Translated by Sabrin Qadah 

Abdul Salam Abu Issa, a Palestinian businessman who left a mark in the Qatari economic sector. He is the founder of al-Salam International, which is a Qatari public incorporated company listed in the Doha Securities Market, and also is one of the largest and most successful companies in Qatar that owns and operates 31 business units, with a rich history spanning more than 55 years of excellence and success.

Abdul Salam Abu Issa is a Palestinian businessman, went to Qatar in 1950 from his hometown Palestine, carrying his camera looking for work in the Arabian Peninsula. Abu Issa impressed people of the Doha with his talent in photographing places and people, and contributed to the introduction of a new field to ​​the country until 1952 where he became able to open the first studio and laboratory for processing films in Doha called  al- Salam studio, «peace Studio».

With the popularity of it, Abdul Salam thought of expanding his work. In 1954, he transferred the restaurant adjoining the studio into a gift shop, and merged them together under the name « al-Salam Studio and Shops». After that business flourished, and in 1963 the gallery narrowed on business and moved to a larger site so that the next ten years have witnessed an expansion in the scope of work to find suppliers and new products for customers who look for more every day. This continued until business reached the United Arab Emirates and Oman and has become a group of companies, including: -

Al-Tayyar for industry and engineering, Salam Petroleum Services, Omniks Qatar, al-salam Media cassette, al-Salam for Technical Services, Alu NASA, Atelier 21, Gulf Industries for cooling and hotel equipment, International Trading & Contracting, modern decor, Qatar gardens, al-Salam projects, al-Salam factories, Middle East Marketing , al-Salam architecture, the city of Lusail, Al-Salam Tower and other companies involved in in varying degrees, such as Ijada, Imteyaz de beers for diamond trade, Amwal invest, international General insurance and the Palestinian Investment Bank.

Abu Issa’s family obtained the Qatari nationality, and the current chairman of the group's management board is Issa Abdul Salam Abu Issa, the secretary of Qatari Businessmen Association.

Salam International Group is one of the best examples of economic recovery experienced by Qatar. The experience of the expansion of the peace group dates back to 1967 when the company was started in 1952, running one business in Doha, then the first branch was opened in the UAE. Today, al-Salam international operates in 10 markets until it became one of the first family companies in the area, which became a public company.

Salam International spent the last five years in incorporation of a new institutional structure, including internal systems for subsidiary companies under its control so it can serves as a roadmap for companies to gain full independence.

Al-Salam work continued and developed in the field of photography and retail shops that sell global luxury products until 1982 when its founder Abdul Salam Abu Issa died and his sons took over the helm of work after him. Since that year, the brothers led the larger brother Issa Abu Issa determined to move the institution from the narrow area where it operated in spite of the large revenues, to wider areas.

The brothers took the policy of diversification in the activities of the Foundation as a methodology for them to turn to other sectors such as the energy sector, the sector of construction and reconstruction, the technology sector, telecommunications, investment and real estate sector, as well as to maintain the cause of the first success, which is trading in luxury products.

Within a few years, al-Salam international included studios, shops, businesses of wholesale trade and the recovery of goods and services to the Gulf region under the service of al-Salam Holding umbrella.

In 1998, al-Salam was transformed from a family business into a public shareholding company with a paid-up capital came to about 828 million riyals. Then al-Salam Holding merged in June 2002 under the name «Salam International Investment Limited», and in October 2005, al-Salam merged in Salam International to give a clear indication of the balanced transition from a private family-owned company to a public company.

Al-Salam international is a Qatari public shareholding company listed on the Doha Securities Market, which is one of the largest and most successful companies in Qatar, owns and operates 31 business units, with a rich history spanning more than 55 years of excellence and success.