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iMENA Group
iMENA are company builders with founders' attitudes and investors' mindsets. They back teams building innovative online platforms and support them to grow into...
iMENA Group
iMENA are company builders with founders' attitudes and investors' mindsets. They back teams building innovative online platforms and support them to grow into regional champions and global winners. They build and invest in online platforms that advance economies and improve lives across MENA and beyond.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2013
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
United Arab Emirates
City
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Corporate office
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Principals
Adey Salamin
Founder & Board Member
Khaldoon H. Tabaza
Founder & Managing Director
Fadel Kremid
Chief Financial Officer
Sarah Barkawi
Senior Investment Manager
Ayman Abu Dre’i
Finance Manager
Rania El Shenoufy
Investment Manager
Nisreen Abu Maizer
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Nasir Alsharif
Chairman of iMENA Holding
Saygin Yalcin
Board of Directors
Usman Sikandar
Board of Directors
Mazin Aldawood
Board of Directors
Marco Somalvico
Board of Directors
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is iMENA Group's investment model?
iMENA operates as a hybrid venture-builder and investment platform rather than a conventional fund. The firm often originates business concepts, recruits founding teams, and provides both capital and operational support to scale ventures across the Middle East and North Africa. This model concentrates control and execution risk while allowing iMENA to bypass the fragmented local deal-sourcing environment.
Which geographic markets does iMENA Group target?
The firm focuses exclusively on the MENA region, with known activity in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Egypt, and the Levant. Operating from Abu Dhabi, iMENA targets markets where mobile-first populations, rising digital adoption, and regulatory complexity create openings for technology platforms that can scale across borders.
What sectors does iMENA Group invest in?
iMENA concentrates on enterprise software, fintech, digital health, and online marketplaces. These sectors reflect the region's structural tailwinds: a young, digitally-native population, government-led digitization efforts, and large underserved consumer and SME segments. The firm avoids capital-intensive industries like traditional manufacturing and resource extraction.
How is iMENA Group different from a typical venture capital firm?
Unlike a traditional venture capital firm that primarily backs independent founder teams, iMENA often creates and operates companies itself. This venture-builder model means the firm takes on execution risk at the operating level, not just financial risk, and maintains deeper control over strategy and hiring — a posture that blends asset management with direct company building.
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