Feuding Saudis urged by UK judge to resolve legal dispute and rekindle friendship

Two Saudi businessman, who were once childhood friends, have been urged by a judge in the UK to resolve their differences in a $5 million dispute.

Abdullah Al Othman fell out with Khalid Al Rajhi after they jointly invested in a company in 2008, which turned out to be unsuccessful.

Mr Al Othman ended up suing Mr Al Rajhi in 2023 at the High Court in London, in a case conducted through their businesses, but a judge has now ruled against him.

In her judgment, Mrs Justice Julia Dias said Mr Al Othman had been a “close personal friend” of Mr Al Rajhi until the court case began.

Mr Al Othman is the vice chairman of the family-owned and run Al Othman Holding Company, which is based in Saudi Arabia, although he has lived in Sydney since 2000.

Judge Julia Dias urged the two men to patch up their differences. Photo: Judiciary

Mr Al Rajhi is the executive chairman of the Al Rajhi Group, which is also family run and based in Saudi Arabia. He is also the chief executive of Al Rajhi Holding WLL, a subsidiary of one of Al Rajhi Group's two holding companies, which was the defendant.

“The two men were childhood friends who had been to school and university together, and the two families had a close and long-standing relationship, having done business together on a number of occasions over the years,” said Mrs Justice Dias.

Concluding her ruling,