Out of the Desert: My Journey From Nomadic Bedouin to the Heart of Global Oil

A great read from a man of unquestioned integrity. I worked for him for three years in Saudi but only met him once when I was in need of a medical emrgency leave. This is a story that resonates with me as someone who worked not only in Saudi but in the energy business for over 40 years. It is a great historical perspective of world events through the viewpoint an OIl expert and Saudi national. His explaining of the culture of the Saudi people also resonates with me. I worked with a Saudi foreman Bader Al Otaibi, also a Bedu who grew up in the desert and learned to be a remarkable pipeline maintence hand and life long friend. I learned a lot about the culture and people from him. A great read!

I read this book over two days, laughed and got choked with tears a number of times. I am an Aramco Brat, having grown up in Dhahran. Being a third-culture kid has always been a mixed blessing, which I wouldn't trade for anything, despite the heartache of losing HOME. I grew up hearing Mr. Al-Naimi's name, as well as others mentioned, Kings Khaled and Fahd, and John Kelberer. I walked by Steineke Hall many times, curious about the fancy guest quarters for Aramco execs, and knew about places like Khafji (pivotal location in Desert Shield/Storm), Yanbu (mythical Red Sea locale where some employees got transferred to), Ras Tanura (home of the dark blue pool, sea-life paintings at the snack bar, and lovely rental homes for employees from other compounds), al-Hasa (some of my dad's ophthalmology patients lived there), and Hofuf (camel market) many times. While reading, I grew to love and admire this man through the pages (although I have yet to read a memoir where this wasn't the case). Granted, I'm coming from a naive perspective, not having worked at Aramco, but Mr. Al-Naimi is thoughtful, self-aware, shrewd, conscientious, tenacious, astute, and absolutely extraordinary. Although it got a little dry at the end, I love that he included aspects of geology, engineering, and economics. There was even humor - Dick Cheney didn't shoot him while hunting together! and he sang Frank Sinatra in karaoke! I love that he loves hiking, and in his 70s, used it as a diplomatic tool in global relations. I love that he included some heart, talking about his wife, children, his best friend Sam, and his many work connections. There are also lovely photos. Al-Naimi is a true patriot, devoted to his country, and had such a vision of the big picture. I wish he had included more about the role of religion in his life, tribal cultural influences in Saudi, and health conditions and other changes that came with westernization, as well as any influences of the Arab Spring in the Kingdom. But thankfully he did touch on environmental concerns, the process of Saudization, and the role of women in Aramco. I hope this book was also published in Arabic. I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this book.

This book has special interest to me because I was in the World Oil Business myself and had met his predecessor in Ciro several years ago. His story reminded me of a story of a young man in the early 20th of century who made it much like Ali Al-Naimi did. This is one of the books I will be discussing with a special reading group I belong to whose focus is mainly on world economic issues. One of the comments I made to my friends in this group made me want to get out into the World Oil Business again, this time, with a much better understanding of how to be more successful at meeting the needs of the company I worked for and the needs of the government agents I was talking to. What surpized me the most is how Ali Al-Naini used the resources available to him to make it possible for the people of his country and others to advance their education. This man is an extra special man and I feel honored by having a chance to read his book

This is an amazing story of the growth of the Saudi Arabian people, its oil industry and Aramco as told from an insider with personal experience. The journey spans the author's childhood through about 2015. He shares insight on saudi culture and work ethics, the value of schooling, living as a Saudi in the USA and the friendships and trials he experienced in the USA and finally, his rise to become the leader of Aramco and then a minister in the government. Al-Naimi tells the tale with a humble, insightful and personal perspective. I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book!!!!

I was fortunate to have worked with and for Ali. This is a great book, a tribute to the life of a great man. He was smart, astute, and most of all always greeted you with a warm infectious smile and a twinkle in his eye. Never saw him once lose his temper under some stressful situations. You will read about a great leader in a modern society that began his life as a proud Desert Nomad. Frank Fugate, former Aramco Senior Vice-President and Board Member

Interesting and informal memoir of an oil visionary.

A must read for college grads,mid-level managers and expats moving to Saudi. Gives a good view about the culture of Saudi , Aramco, various geo-political factors involved in oil price movements. Language could have been better ,but thoughts expressed more than make up for it. Favorite thought “ Listen ! Listen to what people say and they don’t say. It can make profound impact on your strategy and decision making “ . Thanks Mr.Ali for sharing your experiences.

Fui hasta Nueva York a buscar este libro y solo se vendía en UK. Al regresar a España lo pedí y para mi sorpresa llegó tal cual lo quería, justo el día de mi cumpleaños.

Absolutely loved the book after 17 years in Arabia, working in Aramco, as an Executive Secretary, for most of the people named in the book including the author. I went thru most of the crises that the world threw up in relation to oil, but the book gave me a deeper understanding AND I still don't know the difference between oil and gas and shale oil!!! It is a real page turner and I stayed up late reading. A book certainly worth writing and I am recommending to all Aramcons past and present! The writer understates the crises that Arabia faced thru the years with a philosophical viewpoint and I just wish we, in UK could do the kind of deals Aramco did with difficult countries. As he said personal feelings come last, business is what it is all about. Lovely book............................

A must read

Es gelingt diesem Buch, das Interesse zu wecken nicht nur für den Verfasser und seine erstaunliche Lebensleistung, sondern auch für sein Land und die geschilderten Hintergründe der dortigen kulturellen und indusriellen Entwicklung der letzten Jahrzehnte. Kurzweilig und spannend erzählt, man möchte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Eine deutsche Übersetzung wäre sehr zu empfehlen.

A fascinating book from one of the few men that is able to tell the whole story of Aramco and OPEC from beginning to 2016. Ali Al-Naimi presents himself as a soft spoken, hard working, quick learning office boy for Aramco who 60 years later was decisive in setting the global oil pricing structure. A great story of how the ethical operation of American oil company changed a country and the world. I was there when ali became CEO OF Saudi Aramco.