Profile

The Al Touq family is influential in Saudi Arabia and is close to the ousted former Crown Prince Mohamed bin Nayif as well as the previous Minister of Interior. The interests of the family's business conglomerate range from private equity to real estate and span the Middle East.

Abdulmohsen Al Touq is the CEO of the Al Touq Group where his brother, Saif Al Touq (سيف الطوق،), is deputy CEO. Rakan Al Touq (راكان الطوق) is an official within the Ministry of Culture with the title “General Supervisor of Strategy and International Relations”. Abdulmohsen Al Touq is also Vice Chairman of the Board of the Arab National Bank.

‘Links’ with Malta include middling charity donation

When Abdulmohsen Al Touq submitted his application for Maltese citizenship in August 2015, Henley & Partners advised his representative to provide “evidential proof of ties to Malta” in the form of a “charity donation of €5,000 minimum” to either the Malta Community Chest Fund, which is affiliated with the President of Malta, or to a named, private children's charity.

Rakan and Saif Al Touq applied to buy passports after the success of their sibling's application. The family members' ‘Letters of Intent’, which were sent to the Malta government agency responsible for deciding on applications, were almost identical save for their personal details. The letters expressed their wish to apply for Maltese citizenship because “it offers more freedom politically” and that “the holding of such a passport will assist greatly in my extensive travels throughout Europe” and “further afield” or “elsewhere”.

Satisfying the residency requirement?

In his letter, Saif Al Touq anticipated spending “a minimum of 14 days in Malta” during the mandatory 12-month residency period. Rakan Al Touq's letter said he had spent two days in Malta and anticipated “spending a minimum 12 days more in Malta” in an effort to establish his home on the island. Abdulmohsen Al Touq said he expected to spend “a minimum of 10 days in Malta”.

To meet residency requirements, the three brothers each rented a flat in Malta for €16,200 per year — the minimum required to satisfy the rental value requirement laid down by the government of Malta. All three applicants were granted Maltese passports. It is unclear how much time they have spent in Malta since then.

What they said

Abdulmohsen Al Touq, Rakan Al Touq, Saif Al Touq, and the Board of the Arab National Bank did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Saudi's Ministry of Culture could not be reached for comment.