While still considered an emerging market, the Middle East is quickly accelerating into a home for Arab entrepreneurs and business leaders across all industries. Countries like the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi are increasing their efforts to support and grow local talent, adding to the region's value as a source for innovation and progress. Leading the way are noteworthy pioneers who have inspired countless others with their drive, perseverance, and commitment.
Ronaldo Mouchawar
Ronaldo Mouchawar is a Syrian entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO and co-founder of Souq.com. The online marketplace is the largest e-commerce site within the Arab world, with over 8.4 million products and operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. In 2017, Mouchawar sold Souq.com to Amazon for about $580 million but remained CEO. He initially launched Souq.com back in 2005 as an online auction site. A turning point for the company was realized when Mouchawar applied the B2C model by providing services and a platform for various merchants to reach customers.
Hind Hobeika
Hind Hobeika is the founder of Instabeat. As a former Olympic swimmer, she saw a gap in the market for swimming-tracking devices. Instabeat focuses on building technology-based accessories for swimming goggles that capture real-time heart rates, stroke types, and laps. This ground-breaking technology supports professional as well as aspiring swimmers to improve their stamina and performance. Hobeika developed the idea while studying at the American University in Beirut and has gone on to win various awards and accolades for her forward-thinking approach to fitness, technology, and wellbeing.
Khalid Al Khudair
Khalid is the current Executive Vice President and the head of Communication and Customer Service at Riyad Bank. He is also the founder of Glowork, an employment organization that connects thousands of women in the job market with prospective employment opportunities. Al Khudair's women-empowerment startup earned him the award of "Best Innovation globally for job creation" by the UN, ILO, and World Bank. He previously held the role of Chief Operating Officer – Markets at the KPMG in Saudi, Kuwait, and Jordan. Al Khuadair holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from Saint Mary's University in Canada and has completed executive education programs at Yale and Harvard. He is consistently ranked among the most influential Arabs in business among community leaders.
Wael Ghanim
Ghanim is an Egyptian computer engineer and an internet activist with a great interest in social entrepreneurship. He is the founder and CEO of Parlio, a social networking platform for political participation. He is also the creator of "Tahrir Academy, " a non-profit information-sharing platform for Arab youths. He previously spent six years as a marketing manager at Google, focusing on increasing Arabic content on the internet. He has been awarded the JFK Profile of Courage Award and was nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.
Areije Al Shakar
Shakar is a senior leader in Bahrain's financial industry, with over 17 years of experience in the entrepreneurship and banking sectors. She has held an influential role as the senior vice president of Bahrain Development Fund, assuming various responsibilities, such as coaching, mentorship, entrepreneur development, and startup seed funding. She is currently serving as the Director and Fund Manager of Al Waha Venture Capital Fund of Funds. She aims at making Al Waha a key venture capital funding platform across the Middle East countries by developing value opportunities for startups, network partners, fund managers, and stakeholders.
Loulou Khazen Baz
Loulou is a Lebanese entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Nabbesh.com, the first online work marketplace in the Middle East. Nabbesh.com connects various businesses to top-quality freelancers, focusing on talent in the Middle East and North Africa region. Based out of Dubai, Nameesh.com was recently acquired by Ureed.com with plans to accelerate the growth of the digital hiring industry in the Middle East. Khazan Baz won the 2012 series of The Entrepreneur for her pioneering efforts and business prowess.
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