Etisalat Group partners with iMENA Holdings

iMENA's mission is to capture the hyper-growth phase of the online consumer industry in the MENA region by developing a portfolio of businesses across various sectors that include e-commerce, digital media, and mobile applications and services to address the gaps in the Internet ecosystem.

With the support of investment capital from around the globe, the Company's strategy is to own and operate companies with proven business models, executed through the establishment of new businesses, partnering with established leaders, and investing in existing companies.

Through Etisalat's ownership of critical telecommunications and ICT assets in these markets, and iMENA's management team's experience in managing successful online businesses, the partnership is established to provide great value for its partners and customers.

Khalifa Al Shamsi, Chief Digital Services Officer of Etisalat Group, commented: "Etisalat is constantly looking for new ways to enhance the way in which we serve our customers. By partnering with iMENA, we are helping to develop the Internet ecosystem which would foster an entrepreneurial environment and encourage the creation of new companies and business models in our region, for our region."

Dr. Daniel Ritz, Chief Strategy Officer for Etisalat Group said: "The number of consumers in the MENA region with Internet access is increasing at a rapid pace. This large and growing market is currently underserved. We believe our partnership with iMENA will enable us to better understand consumer trends ahead of the curve and allow us to develop innovative MENA-specific products and services to satisfy the future needs of our subscribers."

Khaldoon Tabaza, Co-founder and Chairman of iMENA, added, "We are delighted to partner with Etisalat Group, the leading telecommunications group in the region, which has the right scale to position iMENA as the leading Internet group in the region."

"We look forward to working with leading Internet companies and leading operators in the region, such as Etisalat, to provide relevant services and content to the MENA consumer," Adey Salamin, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, added.

The founders of iMENA, Khaldoon Tabaza and Adey Salamin, are experienced entrepreneurs with a combined track record of establishing, managing, and investing in Internet and technology businesses in the MENA region. Along with a team of qualified professionals, and through the support of its partners, the Company will offer strategic and shared services to its portfolio companies to accelerate growth.