In 1967, Dr. Ribhi Hamadeh, the former director of the Royal Clinic and third licensed pharmacist in the history of Saudi Arabia, founded the Hamadeh Drugstore in the centre of downtown Riyadh. The company was specialized in the trade and supply of pharmaceuticals, and was the foundation of a fast-growing organization that expanded to medical supplies, medical equipment, emergency services, and cosmetics.

The company, which became known as Bassam Trading, later capitalized on Saudi Arabia