QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1890
Beit Hanina, Palestine
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Abdul Hameed Shoman is renowned for establishing the Arab Bank, a leading financial institution in the Arab world. His vision and efforts in banking significantly contributed to the economic development of the region and played a pivotal role in supporting Arab nationalism and independence movements.
BRIEF BIO
Abdul Hameed Shoman was a Palestinian businessman and banker who founded the Arab Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the Arab world. His journey began with immigration to the United States, where he achieved business success, which he later leveraged to support Arab economies through banking. His work extended beyond banking to include significant contributions to cultural and scientific fields through the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
1911: Immigrated to the United States and achieved business success
1930: Founded the Arab Bank
1949: Assumed the role of Deputy Chairman of the Arab Bank
1964: Became the first Chairman of the Palestinian National Fund and served on the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization
1978: Established the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Arab Bank: Founded and expanded the Arab Bank into a major global financial institution
Economic Development: Played a significant role in the economic development of Arab countries
Cultural and Scientific Support: Through the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, supported scientific research, culture, and creativity [68†source].
Support for Arab Nationalism: Advocated for Arab unity and supported national Arab liberation movements
MIT Collaboration: Partnered with MIT for the MIT-Arab World Program, fostering international scientific collaboration
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
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