Shikun & Binui
Shikun & Binui is an Israeli infrastructure, construction, real-estate, energy and concessions group operating through subsidiaries in more than twenty countries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Shikun & Binui is a diversified Israeli business group whose activities span infrastructure construction, real-estate development, energy, water, environmental services and public-private-partnership concessions. Its corporate history reaches back to 1924, when Solel Boneh was established by the Histadrut, Israel's General Organization of Workers, to bring together workers engaged in paving, construction and infrastructure work during the Mandate for Palestine. Solel Boneh subsequently became one of the country's principal construction and engineering organizations and a foundational part of the Shikun & Binui group. The group's historical development reflects the expansion of Israel's national infrastructure and housing systems. Solel Boneh began by undertaking domestic construction and infrastructure work, while its housing activities later developed through Shikun Ovdim, established in 1933. During the late 1950s, the construction business expanded beyond Israel into African markets, including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. This international experience became an important basis for the group's later infrastructure and engineering operations in Africa and Latin America. A major ownership transition occurred in 1996, when the Histadrut's interest was sold to company employees and Arison Investments as part of the privatization of Histadrut assets. Arison Investments, associated with the Arison family, subsequently became the controlling shareholder. In June 2018, Arison Investments sold its approximately 47 percent stake to Netanel H. Saidoff for NIS 1.1 billion. Following the transaction, Tamir Cohen became chairman and chief executive officer. Amit Birman was appointed chairman and chief executive in December 2024. Shikun & Binui operates through several specialist divisions. Its concessions business develops and implements build-operate-transfer and other public-private-partnership projects, including transportation, desalination, waste treatment, energy and social infrastructure. Its Israeli construction division, Shikun & Binui Solel Boneh, undertakes building contracting, civil engineering, earthworks and infrastructure projects for public authorities, government companies, municipalities and private developers. Shikun & Binui Real Estate develops residential, office, commercial and mixed-use projects in Israel, while Shikun & Binui Europe operates in several Central and Eastern European markets. The group's international infrastructure activities are carried out through businesses including Shikun & Binui SBI Infrastructures, which provides engineering, procurement and construction services in Africa and Latin America, and Shikun & Binui USA, which develops and constructs infrastructure projects in the United States through concession and construction subsidiaries. Its energy business develops, builds, operates and maintains electricity-generation facilities using solar, thermosolar, photovoltaic, natural-gas and other conventional technologies in selected markets. Sustainability became an explicit element of corporate policy in 2007. The group subsequently emphasized projects involving renewable energy, water desalination, waste treatment and resource efficiency. In 2013, it received Israel's Green Globe Award for a green business initiative. The group's project portfolio includes Highway 6 in Israel, the Carmel Tunnels, the Hadera seawater desalination plant, the Ashalim Power Station and infrastructure projects outside Israel. Through its combination of development, financing, design, permitting, construction, operation and maintenance capabilities, Shikun & Binui positions itself as an integrated infrastructure and real-assets platform rather than solely as a conventional construction contractor.
History
Shikun & Binui's roots lie in Solel Boneh, which was established in 1924 by the Histadrut during the British Mandate for Palestine. The organization brought together workers involved in road building, paving and infrastructure construction and grew into a major national contractor. Its work was closely connected with the construction of Israel's physical infrastructure and later formed the basis for the group's broader engineering and construction capabilities. Housing became another important area of activity. In 1933, the housing company Shikun Ovdim was established and later became associated with the group's real-estate development operations. During the 1950s, Solel Boneh expanded outside Israel. In 1958, in the context of Prime Minister Golda Meir's vision for international development cooperation, the company entered African markets including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. The international business later extended its geographic reach to additional African and Latin American countries. The ownership structure changed during the 1990s. In 1996, the Histadrut sold its interest to company employees and Arison Investments in a broader privatization of Histadrut-owned assets. Arison Investments became the principal shareholder. The group subsequently developed a multi-division structure covering construction, real estate, infrastructure concessions and energy. Its concessions activities adopted the public-private-partnership and build-operate-transfer model for major projects in transportation, water, waste treatment and power. Sustainability was incorporated into corporate policy in 2007. This affected the group's internal organization and the selection of projects, with greater attention to renewable energy, desalination, waste treatment, resource efficiency and environmental performance. The policy direction was recognized in 2013 when the group received the Green Globe Award from Life & Environment for a green business initiative. The group has participated in major Israeli projects including Highway 6, the Carmel Tunnels, the Hadera seawater desalination plant and the Ashalim Power Station. Its construction and infrastructure subsidiaries also carry out engineering, procurement and construction work abroad. Shikun & Binui SBI Infrastructures has operated in West and East Africa and Latin America, while Shikun & Binui USA has developed infrastructure and construction activities in the United States, including public-private-partnership and design-build work. In June 2018, Arison Investments sold its approximately 47 percent stake to Netanel H. Saidoff for NIS 1.1 billion. Tamir Cohen was appointed chairman and chief executive at that time. Amit Birman succeeded him as chairman and chief executive in December 2024. The modern group therefore combines a century-long Israeli construction heritage with international infrastructure development, real-estate, energy and concession businesses.
- 2024
Amit Birman takes leadership
[1]Amit Birman was appointed chairman and chief executive in December.
- 2018
Change of controlling shareholder
[1]Arison Investments sold its approximately 47 percent stake to Netanel H. Saidoff, and Tamir Cohen became chairman and chief executive.
- 2013
Green Globe Award
[1]Shikun & Binui received the Green Globe Award for a green business initiative.
- 2007
Sustainability adopted as corporate policy
[1]The group incorporated sustainability into corporate policy and increased its focus on renewables, desalination, waste treatment and related projects.
- 1996
Histadrut privatization
[1]The Histadrut's stake was sold to employees and Arison Investments as part of the privatization of Histadrut assets.
- 1958
Expansion into African markets
[1]Solel Boneh expanded its construction and infrastructure operations into African countries including Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana.
- 1933
Shikun Ovdim established
[1]The housing business that later became part of Shikun & Binui's real-estate division was established under the name Shikun Ovdim.
- 1924
Solel Boneh established
[1]The Histadrut established Solel Boneh to unite workers engaged in road, paving and infrastructure construction in Mandatory Palestine.
Products and positioning
An integrated infrastructure and real-assets group combining construction, engineering, project development, concessions, energy, water and real-estate capabilities across Israel and international markets.
Public-private partnerships and concessions
Shikun & Binui Concessions
The concessions division develops and implements long-term infrastructure projects using public-private-partnership and build-operate-transfer structures. Its fields include toll roads, tunnels, desalination, waste treatment, energy and social infrastructure. Examples associated with the division include Highway 6, the Carmel Tunnels, the Hadera desalination plant and the Cundinamarca Eastern Perimeter Corridor in Colombia.
Building and infrastructure construction · 1924
Shikun & Binui Solel Boneh
The Israeli construction division carries out building contracting, civil infrastructure, earthworks and related construction activities. Its customers include government ministries, public companies, municipalities and private developers. The division represents the group's direct continuation of the Solel Boneh construction tradition.
Real-estate development · 1933
Shikun & Binui Real Estate
The Israeli real-estate division develops and markets residential projects as well as larger office, commercial and leisure complexes. Its stated approach includes attention to energy efficiency, recycling and environmentally oriented urban development.
International engineering, procurement and construction
Shikun & Binui SBI Infrastructures
SBI Infrastructures is the group's international EPC platform. It has undertaken infrastructure work in West and East Africa and Latin America, including roads and other complex civil-engineering projects. Its reported markets include Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Guatemala and Colombia.
Power generation and renewable energy
Shikun & Binui Energy
The energy division develops, builds, operates and maintains power-generation facilities. Its portfolio includes solar technologies such as photovoltaic and thermosolar generation, as well as conventional natural-gas facilities, with activities reported in Israel, the United States, Romania and Italy.
United States infrastructure development and construction · 2012
Shikun & Binui USA
Shikun & Binui USA has operated in the United States since 2012. Through concession and construction subsidiaries based in Pittsburgh, it develops and builds complex infrastructure projects, including public-private-partnership and design-build work involving financing, design, permitting, construction, maintenance and operations.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Sustainability policy
International
The group adopted sustainability as a formal corporate-policy priority and increased its focus on renewable energy, desalination, waste treatment and environmentally oriented infrastructure.
Outcome. The policy was followed by changes in group operations and recognition through the 2013 Green Globe Award.
Brand decisions
2024
Appointment of Amit BirmanOtherBackground
The group changed its top leadership in December 2024.
Action taken
Amit Birman was appointed chairman and chief executive.
2018
Sale of Arison Investments stakeM&ABackground
Arison Investments decided to exit its controlling position in the listed infrastructure and construction group.
Action taken
Approximately 47 percent of the company was sold to Netanel H. Saidoff for NIS 1.1 billion, followed by a leadership change.
Aftermath
Tamir Cohen became chairman and chief executive under the new controlling ownership.
Transaction value. NIS 1.1 billion (June 2018)
2007
Sustainability integrated into corporate policyStrategyBackground
The group sought to align its operations with environmental priorities and identify infrastructure opportunities related to sustainability.
Action taken
Sustainability considerations were incorporated into group policy, operations and project selection.
Aftermath
The group expanded its emphasis on renewables, desalination and waste treatment and later received the Green Globe Award.
1996
Privatization of Histadrut ownershipM&ABackground
The Histadrut undertook a broad privatization of assets, including its interest in the construction group.
Action taken
The stake was sold to company employees and Arison Investments.
Aftermath
Arison Investments became the principal shareholder and the group continued developing as a privately controlled, diversified business.
Recent events
- 2024
Amit Birman appointed chairman and chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Amit Birman was appointed chairman and chief executive of the group in December 2024.
- 2018
Arison Investments sells controlling stake to Netanel H. Saidoff[1]
M&A · Leadership change
In June 2018, Arison Investments sold an approximately 47 percent stake in Shikun & Binui to Netanel H. Saidoff for NIS 1.1 billion. Tamir Cohen became chairman and chief executive after the transaction.
- 2013
Shikun & Binui receives Israel Green Globe Award[1]
Campaign · Other
The group received the Green Globe Award from Life & Environment for a green business initiative, following the adoption of sustainability as a formal corporate-policy priority.
- 1996
Histadrut interest privatized and sold to employees and Arison Investments[1]
M&A
The company's ownership changed substantially when the Histadrut's stake was sold to employees and Arison Investments as part of the privatization of Histadrut assets.
Sources1 sources
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