A Visionary Pioneer in Oman’s Fishing Industry
Mohamed Ameen Sait
Managing Director
Sea Pride LLC
From humble beginnings to the apex of Oman’s fishing industry, Mohamed Ameen Sait, the visionary Managing Director of Sea Pride LLC, has carved a unique path marked by relentless ambition, unwavering determination, and a passion for excellence. His extraordinary journey, from a modest start in India to becoming a trailblazer in Oman’s fishery sector, speaks volumes about his tenacity, grit, and exceptional leadership skills.
Born into a life that demanded resilience and adaptability, Mr. Ameen’s early exposure to the harsh realities of business life equipped him with the courage to establish several successful ventures far from his homeland. His career began at the tender age of 16, when he joined the Abad Group as a Junior Supervisor. His hard work, dedication, and innate understanding of business fundamentals quickly set him apart. In 1988, he took a pivotal step by joining United Gulf Fisheries, a European company in Oman, as a Junior Production Supervisor. It was here that he began to grasp the complexities of the fishing industry.
Continuing his professional journey, Mr. Ameen moved to Khimji Ramdas in 1990 as a Purchase Manager, honing his skills in negotiation and business management. His time at Khimji Ramdas was invaluable, providing him with a deep understanding of supply chain dynamics, and preparing him for the entrepreneurial ventures that lay ahead.
By 1992, brimming with confidence and knowledge, Mr. Ameen took the bold step of venturing out on his own, co-founding Al Muqalla Fisheries, a trading company that would set the stage for even greater achievements. In March 2005, under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Juma Muhammed Bin Khamis Al Farsi and Mohamed Ameen, Sea Pride LLC was officially established. In its first year, the company achieved a remarkable turnover of $2.1 million, laying the groundwork for an impressive average annual growth rate of 25-35%. From an initial team of just 12, Sea Pride has flourished, now employing over 600 dedicated professionals across its various factories.
Sea Pride LLC (formerly known as Al Muqalla Fisheries) has been a cornerstone in the global seafood industry. The company exports a staggering 95% of its products to the US, EU, and over 60 countries worldwide, maintaining an unyielding commitment to sustainability, quality, honesty, and integrity in all its operations. Sea Pride has grown exponentially, boasting an annual turnover of $130 million and a yearly growth rate of 25-35%. The company collaborates with over 60 marketing firms and exports approximately 125,000 metric tons of seafood annually, with a daily transport capacity of 250 metric tons.
Sea Pride’s cutting-edge facilities are meticulously designed to manage every stage of the fish processing cycle with unparalleled efficiency and precision. From the moment the fish are caught, they are swiftly transported to the factory, where advanced technology ensures thorough cleaning, precise cutting, and careful preparation to meet the industry’s most stringent standards. The state-of-the-art processing lines are engineered to handle each fish with the utmost care, preserving its freshness and nutritional value to deliver a product that is not only healthy but also delicious.
Post-processing, the fish are packaged using the most innovative techniques available, ensuring they are stored and transported in a manner that maintains their peak quality. The company’s eco-friendly practices reflect its commitment to the environment, ensuring every product not only meets but exceeds the highest standards of safety and quality. Sea Pride offers a diverse range of products, including Suri Gold Products, Mahi Mahi Portions, Barracuda Steak, Tuna Steak, King Fish Steak, Emperor Whole Fish, Cuttle Fish, Trevally Cubes, Tuna Meat, Ribbon Fish Steak, Cat Fish Steak, and Squid Rings.
Sea Pride’s Qurun facility, a testament to innovation and efficiency, produces high-quality fishmeal and fish oil through a series of detailed and precise steps. The process begins with raw fish cooked in a state-of-the-art cylindrical cooker with a spiral axis and steam heating device. The cooked fish is then transferred to a screw press, which separates the liquid (fish oil and water) from the solid material (press cake). This step is crucial in extracting maximum liquid while retaining essential solid components for fishmeal. The press liquid, containing fish oil and protein water, undergoes further refinement through a tri-canter, ensuring the purity and quality of both products.
The drying process reduces the moisture content of the fishmeal to 6-10%, effectively controlling microbial activity and preserving the product. The fishmeal is then pulverized into a fine powder, cooled, weighed according to specifications, and packed into bags for storage and distribution. The extracted fish oil, due to its low water content, is stored in stainless steel tanks, maintaining its quality and freshness until it is ready for distribution.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Mr. Ameen launched Seapride Marine Engineering LLC in 2020, catering to local fishermen and yacht customers across Oman and neighboring countries. The state-of-the-art yard facility on the coast of Sur province is custom-designed to build high-standard fiberglass boats. The 1,000 square meter covered shed, complete with an air-conditioned lamination shop, can construct vessels up to 50 meters in length. The company offers an extensive collection of new and used boats, fulfilling the demand for motor yachts and fishing boats, and has become a leading distributor of world-renowned speed and fishing boats in the Middle East.
Seapride’s design team and technicians boast over 20 years of experience in fiberglass boat design and manufacturing. Their expertise spans the globe, supporting international clients in building and maintaining their vessels with superior service and an intricate understanding of boatbuilding. The team is diverse, highly skilled, and passionately dedicated to making customers’ seafaring dreams come true.
In 2020, Mr. Ameen further expanded his business empire by launching Pride Packaging, a carton manufacturing company with state-of-the-art facilities in the Sur industrial area. The plant boasts an annual capacity of 35,000 tonnes of kraft paper boxes and integrates all key processes, including an offset printing system. The company creates packaging solutions that meet performance requirements, environmental impact targets, and aesthetic needs. Its diverse product range includes Regular Slotted Carton Boxes, Telescopic Boxes, E-Commerce Boxes, Die Cut Boxes, Wrap Around Cartons, Half Slotted Cartons, High Graphic Flexo Print Boxes, Crash Lock Boxes, and Corrugated Boards.
In late 2023, Sea Pride Integrated Fisheries Company laid the foundation for a cutting-edge fish processing and canning factory in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD). With an investment of OMR 18 million, this facility is set to become Oman’s premier fish processing and canning company, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The management of Sea Pride is planning further industrial investments in the coming years, including the development of an aquaculture farm.
A former President of the Indian School Sur Education Board, Mr. Ameen also envisions setting up International Baccalaureate schools in Oman, underscoring his commitment to education and community development. His significant contributions to the Sultanate of Oman were recognized with the granting of citizenship in 2024. As a member of the Sultanate’s Fisheries Committee, he continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Oman’s Vision 2020.
On August 23, 2023, Mr. Ameen demonstrated his commitment to social responsibility by launching the Sulekha Moosa Foundation Dialysis Center in West Kochi, Kerala, in partnership with Thanal, a charitable trust. The center was established to provide affordable renal purification procedures for needy patients, alleviating the financial burdens of prolonged treatment and exorbitant costs.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, The Arabian Stories news portal honored Mr. Ameen with the Business Leader of the Year Award in 2022. A man of varied interests, Mr. Ameen enjoys tinkering with electronics and loves to travel in his spare time.
Rooted in a family that values hard work and integrity, Mr. Ameen’s father, Mohammed Jaffer Sait, was an accountant, and his mother, Sulekha Bai, a homemaker. Mr. Ameen is married to Shajitha, who assists him in managing their business ventures and oversees operations at Pride Packaging. Their eldest daughter, Neema, a postgraduate in accounting and finance from the UK, manages the financial department of their companies and resides in Paris with her husband, Asif. The second daughter is pursuing her postgraduation in psychology at Birkbeck, University of London, while their son, Mohammed Arman, is currently undertaking an MBA in London.
Through his extraordinary vision, dedication, and leadership, Mohamed Ameen Sait has not only transformed Sea Pride LLC into a global powerhouse but has also left an indelible mark on the fishing industry and the community in Oman. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
Official Address: Plot No 132, Sur Industrial Estate, Post Box 627, Sur – 411, Sultanate of Oman.
Contact office: +968 2556 2323, +968 2556 2626
Address in India: IIDL Aire Apartments, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi, Kerala.
