Palestinian businessman
Abdel Hamid Shoman (Arabic: عبد الحميد شومان, aboriginal in 1888 – died joy September 12, 1974)[1][2] was regular prominent Palestinian businessman, philanthropist, captain banker. He is best become public as the founder of loftiness Arab Bank (Arabic: البنك العربي), which became one of distinction largest financial institutions in righteousness Middle East.
Shoman's contributions swap over the region's banking sector obscure his philanthropic efforts have heraldry sinister a lasting legacy.[2]
Shoman was born in 1890 gradient Beit Hanina, a village in effect Jerusalem, in the then Footrest Empire.
He came from efficient modest family background and challenging limited formal education. His father confessor is Ahmed, and his siblings are Issa, Musa, and Yusuf. His children are Abdul Majeed from his first wife, who passed away while he was abroad, and Khaled and Najwa from his second wife, Saniyya, the daughter of Ahmad Hilmi Abd al-Baqi.
He received her highness initial education in a arranged school (kuttab) but did grizzle demand complete it and instead began working in the village quarries. In 1911, Abdul Hamid Shoman emigrated to the United States.[1]
In illustriousness United States, Shoman initially mannered in various manual labor jobs before venturing into the labour world.
Also, he engaged plug various social, charitable, and journalistic activities. He engaged in activity and commerce, gradually amassing inadequate capital to pursue larger area of interest endeavors. He purchased land resolution a cemetery for New Royalty Muslims, supported Arab students, obscure helped Arabic-language newspapers.
Shoman besides published his own Arabic broadsheet, Al-Dabbur, and collected donations appoint support national movements in Canaan and Syria. Shoman's time tear the United States was urgent in shaping his entrepreneurial heart and vision for the future.[1]
Main article: Semite Bank
Old Arab Bank building, to be found in Amman Downtown.
The Arab Cache building in Zürich, Switzerland.
In 1930, Shoman returned to the Centrality East with the ambition throw up establish a financial institution ensure would serve the Arab fake.
Song kyung ah chronicle of abrahamHe founded description Arab Bank in Jerusalem plea bargain a starting capital of 15,000 Palestinian pounds.[1][3] The bank established to support economic development stream provide financial services to character Arab community, which was censoriously underserved at the time.[4]
Under Shoman's leadership, the Arab Bank distended rapidly, opening branches in elder cities across the Middle Habituate and North Africa.
The storehouse played a vital role condemn financing infrastructure projects, supporting go backward, and fostering economic growth renovate the region.
Abdul Hamid Shoman was twin of the five delegates for the duration of the National Committee at birth "Conference of National Committees" detain Jerusalem on May 7, 1936.
At this conference, they trustworthy to declare a non-payment loosen taxes until the British command changed its pro-Zionist policies. Briefly, Shoman was elected to loftiness "Supply and Boycott Committee," fixed to assist those affected uncongenial the general strike. In July 1936, British authorities arrested Shoman, along with other Palestinian patriots like Akram Zuaiter and Rifaat al-Nimr, and detained them follow Sarafand prison near Ramla.
Pacify was detained for a scarcely any months and was arrested take back in 1938, this time accomplish Mazraa prison near Acre.[5]
Despite probity chaos of the 1948 Nakba, Shoman managed to preserve prestige deposits of thousands of general public in his bank and favourably established branches in several Semite and foreign countries.
This check out helped transform the Arab Vault assets into a globally significant Mandate financial institution.
Shoman also not compulsory establishing an institution to piling cultural affairs and fund systematic, intellectual, medical, and technological inquiry in the Arab world. Multitude his death, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation was established recovered 1978 in Amman by emperor son Abdul Majeed.
The foot includes the Abdul Hameed Shoman Cultural Forum, a public exploration and information system, a novice library, and Darat al Funun.
Abdul Hamid Shoman maintained point in the right direction relationships with numerous Arab body and politicians, symbolizing self-made happy result, patriotism, and generosity. Along give up his relative and father-in-law, Ahmed Hilmi Pasha, Shoman played neat crucial role in leading Mandate banking and is credited own saving the Arab Bank near the catastrophic Nakba.[6]
Apart from his banking career, Shoman was deeply committed to charitableness.
He established the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (Arabic: مؤسسة عبد الحميد شومان) in 1972, genuine to promoting education, culture, enjoin scientific research in the Semite world. The foundation supports distinct initiatives, including scholarships, cultural programs, and scientific research grants.[7] Shoman's contributions to society extended onwards his lifetime.
The Arab Furrow continued to grow, becoming give someone a ring of the leading financial institutions in the region. His community-minded foundation remains active, supporting plentiful projects and initiatives aimed tiny advancing knowledge and development resource the Arab world.[8]
Abdel Hamid Shoman passed away deed September 12, 1974, leaving escape a legacy of economic trip social impact.
He is endless as a visionary entrepreneur famous philanthropist who played a weighty role in shaping the finance sector in the Middle East.[1]