Saadi Al Saihood

Visitors and CACC staff pose for a formal photo in CCF West’s Protocol Room.

Powering Progress Across a Nationa

By Dr. Adhid Miri

Saadi Al Saihood, an Iraqi businessman and prominent philanthropist, was born in Baghdad in 1954. A father of three sons and a daughter, his family hails from the province of Amara. He began his career humbly, selling newspapers at age 11 while attending school part-time and taking night classes. He also helped with his father’s laundromat business, which he named The White Robe, inspired by the film The Robe.

After graduating in 1977 with a higher diploma from the Institute of Administration and Management in Baghdad, Al Saihood took a modest administrative position. Over time, he rose steadily through the ranks, building a wide professional network, gaining extensive experience, and establishing strong relationships with both local and international organizations.

In the late 1990s, he founded Ship Captain Group (Skipper of the Ship/Rabban Al-Safina–RAS) with the mission of “rebuilding Iraq with Iraqi hands.” After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, he landed contracts with major US and international companies like KBR, Weatherford International, ABB USA, Schneider Electric USA, and Siemens AG.

From these beginnings, the group has grown into 38 independent business entities across diverse sectors, including energy, infrastructure, security, heavy engineering, IT, logistics, life support, food and beverage, and real estate.

Al Saihood’s companies have also established themselves as leaders in independent power production, building two state-of-the-art power plants and operating a leading manufacturer and distributor of power components under license from Siemens Energy.

Under Al Saihood’s leadership, Ship Captain Group has thrived even in challenging economic environments. The company views itself as more than a financial enterprise; it is a driving force for Iraq’s development, creating over 4,000 jobs and providing Iraqis with the resources, training, and opportunities needed to succeed. His entrepreneurial vision focuses on innovative solutions, high-quality standards, and a commitment to building human capital to secure Iraq’s future.

A passionate advocate for modern education, Al Saihood collaborated with his sons Hussein, Ali, and Yousef to establish the American University of Iraq–Baghdad (AUIB), which opened in 2021 on the site of the former al-Faw Presidential Palace. Modeled on American higher education standards with English as the language of instruction, AUIB offers undergraduate and graduate programs across Arts and Sciences, International Studies, Business, Law, and Education, and has partnerships with leading U.S. universities.

AUIB also provides scholarships and financial aid to students from underprivileged backgrounds. The university’s flagship Mr. Saadi Wahib Saihood Scholarship awards fully funded opportunities to outstanding Iraqi students, empowering them to pursue excellence, develop their capacities, and contribute to Iraq’s sustainable growth. To date, the scholarship has provided 60 students with support for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Al Saihood’s philanthropic initiatives extend across Iraq. He led the restoration of the historic Chaldean Cemetery in Baghdad, Bab Al-Sharqi, reflecting his admiration for Iraqi Christians and minority communities.

When asked about his reasons he said, “We in the south of Iraq have a lot in common with the Christians; we are close to you, there is a commonality between us, a chemistry, we share similar values and have common genes. This is the least we can do for you; I believe that these are the graves of my family and those buried in the cemetery are my people.”

He also launched the Tree of Life Charitable Foundation, which supports thousands of underprivileged Iraqis through education, health care, housing, and job creation. The organization provides medical assistance to patients facing serious health conditions who cannot afford treatment, whether in hospitals inside the country or abroad. It also offers financial and in-kind support to low-income families, helping foster social solidarity within the community.

The foundation assists needy students in continuing their education, in coordination with government agencies, and provides aid to couples preparing for marriage. In addition, it helps families build or renovate homes and distributes school supplies and bags to students in villages and rural areas across several provinces.

Through partnerships, including weekly initiatives with the AUIB, the foundation also organizes programs such as distributing winter coats to orphaned children, delivering messages of compassion while creating a positive and sustainable impact within local communities.

Al Saihood’s efforts in education and charity have earned international recognition, including an honorary doctorate from Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in 2026, acknowledging his contributions to science, education, and national capacity building.  LTU currently has an exchange program with AUIB.

Collaboration between institutions has continued to grow in recent years. A delegation from the AUIB visited the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) East Campus in January 2023, strengthening ties with the local community. In February 2025, a delegation from the Chaldean Community Foundation and the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, led by Martin Manna, traveled to Iraq at the invitation of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al‑Sudani. As part of the visit’s official program, the delegation also toured the AUIB.

In February 2026, Al Saihood visited the Chaldean Community Foundation in West Bloomfield, Michigan, along with AUIB leaders. The visit included tours of CCF West and East, meetings with Iraqi Chaldean business leaders, and cultural and educational exchanges, strengthening ties between the Iraqi and diaspora communities.

From his early entrepreneurial efforts to his leadership of one of Iraq’s largest industrial conglomerates, and his transformative work in education and philanthropy, Saadi Al Saihood’s life exemplifies dedication, vision, and service.

Through business, education, and charitable work, he continues to build an engine that empowers Iraqis and shapes the future of his country.