Ziad Makkawi

Education

Columbia University.

Career

His childhood was spent in New York City, Washington, District of Columbia, Beirut, Berlin, and London. He speaks five languages. Makkawi is a serial entrepreneur and a pioneer in the Middle East and North Africa investment banking, asset management and private equity markets.

He has served as Chief Investment Officer.

Chief Executive Officer. Board Member and Chairman in numerous organizations on a global basis.

Makkawi began his career with Justice of the Peace Morgan on Wall Street in 1986. He later joined Elf Aquitaine in Geneva before moving to the Middle East to co-found Lebanon Invest later sold to Bank Audi, and then Middle East Capital Group as Managing Director responsible for Capital Markets.

In 2000, Makkawi moved to Dubai to build and run Shuaa Capital’s financial Services business including asset management, proprietary trading, capital markets, research and brokerage activities.

In 2004 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Bank and in 2006 he founded and ran as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Algebra Capital a Middle East and North Africa focused Asset Management firm he later sold to Global Asset Manager Franklin Templeton in 2010. Makkawi has been a pioneer in the development of both the investment banking and asset management industries in the region. In 2013 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Istithmar World the PE investment arm of Dubai World, a multi-billion global portfolio across multiple sectors including hospitality, financial services, retail, logistics, wellness, and real estate.

He also oversaw Istithmar’s investments on the boards of Barneys (New York City).

Cirque du Soleil (Canada), as well as dozens of funds. Makkawi has been a frequent speaker at events and conferences.

Achievements

• Makkawi has been a frequent speaker at events and conferences. He served on and acted as Chairman of the Young President Organization"s Emirates Chapter and Chaired the Young Presidents' Organization Global Art Network Committee. Makkawi holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University in New New York An Master of Business Administration in Finance from New York University’s Stern School. And a Bachelor in Economics from Rice University in Houston. Makkawi has promoted and invested in young entrepreneurs in the digital space in the Middle East and North Africa region. Makkawi is a promoter and collector of Arab Contemporary Art and is a sponsor of Art Sawa one of the region’s leading art galleries promoting Emerging and established talent from the Middle E.