Saudi Arabia’s Groupe Ahmed Saleh Bughchan is also present in Mauritania, holding the licences for Blocks Ta-14, Ta-26, Ta-36, Ta-37, Ta-61, Ta-62, Ta-63. Ahmed Saleh is from Jeddah’s Bughchan family; like many other important business families in the Kingdom (the Bin Laden, Binzagr and Bin Mahfouz), the Bughchan are originally from Yemen’s Hadhramaut region. The family has a range of interests including transport, construction, drinks, perfume and telecommunications, and owns shopping malls, hotels and a hospital.