ALI HABBAS

Mr. Habbas is a co-founder and CEO of Palma Capital Limited. Prior to Palma Capital, Ali founded Dhow Capital Limited, on the premise of guiding Middle Eastern institutional and individual investors into private equity investment opportunities primarily in both the Middle East and China in partnership with locally affiliated groups.

In 2000, Ali worked as senior corporate finance officer at London based Investment Trust Limited, covering various sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, real estate, services among others with a focus towards the Middle East and North Africa.

In 1994, Ali worked on private equity transactions and corporate finance mandates in the US, Europe and the Middle East with London based and GCC owned, Capital Trust Ltd. Emphasis was placed towards manufacturing, industry, distribution, retail, foods, real estate and services. Ali was a team member of the fund manager of the $53m Capital Trust / Shuaa Capital private equity fund MENAVEST as well as a member of Capital Trust Limited’s Investment Committee.

While at both Capital Trust Limited and Investment Trust Limited, Ali was registered as a representative with the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of the UK. Ali earned an MBA in Finance and a BBA in International Business and Economics, both from the George Washington University.