Ahmed Khalil, Group CEO of Raya Holding for Financial Investments, was featured among Forbes Middle East’s Top Tech CEOs 2026, a list recognizing the region’s most influential leaders shaping the future of technology and digital transformation.
The ranking highlights executives featured across Top Tech Leaders of Global Companies and Top Tech CEOs, recognizing those leading the Middle East’s most impactful technology-driven organizations and reflecting the growing role of AI, digital infrastructure, and innovation in regional economic development.
Commenting on the recognition, Ahmed Khalil said:
“I’m honored by this recognition, but the real story is larger than any individual. Raya was born 27 years ago from the merger of leading IT companies, and since then technology has been the DNA behind everything we build. Even as we expanded into fintech, BPO, retail, mobility, distribution, smart buildings, hospitality, and advanced manufacturing, technology remained our North Star, guiding how we invest, how we operate, and how we create value. The true recognition belongs to the thousands of people across Raya who transformed expertise and innovation into companies and companies into impact. For us, technology is not an industry, it is an enabler of opportunity, maximizes investment value, and helps build companies capable of sustainable growth.”
In 2025, Raya accelerated several strategic partnerships. Raya CX partnered with London-based RSVP to expand offshore customer experience services, while Aman, its fintech arm, partnered with Saudi Arabia’s two largest retailers to offer financing solutions in the Kingdom. Additionally, Raya Auto launched Electra EV Charge in collaboration with Sungrow MENA and Central Asia, advancing electric mobility infrastructure in the region.
Furthermore, Africa50 invested $15 million in Raya Data Center, funding the construction of a new Tier III data center in Egypt to support the country’s growing digital economy.
Khalil became Group CEO in 2020 after joining Raya in 2009. Under his leadership, Raya has strengthened its technology platforms and expanded regionally, with a growing presence in the GCC and a focus on AI, digital infrastructure, and sustainable value creation across its diverse investment portfolio. Today, the group operates across fintech, BPO, retail, Distrbution, EV mobility, manufacturing, and hospitality, employing more than 20,000 people in 6 countries. In the first nine months of 2025, Raya reported revenues of $950 million, up 41% year-on-year, with total assets of $1.05 billion, underscoring the company’s continued expansion and financial strength. Khalil also serves as Vice Chairman of Makarony Polskie, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
