Board of Directors
Gulf Capital is governed by a seasoned Board of Directors with eight members, and is comprised of some of the GCC region's most prominent industry and investment executives.
The Board of Directors, as a representative of the Firm's shareholders, has general responsibility for the strategic planning and development of Gulf Capital.
(Mouseover the names to view the profile.)
Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Hareb Al Darmaki, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Hareb Al Darmaki,
Executive Director - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Director - Qatar Telecommunications
In addition to his roles at ADIA and Gulf Capital, Hareb Al-Darmaki is also a Supervisory Board Member of IPEF Limited and a member of the Board of Directors of Q-Tel as well as Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) in Bahrain.
Mr. Al-Darmaki received a BS in Economics and Politics from Bristol University, UK in 1974, and obtained an MA in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, USA in 1976.
Executive Director - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Director - Qatar Telecommunications
Vice-Chairman of the Board
Mr. Waleed Zahid, Vice-Chairman of the Board
Mr. Waleed Zahid,
CEO, Zahid Group
Waleed Zahid is the Vice-Chairman of Gulf Capital and has served on its Board since incorporation. Mr. Zahid is also the President and CEO of the Zahid Group a large, family-owned conglomerate based in Saudi Arabia, with construction, automotive, power generation, desalination, logistics, financial services, travel, manufacturing and real estate related businesses. Mr. Zahid is also the Chairman of the AJIL Financial Services Company and the Global Gypsum Group. In addition, he serves as a non-executive director of Deutsche Bank (Suisse) S.A.’s Advisory Board and Oryx Capital International LLC. Mr. Zahid is a graduate of the Menlo School of Business Administration, USA.
CEO, Zahid Group
Dr. Karim El Solh, Dr. Karim El Solh, Co-Founder
Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Capital
Karim El Solh co-founded Gulf Capital in 2005 and is currently the Firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Dr. El Solh has over 16 years experience in investment banking, private equity and asset management. From 2001 to 2005, Dr. El Solh was Chief Executive Officer of The National Investor (“TNI”), one of the leading investment banks in the Middle East.
Prior to joining TNI, Dr. El Solh was responsible for European LBO/High Yield Capital Markets at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette, or DLJ, now part of Credit Suisse, where he was in charge of structuring, marketing and executing European LBOs and high yield issues. From 1995 to 1996, Dr. El Solh worked as a senior banker at Citigroup Salomon Smith Barney in the Equity Investment Banking division covering the EMEA region and before that worked for five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Senior Advisor to emerging countries on a number of major privatization projects.
Dr. El Solh has a BS in Civil Engineering from Cornell University, an MBA from Georgetown University, a PhD (summa cum laude) in Economics (focused on privatizations) from the Institute D’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Science Po) and a CMA from the Institute of Certified Management Accountants. Co-Founder
Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Capital
Mr. Sohail Al Mazrui, Mr. Soheil Al Mazrui, Co-Founder
Director - Former CEO, ADNOC
Sohail Al Mazrui is the former CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and also the Former Chairman of Aabar Petroleum. Co-Founder
Director - Former CEO, ADNOC
Mr. Riad Kamal, Mr. Riad Kamal, Co-Founder
Director and Chairman, Arabtec Holding
Riad Kamal has achieved the qualifications of M.Sc., C. Eng. Struc. Eng., D I C, M I C E from the Imperial College, London University in 1965. His current position is with the Arabtec Construction LLC where he is the Founder & Managing Director since 1974. He is also Founder and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Depa Interiors. DEPA is the largest Hotel Interior Decoration and Fit-out company in the Middle East with operations in the U.A.E., Qatar, Egypt, Morocco. Co-Founder
Director and Chairman, Arabtec Holding
Mr. Ahmed Al Badi Mr. Ahmed Al Badi
Chairman, Belbadi Group
Ahmed Al Badi was born 1956 in the United Arab Emirates. He holds a B.A. in International Relations received at the Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon, United States of America in 1981.
Ahmed Al Badi is Chairman and CEO of the Belbadi Enterprises, a UAE-based institution focused on the needs of the Gulf and UAE markets. In 1996, he received the Outstanding Young Alumni award from the Lewis & Clark Alumni Association.
Chairman, Belbadi Group
Mr. Ala'a Eraiqat Mr. Ala'a Eraiqat
CEO, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Ala’a Eraiqat is currently the Head of UAE Banking in ADCB and is responsible for banking services in retail banking, wealth management and corporate and commercial banking within the UAE.
Ala’a Eraiqat is a career oriented and well accomplished UAE national banker. He was educated in the United States of America and in the United Kingdom. He has a track record of 17 years of core banking experience with a focus on retail, corporate, private banking and investments. Ala’a has held senior positions within Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank and other local banks.
CEO, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
Mr. Khalifa Al Kindi Mr. Khalifa Al Kindi
Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Investment Council
Khalifa Al Kindi holds a B.S. in Economics from the Eastern Michigan University, USA. His professional career began at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and since January 2007 moved to the Abu Dhabi Investment Council where he holds the position of Managing Director. He currently holds a number of directorships in various corporations in Abu Dhabi.
Managing Director, Abu Dhabi Investment Council
Mr. Mishal Kanoo Mr. Mishal Kanoo
Deputy Chairman, Kanoo Group UAE & Oman
Mishal Hamed Kanoo is Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group, one of the largest independent, family owned, group of companies in the Gulf region. Before his 1997 appointment to vice-chairman of the Group, he worked in various divisions of the Kanoo Group including shipping, commercial, travel and cargo services. Kanoo is also CEO and board director of each of the following companies: Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group; AXA Gulf; and Bahrain International Cargo Services. Mishal is a UAE national, born in Dubai in 1969. He finished his schooling in Dubai and holds a Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration in 1990 and an MBA in 1994 in Finance from the University of St Thomas, Houston, Texas.
Mishal started his professional experience with Arthur Andersen in Dubai as an Auditor before taking up his current position in 1997.
Deputy Chairman, Kanoo Group UAE & Oman
Other Gulf Capital Co-Founders
His Excellency Nasser Ahmed Khalifa Alsowaidi