Dear Annuitants:
Ahlan wa Sahlan!
On behalf of your friends from Aramco in the United States, Dhahran and around the world, I welcome you to the 31st biennial Annuitants Reunion-the second one to be held here in Texas.
This gathering is special to Saudi Aramco and holds a special place in our company's history.
Indeed, this is a great year to welcome you to Texas. It was 80 years ago, in 1938, that we discovered commercial quantities of crude oil at Dammam No. 7, some five years after the first two company geologists came ashore at Jubail. Those pioneers didn't know it, but they were launching what would become one of the world's leading energy enterprises.
You have been part of that enormous undertaking, in the process forming friendships that have stood the test of time and brought two cultures together.
You helped establish a strong foundation for Saudi Aramco to grow, prosper and flourish.
Hafla is Arabic for a family party-the ideal description for a gathering of Saudi Aramco annuitants, their loved ones and friends. There's no better word than "family" to describe the ties among Aramcons.
The collective contributions you have made are remarkable, and we continue to build upon your legacy. During this year's Hafla you will hear about new initiatives to develop sustainable forms of energy, benefiting the world at large. We are also setting the standard for corporate social responsibility, playing an important role in the countries and communities in which we operate.
The foundations that you laid for Aramco in Saudi Arabia and around the globe have strengthened over the years. The company continues to grow with a new generation of pioneers equipped with new technologies, dreaming big for the company and the world.
These bright, young professionals are moving forward with a vision; they aim to accomplish big things, just like you did.
Know that your legacy lives on and that you have the company's sincere gratitude and respect.
I wish you a happy, safe and most memorable Hafla.
Sincerely,
Basil Abul-Hamayel
President & CEO
Aramco Services Company
Keynote Speaker: Basil Abul-Hamayel
Basil Abul-Hamayel is President & CEO of Aramco Services Company, a U.S. based subsidiary of one of the world's leading energy providers, Saudi Aramco. He assumed the post in March 2015. Abul-Hamayel is responsible for overseeing strategic direction and operations of Aramco Services to support Saudi Aramco.
In addition to his role as Aramco Services President & CEO, Abul-Hamayel serves on the boards of Aramco Services and several of its subsidiaries: Saudi Refining, Inc., Saudi Petroleum International, Inc. and Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures LLC. He also serves as a Board member and as Vice President of Aramco Financial Services Company. Additionally, he serves as Board member and President of Aramco Training Services Company.
Abul-Hamayel joined Saudi Aramco in 1982, as a financial analyst after earning an economics degree. Throughout his career, he has held a number of leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the Executive Head of Treasury at Saudi Aramco. Earlier he served in several managerial positions with oversight of Corporate Finance, Project, Project finance, and asset management of the Saudi Aramco pension plans.
Abul-Hamayel's financial leadership role extended to serving as Chief Investment Officer (interim) for the endowment at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Additionally, he served on the Board and was Vice President of Corporate Planning for Petron Corp., Saudi Aramco's Philippine joint venture.
He was also a Senior Finance Specialist at the World Bank and International Finance Corporation and served on the boards of SATORP - a refining joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Total and S-Oil, Saudi Aramco's Korean refining joint venture. Additionally, he was a Trustee of the International Schools Group in Saudi Arabia and CEO of Saudi Aramco Development Company.
Abul-Hamayel earned a master's degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management, and a bachelor's degree in economics from The University of Texas at Austin. He has also participated in a number of leadership development programs, including the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth University.