Taher
MBA Global Finance · Paris ESLSCA · 2015
B.Sc. Accounting · Cairo University · 1990
30+ Years · MENA Region
by Transformation.
Abdelbadie Taher is a results-driven C-suite financial executive with over 30 years of experience leading financial strategy, corporate transformation, and governance across the MENA region.
His career spans sovereign government, energy, real estate, shipping, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals — giving him a uniquely panoramic view of regional business dynamics.
Throughout the past decade alone, he has led and closed multi-billion-dirham financing deals, working closely with top-tier financial institutions, government entities, and private investors.
UAE & Saudi Arabia.
A landmark dual mandate — simultaneously serving as Group CFO for two major real estate developers across two GCC markets. This concurrent arrangement reflects exceptional organisational capacity and the highest level of executive trust. For Ajmal Makan (UAE), the mandate covers group financial strategy, multi-billion AED project financing, and investor reporting. For Tanmiyat Al Riyadh (KSA), the scope includes Vision 2030-aligned financial planning, SAR-denominated financing structures, and group consolidation across the Saudi entity.
- Transformed consolidated net position by +626.2M AED — from a deficit of 299.3M AED (Nov 2023) to +326.8M AED (Apr 2026) across 8 entities.
- Engineered 304% expansion in cash reserves — from 22.7M to 91.6M AED — through banking strategy redesign.
- Deployed 439M AED into high-yield fixed deposits at FAB & DIB, converting idle capital into an active revenue stream.
- Achieved 38% debt deleveraging — reducing liabilities by 122.5M AED — restructuring the remainder into a single 200M AED DIB facility.
- Consolidated banking relationships from 11 fragmented banks down to 2 Tier-1 institutions (FAB & DIB) — eliminating 98% of banking complexity.
- Structured and negotiated multi-billion AED project financing from term sheet through drawdown.
The transformation rested on four strategic pillars:
Stars Development and Al Hanoo Real Estate account for 99.1% of the group's entire positive net position — a result of deliberate capital allocation and entity-level financial engineering across all 8 group entities.
Five Stars Group — Egypt's market leader in flour and animal feed since 1997. By 2019, the group had accumulated crippling debt, suffered operational shutdown, and was facing an existential crisis. Abdelbadie was appointed simultaneously as Chairman & MD and Group CFO — a dual appointment reflecting the severity of the situation and the confidence placed in his turnaround credentials.
- Led creditor negotiations achieving waiver of over EGP 600 million from total debt — remainder rescheduled over 10 years at deeply discounted rates.
- Successfully restarted both companies following their temporary operational shutdown — restoring capacity, re-engaging suppliers, rebuilding the workforce.
- Restructured the entire top management team — replacing family-business decision-making with multinational governance, transparency, and compliance standards.
- Achieved the highest gross margin and EBITDA in company history — with lower sales volumes and zero additional financial support.
- Transformed from family-owned enterprise to multinational-grade operation with institutional-quality reporting and board governance.
- Rebuilt and expanded market share — reclaiming undisputed leadership in flour milling and animal feed in Egypt.
- Negotiated and executed the sale of the company's shares to new investors at strong valuation — the ultimate validation of the turnaround.
The Central Finance Department represents the full sovereign function of a Ministry of Finance — overseeing public budgets, government-related entities (GREs), and capital markets strategy. Abdelbadie served as a trusted advisor on the government's most complex and high-profile financial transactions.
This role demanded deep technical expertise in project finance and capital markets, combined with the discretion and diplomatic acumen required when working at the highest levels of government. Abdelbadie structured and executed deals spanning infrastructure, education, energy, water security, and international capital markets — delivering sovereign-grade financial outcomes across every mandate.
- 1.8GW Power Purchase Agreement: Structured the landmark power station deal between Sharjah Government, GE, Sumitomo, and SEWA — one of the region's largest energy infrastructure deals.
- 60 MIGD Desalination Plant: Structured the IWP with Suez International — critical water security infrastructure for the Emirate.
- 3-Way M&A — Banking Sector: Led complex three-party merger in UAE banking with JPMorgan, HSBC, EY, and Clifford Chance.
- AED 415M — Shurooq: Infrastructure project finance for the Sharjah Investment & Development Authority.
- AED 520M — American University of Sharjah: Dual financing facilities (AED 200M + 320M) for capital and operational needs.
- AED 175M — University of Sharjah: Working capital facility for one of the UAE's largest private universities.
- CNH 2B (US$500M) Panda Bonds: Renminbi-denominated bond issuance swapped into USD — roadshow conducted in-person across China's top banks and investment institutions.
- VAT Implementation: Advised the Government and all GREs on VAT implementation — a nationally significant compliance milestone.
Led group-level IFRS financial consolidation for one of the world's top five energy companies — managing complex multi-entity structures spanning upstream, midstream, and downstream operations. Delivered audited financials to sovereign stakeholders and international partners including Big 4 auditors.
Managed all finance and administration for Egypt operations of the world's largest shipping and logistics conglomerate — covering P&L, treasury, statutory compliance, and financial reporting across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
Abdelbadie built his accounting and financial foundations across some of Saudi Arabia's most prominent corporate groups during a formative period of economic development — gaining deep exposure to conglomerate accounting, FMCG distribution finance, and multinational reporting standards that would underpin his entire executive career.
Internationally accredited programme in Global Finance from one of France's leading Grande École institutions — combining advanced financial theory with practical MENA market application.
AED
• AED 520M — Amer. Univ.
• AED 175M — Univ. Sharjah
• 1.8GW Power — GE
• 60 MIGD — Suez Int'l
Taher