University honors Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer in appreciation of his experiences in governance
At the conclusion of the session «Governance in Family Businesses,» Al Yamamah University honored His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer, CEO of Salem Balhamer Holding Group, with a certificate of thanks and appreciation presented by Dr. Bashayer bint Faisal II, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Admissions, Registration, and Student Affairs.
This honor came in appreciation of the practical experiences and insights shared by Mr. Ahmed about the importance of applying governance principles in family businesses and their role in promoting sustainability and business development.
This session also provided attendees with the opportunity to learn from real experiences in building and developing an institutional system within a diverse family group.
This participation reflected the importance of communication between the business sector and academic institutions, as the exchange of practical experiences enriches the discussion on administrative and organizational challenges and links academic knowledge to real-life experiences in the business environment.
The news of honoring Mr. Ahmed bin Salem Balhamer and his coverage of the session also received attention from several newspapers and media platforms, which covered the event and highlighted the importance of his participation, including Ashjan Electronic Newspaper, Asol News, Al Madar 24, Al Sharqiya Youth Media Club, Al Marfa News Agency, and Dammam Electronic Newspaper.
This media attention reflected the experiences of national leaders and their role in developing the governance of family businesses and enhancing their sustainability, because the process from the founder’s legacy to a sustainable institutional future is one of construction and development, based on their accumulated experiences and vision for growth and enhancing governance.
To learn more about the group’s journey, business sectors, and companies, we invite you to visit the official website of Salem Balhamer Holding Group and learn about its journey and areas of activity.
Salem Balhamer Holding Group… An Inspiring Future Vision