Taha Mikati: A Pillar of Lebanese Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy | Richest person in Lebanon

Taha Mikati, born in 1944 in Tripoli, North Lebanon, is a distinguished Lebanese businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Investcom, the founder and chairman of M1 Group, and a key figure behind the Mikati Foundation. His entrepreneurial journey, marked by strategic ventures in construction and telecommunications, has significantly contributed to his estimated net worth of $3 billion.

Mikati’s academic foundation was laid at the International College, followed by a bachelor’s degree from the American University of Beirut. In 1979, he established the Arabian Construction Company (ACC) in Abu Dhabi, which has grown into one of the Middle East’s largest construction firms.

In the 1980s, alongside his brother Najib Mikati, Taha co-founded Investcom, a Lebanese telecom operator. Investcom expanded its operations across Africa and the Middle East, becoming a leading telecom provider with a substantial customer base. In 2005, Investcom went public on the London Stock Exchange, marking the largest IPO by a Middle Eastern company at that time, raising $740 million. The following year, South Africa’s MTN Group acquired Investcom for $5.5 billion, significantly enhancing the Mikati brothers’ wealth. Following the sale of Investcom, the Mikati brothers established M1 Group, a diversified holding company with investments in various sectors, including telecommunications, real estate, fashion, and aviation. M1 Group holds significant stakes in companies such as South African telecom firm MTN and fashion retailer Pepe Jeans, and owns prime real estate in New York, London, and Monaco.

Beyond his business ventures, Taha Mikati is deeply committed to philanthropy. Through the Mikati Foundation, he focuses on improving welfare and potential in the developing world, particularly in the Arab World and Africa.

Taha Mikati is married with three children, including his son Azmi Mikati, who serves as the CEO of M1 Group. In July 2018, Taha acquired Cypriot citizenship.