MENA Capital

What MENA Capital does

MENA Capital SAL is a Beirut-based private financial institution founded in September 2004 by Nabil G. Sawabini, operating across three core business lines: private equity, fund management, and real estate development, supplemented by merchant banking services. The firm invests through funds it manages, targeting growth markets in the MENA region and selectively in Europe, and identifies or develops projects both independently and jointly with established regional and international partners. Its executive team is composed of professionals with prior affiliations to international financial institutions — including the founder's 20-year tenure at JP Morgan — and combined expertise in finance, engineering, architecture, marketing, and sales.

Name

MENA Capital

Legal name

MENA Capital SAL

Website

https://menacapital.com.lb

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MENA Capital SAL is a Beirut-based private financial institution offering private equity, fund management, and luxury real estate development across the MENA region and Europe, serving high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors through direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity and Real Estate Development

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Markets Advisory (Equity Placement, JV & Recapitalization) (BPAJABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Alternative Investments for Private Wealth (Hedge Funds, PE/VC Access, Private Credit) (FSAAABAI)

Keywords

• Private equity investment
• Fund management services
• Merchant banking advisory
• Luxury real estate development
• MENA investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Equity: MENA Capital identifies and invests in/joint ventures with successful companies ripe for regional and/or international expansion, either organically or through mergers and acquisitions. Also invests in companies whose performance can be optimized through financial and/or operational restructuring.
2. Fund Management: Manages funds that identify and develop projects separately or jointly with value-added partners in the MENA region and internationally.
3. Real Estate Development: Develops unique and differentiated real estate projects for residential and commercial use, pursuing opportunities in MENA region growth markets and Europe. Revenue generated through property sales and pre-selling of developments.
4. Merchant Banking: Pursues new business concepts with significant growth potential in the MENA region in partnership with international and/or regional strategic partners, assisting in reviewing and structuring strategic transactions/investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MENA Capital is a Beirut-based financial institution that invests in and develops luxury real estate projects across the MENA region and Europe, alongside offering private equity, fund management, and merchant banking services. The firm identifies and develops differentiated residential and mixed-use projects—either alone or jointly with credible partners—targeting high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors. Revenue is generated through property sales and pre-selling of developments, fund management fees, and transaction fees from strategic investments.

Product overview

MENA Capital is a Beirut-based financial institution offering a portfolio of three core services: Private Equity (investment and joint ventures in companies for regional/ international expansion), Real Estate Development (unique residential and commercial projects in the MENA region and Europe), and Merchant Banking (new business concepts with growth potential). The real estate portfolio includes seven named development projects: Sky Gate (42-floor high-rise in Achrafieh, Beirut, delivered 2015), Ibrahim Sursock Residences (two-tower luxury development in Sursock), Hochar Tower (waterfront residential in Ain El-Mreisseh), Qoreitem Gardens (residential in Qoreitem), Marbella Club Hills (luxury gated community in Spain), and Al Oufoq/Kasr Al Waha (2.9 million m² master-planned development in Baghdad, Iraq). The firm operates through fund management and direct investments, partnering with established business groups for execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Marbella Club Hills: A luxury residential development in Benahavis, Spain, developed in partnership with Marbella Club Group within the Marbella Club Golf Resort. Features villas and villa apartments with sports facilities.

Products and services

• Sky Gate A prestigious 42-floor high-rise residential building at the highest point in Achrafieh, Beirut, featuring luxurious simplexes and duplexes ranging from 344m² to 1,515m² with panoramic 360-degree views and amenities including fitness center, swimming pools, and exquisite landscaping.
• Ibrahim Sursock Residences A high-end residential development in Beirut's Sursock neighborhood consisting of two adjacent towers (G tower with 24 floors and M tower with 7 floors), featuring apartments ranging from 366m² to 824m² with terraces.
• Hochar Tower A distinguished residential building on Beirut's waterfront (Corniche Ain El-Mreisseh) featuring duplexes of approximately 446m² and 503m², 13 simplexes of approximately 575m² each, and a penthouse spanning 1150m² with private swimming pool.
• Qoreitem Gardens An elegant residential project in the Qoreitem neighborhood of Beirut composed of two independent buildings (Block A with 12 floors of 340m² apartments, and Block B/C with simplexes of 355m² and 683-818m² duplexes).
• Marbella Club Hills A luxury gated community development in Benahavis, Spain within the Marbella Club Golf Resort, featuring villas with 5 bedrooms (500-660m²), villa apartments with 2-4 bedrooms (110-265m²), and extensive sports facilities including tennis courts, swimming pools, and gymnasiums. Developed in four phases in partnership with Marbella Club Group.
• Al Oufoq / Kasr Al Waha property A 2.9 million square meter land development project in Baghdad, Iraq, 10km from city center, planned as a master-planned small town with Phase 1 including a mall, office park, international school, university, hospital, hotel, and gated community.
• Private Equity Services Investment and joint venture services that identify and invest in successful companies ripe for regional and/or international expansion through organic growth or mergers and acquisitions, including companies whose performance can be optimized through financial and/or operational restructuring. Targets HNW individuals, family offices, and regional business groups.
• Merchant Banking Services Pursuit of new business concepts with significant growth potential in the MENA region in partnership with international and/or regional strategic partners, adding valuable market knowledge and industry expertise while assisting clients in reviewing and structuring strategic transactions and investments.
• Fund Management Services Management of funds that identify and develop distinguished real estate and investment projects separately or jointly with credible value-added partners across the MENA region and selectively internationally.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Marbella Club GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between MENA Capital and Marbella Club Group for the development of Marbella Club Hills within the Marbella Club Golf Resort and Equestrian Center in Benahavis, Spain. The partnership leverages Marbella Club Group's established reputation in luxury resort development.
• Villarroel-TorricocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm with 40-year track record in successfully developing resorts and residential communities with sophistication, modern architecture and technological rationality. Responsible for Marbella Club Hills design incorporating modern design with an Andalusian touch.
• Al Oufoq for Development S.A.L. (Offshore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwns 90% of Kasr Al Waha L.L.C., an Iraqi company holding title for a 2.9 million square meter land property in Baghdad. Al Oufoq's foreign ownership by MENA Capital was one of the first approved in Iraq. Phase 1 of development includes mall, office park, international school, university, hospital, hotel and gated community.
• Kasr Al Waha L.L.C.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIraqi company holding title for a 2.9 million square meter land property in Baghdad, 10 km from city center with over 400-meter frontage on expressway. Iraqi Partners own remaining 10%.
• Nabil Gholam Architecture and PlanningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm responsible for Sky Gate design in Beirut, which won an international award at MIPIM. Peter Marino, world-renowned architect and interior designer, retained as consultant for materials selection and lobby design.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Emaar Properties: UAE-listed mega-developer (Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Emaar Beachfront). Overlaps with MENA Capital in luxury residential and master-planned community development but at vastly larger scale and broader product mix.
• Kingdom Holding Company: Saudi conglomerate with diversified PE, real estate, hospitality, and alternative investment holdings (including stakes in Four Seasons, Accor, and global PE managers). Comparable diversified alternative-investment mandate across real estate and PE, but at much larger scale and with broader geographic focus.

Regional players

• DAMAC Properties: Dubai-based luxury real estate developer with strong HNW branding (DAMAC Hills, DAMAC Islands, branded residences). Comparable luxury and HNW demand thesis, though focused on UAE rather than Lebanon/Spain.
• Aldar Properties: Abu Dhabi-listed real estate developer and asset manager operating master-planned communities and luxury residential projects. Comparable in master-planning and luxury residential, though focused on UAE.
• Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development: Saudi-listed luxury and master-planned residential developer active across MENA. Comparable luxury residential positioning but operates at much larger scale and is geographically focused on Saudi Arabia rather than Lebanon/Spain/Iraq.

Direct peers

• Solidere: Beirut Central District master developer and operator of luxury real estate in Lebanon. Closest direct peer given MENA Capital's Lebanon-centric luxury residential pipeline and Beirut HQ, although Solidere is publicly listed and operates at much larger scale.
• Investcorp: Bahrain-headquartered alternative investment manager serving HNW/family offices in the MENA region with PE, real estate, and credit strategies. Directly comparable PE/fund-management arm and target investor base.
• Eagle Hills: Abu Dhabi-based developer of master-planned communities and luxury residential projects across MENA and emerging markets (Iraq, Bahrain, Serbia, Morocco). Highly comparable business model: foreign-developer partnerships, HNW targeting, and large land-bank-led master plans similar to Al Oufoq.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MenaCapital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mena-capital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MENA Capital