M. Shafik Gabr
M. Shafik Gabr is a renowned leader in international business, innovation, and investment, and is one of the world’s premier collectors of Orientalist art, and an accomplished philanthropist.
During his career, Gabr established over 25 companies, plus three investment holding companies, including ARTOC Group for Investment and Development, which is a multidisciplined investment holding company with businesses in infrastructure, automotive, engineering, construction, and real estate. Over the past three years, he has focused on investment in technology and artificial intelligence.
Gabr is the Chairman and founding member of Egypt’s International Economic Forum (EIEF), a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, a Board Member of Stanhope Capital, International Chairman of the Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Committee, and a Member of the Steering Committee of Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum. Gabr is on the Advisory Board of the Centre for Financial Stability, the Advisory Board of The Middle East Institute, and the Global Advisory Council of the Mayo Clinic. He is also a former Member of the Metropolitan Museum’s International Council and a former member of the Business Council of the World Economic Forum.
In his capacity as Chairman of EIEF, Gabr has hosted global leaders from the worlds of politics, economics, business, media, technology, and culture. These include President Vaclav Klaus, President Atifete Jahjaga, President Boris Tadić, President Zlatko Lagumdžija, Prime Minister Tony Blair; Secretaries James Mattis, John Kelly, and Rex Tillerson; H.E. Amr Moussa, members of Congress, business leaders in technology, academics, and media figures from CNN, Fox, and CNBC. Gabr has also hosted six CNBC programs on ‘World Business’ and ‘Peer to Peer.’
Moreover, as Chairman of the Shafik Gabr Foundation, Gabr regularly hosts his interactive ‘Expecting the Unexpected’ working dinners in Cairo, Davos, London, Munich, and Washington, DC. The dinners are off the record and engage leaders across the board in timely predictions of geopolitical and geoeconomic issues. The most recent dinners were held in Davos on January 16th, 2025, during the World Economic Forum, and on February 16th, 2025, at the Munich Security Conference. The guests included former Presidents, Ministers, Ambassadors, U.S. Congress members, international organization chairs, heads of think tanks, business leaders, and distinguished scholars from Europe, the Middle East, the United States, and Asia.
Gabr has previously served as the Chairman of the COMESA (Common Market for East and South Africa) Business Council and a member of the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce (Paris). He also served on the advisory boards of Zurich Financial Services and The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Furthermore, Gabr was a founder of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt in 1982, serving as its first Egyptian President from 1995 until 1997, and was a Founding Member of the Wilson Global Advisory Council.
Gabr has been recognized among the “Most Influential Arabs” and “Top 50 Business Leaders in the Arab World.” In 2009, Mr. Gabr was presented with the Foreign Policy Association’s (FPA) award for Corporate Responsibility. In June 2014, Mr. Gabr was awarded the Meridian Global Citizen Award, and in November 2014, the Middle East Institute’s Visionary Award. In March 2015, Gabr received the American University in Cairo’s Global Impact Award in New York. In May 2016, Gabr was awarded the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s Saint Vincent de Paul Award and Drew University’s Peacebuilder Award. In September 2017, Gabr received the Policy Direction and Leadership Award from the London Centre for Policy Research. Most recently, in November 2024, Gabr was awarded the highest honor conferred upon foreign nationals by the President of Italy: the ‘Grande Ufficiale’ (Grand Officer) of the ‘Ordine della Stella d’Italia’ (Order of the Star of Italy) for his extraordinary achievements and merit.
Since 2016, Gabr has focused his attention on innovation and investment in technology, as well as his Foundations. Gabr has invested in a wide spectrum of technology companies, ranging from startups to fully mature companies, and in many sectors in between. Gabr’s focus is multidimensional in a world of technology, which is reflected in his personal approach to the sector through its multifaceted applications, including AI, machine learning, data mining, mobility, and business.
M. Shafik Gabr’s contributions and insights have been the subject of numerous articles, including some published in Egypt Independent. Additionally, his perspectives on international business, investment trends, and cultural diplomacy have been featured in interviews with global media outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC, Al-Horra and many more. Through these platforms, Gabr has highlighted his extensive work on cross-cultural dialogue and offered perspective on world markets and geopolitics.
Through the Shafik Gabr Social Development Foundation, Gabr is helping to improve elementary-school education in Egypt, introducing students to arts and culture, and promoting sports and physical fitness for youth. In the area of higher education, Gabr is a major supporter of the American University in Cairo. The Foundation also developed a free medical-care system by providing “Medical Caravans” for residents of underprivileged areas of Greater Cairo. The Foundation established its first Medical and Social Development Centre in Mokattam, Cairo, offering free medical and health services. In 2012, Gabr established the Shafik Gabr Foundation in the U.S., which supports educational and medical initiatives and, in November 2012, launched the ‘East-West: The Art of Dialogue’ initiative (see www.eastwestdialogue.org), promoting exchanges between young emerging leaders from the U.S. and Egypt with the purpose of cultural dialogue and bridge-building. At present, the Foundation’s Fellowship program has over 140 Fellows.
Gabr is recognized as one of the world’s largest collectors of Orientalist art, amassing a unique and extensive collection that captures the beauty, culture, and history of the Middle East and North Africa. His collection showcases masterpieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the works of prominent Orientalist painters who were captivated by the region’s vibrant landscapes, traditions, and people. Through his dedication and passion for preserving and sharing these historical artworks, Gabr has significantly contributed to fostering cultural appreciation and understanding of the Orientalist movement on a global scale.
Gabr holds a BA in Economics and Management from the American University in Cairo and an MA in Economics from the University of London.