# Maher Loubieh

> Maher Loubieh is HALA’s co-founder and Group CEO, based in Riyadh. With a background in investment banking, corporate finance advisory, investing, and startup mentoring, he helped steer HALA from consumer wallets toward financial services for small businesses. His remit now includes payments, financing, ventures, international expansion, and IPO preparation.

- **Role:** Co-founder & Group Chief Executive Officer at HALA
- **Organizations:** HALA, SaudiMed Investment Company, Abudawood Group, Seeders Angel Investing Fund, American University of Beirut, Confideo Venture Mentoring, ESA Business School, Endeavor
- **Education:** MBA, University of Manchester, BSc in Finance and Accounting, Hariri Canadian University, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Co-founded HALA and helped guide its shift from consumer wallets to small-business financial services., Led HALA as CEO from 2023 and subsequently took on the Group CEO remit., HALA raised $157 million in a September 2025 Series B co-led by The Rise Fund and Sanabil Investments.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Worked at Abudawood Group on private equity deals and fund investments.
- **—** — Served as Director of Corporate Finance Advisory at SaudiMed Investment Company.
- **—** — Was an investor at Seeders Angel Investing Fund, mentor at AUB’s OSB, and startup coach at ESA Business School.
- **2017** — Began volunteering as a mentor with Confideo Venture Mentoring in May.
- **2017-2018** — Co-founded HALA with Esam Alnahdi; the establishment year is listed as 2017 by Forbes Middle East, while Endeavor describes it as founded in 2018.
- **2020** — Publicly welcomed the change from the HalalaH brand to HALA.
- **2023** — Announced his appointment as CEO of HALA in August.
- **2024** — Selected into Endeavor alongside Esam Alnahdi; spoke at FII in October.
- **2025** — Spoke at the 22nd Annual MENA Conference at London Business School.
- **2025** — HALA announced a $157 million Series B in September; a later company announcement expanded his role to Group CEO.
- **2026** — Served as a panelist at Endeavor’s July selection panel in Athens.

## Achievements

- Co-founded HALA and helped guide its shift from consumer wallets to small-business financial services.
- Led HALA as CEO from 2023 and subsequently took on the Group CEO remit.
- HALA raised $157 million in a September 2025 Series B co-led by The Rise Fund and Sanabil Investments.
- Selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur in 2024.
- Recognized as a Top Performer/Divergent in the PWC/BankMed Talent Print Leadership Program in June 2014.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Listed as a panelist at Endeavor’s selection panel in Athens.
- **2026-10** — HALA placed 16th in Forbes Middle East’s Fintech 50 for 2026; the entry reported over 140,000 active businesses as of December 2025 and $6.6 billion processed during 2025.
- **2025-10** — HALA announced his transition from Hala Payments CEO to Group CEO, overseeing financing, payments, ventures, and expansion.
- **2025-09** — HALA announced a $157 million Series B; Loubieh publicly characterized fundraising as a responsibility.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maher-loubieh-346a86a/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/maher-loubieh
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14