Arif Naqvi is a Pakistani businessman and philanthropist, born on July 15, 1960, in Karachi, Pakistan. He is the founder and former CEO of the private equity firm Abraaj Group, which was one of the largest private equity firms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region before its collapse in 2018.
Naqvi studied at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, Pakistan, and later earned a master’s degree in business administration from the London Business School in the United Kingdom. He started his career in finance at Citibank and later worked for other financial institutions in Pakistan and the United States.
n of impact investing and sustainable development in emerging markets.
In 2002, Naqvi founded Abraaj Group, which focused on investing in emerging markets and had a particular focus on the MENA region. Under Naqvi’s leadership, Abraaj grew rapidly and became one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with over $14 billion in assets under management at its peak. The firm invested in a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, energy, infrastructure, and financial services, and was known for its focus on social impact investing.
In 2018, Abraaj Group collapsed amid allegations of mismanagement and financial wrongdoing. Naqvi faced charges of fraud and racketeering related to the collapse of the firm, although he denies any wrongdoing.
In addition to his business career, Naqvi has been active in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. He is the founder of the Aman Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Karachi that focuses on healthcare, education, and humanitarian relief efforts. Naqvi has also served on the boards of several international organizations, including the United Nations Global Compact and the World Economic Forum.
Despite the controversies surrounding the collapse of Abraaj Group, Arif Naqvi is still regarded as a prominent figure in the business world and a champion.
