
72. Fadi Ghandour
Executive Chairman Wamda/Co-Founder, Aramex
Origin: Jordan
Residence: UAE
Sector: Finance/Logistics
2023 Rank: 74
Known as the founder of Aramex, Ghandour spent the first 30 years of his work life as CEO of Dubai-listed courier firm before he diluted his entire 9.9 per cent stake in 2016. He is the executive chairman of Wamda Group, a platform that invests and builds entrepreneurship ecosystems across the Middle East and NorthAfrica. Wamda Capital is recognised as one of the region’s leading venture capital investors in high-growth technology businesses.
Last year, the venture capital firm participated in a $4.7m Seed round for Turkey-based healthtech startup Salus. The platform has invested in more than 100 companies including African mobility fintech Moove, eyewear startup Eyewa, and crypto exchange BitOasis.
Ghandour is passionate about social entrepreneurship. He founded and chairs Ruwwad for Development, a platform that helps marginalised communities across the MENA region.