Walid Farghal

Director General

AIM Congress

Born on January 26, 1974, Walid Farghal has been the Director General of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM Congress) for 15 years, since July 2009. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Walid's strong leadership skills and extensive connections across the GCC, African, and Asian countries have made him a pillar of AIM Congress. In 2011, AIM Congress was established to address the need for a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) forum led by emerging markets. AIM Congress is a three-day event focused on FDI, presenting itself as an FDI simulator, a catalyst for fast-developing economies, a growth incubator, and a leadership partner for semi- industrialized nations. An initiative of the AIM Global Foundation, AIM Congress is held annually in the UAE. Under Walid's leadership over the past years, AIM Congress has grown enormously. The 2024 edition of AIM Congress held in May 2024 under the theme "Adapting to a Shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development," attracted a significant audience. 138 high-level dignitaries graced the event, joining more than 12,000 visitors from a staggering 179 countries. The congress featured a rich exchange of ideas through 412 dialogue sessions with insights from 927 speakers, including industry pioneers, policymakers, and thought leaders. In addition to his role as Director General of AIM Congress, Walid is also the Secretary General and Co- Founder of the AIM Global Foundation. He has travelled extensively around the globe, promoting, organizing, and endorsing AIM Congress to government offices, investment promotion agencies (IPAs), top organizations, and companies abroad. Over the years, Walid has maintained and strengthened solid international relations with governments in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He has successfully fostered collaboration between various entities and countries to promote business and investment opportunities. Before his tenure at AIM Congress, Walid was the Chief Executive Officer of ROYA Middle East LLC in Dubai from October 2006 to July 2009. Prior to that, he served as the President and Founder of International Business Systems in Egypt for over 10 years, starting in 1996. Walid holds a Master’s Degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. He is married with three children and is an Egyptian national who speaks both English and Arabic fluently.