H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber is a self-made Austrian entrepreneur and philanthropist of Arab origin, who has successfully built an international business empire spanning Europe and the Middle East. He is founder and Chairman of the MBI Group, a conglomerate of companies which has assets valued in excess of $10bn. Sheikh Al Jaber is also the founder and sole patron of the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, a UK registered charity focused on education, good governance and cultural dialogue; and dedicated to building bridges between the Middle East and the wider world. In recognition of his commitment to educational projects, he has been endowed the Chair of Middle East Studies at SOAS, University of London.

Early Life: The Middle East & Europe

As a young man, H.E. Sheikh Mohamed developed a passion for classical Arabic poetry and it was through this medium that he began studying the history of civilizations, culture and the Middle East, before going on to continue these studies at SOAS. A keen traveller from his early 20s, he spent extensive time in Europe, which provided a contrasting and influential exposure to western culture. In tandem with his travels, Sheikh Mohamed developed a deep interest in education, good governance and democracy in the Middle East; as well as a sound business acumen which saw him set up his first company in 1980. After an exceptionally successful decade building for the future, he turned his attention to philanthropy, and in the mid-1990s founded his first Charitable Trust. This journey continued with the launch of his MBI Al Jaber Foundation, a charity that has allowed him to become actively involved in the issues which, to this day, remain close to his heart.

Entrepreneur and Businessman

Sheikh Mohamed is founder, Chairman and CEO of MBI Group, an international conglomerate which spans Europe and the Middle East. The Group is a worldwide investment institution operating in the hospitality, real estate, finance and oil and gas industries.

Philanthropist

Sheikh Mohamed has been a champion of global, social and economic philanthropic causes for more than 20 years. Much of his work is enabled by the MBI Al Jaber Foundation, which builds bridges between the Middle East and the wider world through education and cultural dialogue; promoting transparency, accountability and democracy across the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA).

In 2005 Sheikh Mohamed was appointed UNESCO Special Envoy for Education, Tolerance and Cultures. He was appointed UN Spokesman for Global Forums on Reinventing Government in 2007.