Early Life
Taha Mikati was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 1944. Not much is known about his early life, but he came from a family with a strong business background. He attended International College before earning a bachelor's degree from the American University of Beirut.
Rise to Success
Mikati's career began in the construction industry. In 1979, he founded the Arabian Construction Company (ACC), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, which became one of the largest construction companies in the Middle East. In the 1980s, he co-founded Investcom with his brother Najib. Investcom initially sold satellite phones and later expanded into building cellphone towers across Africa. Investcom went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. In 2006, MTN Group acquired Investcom for $5.5 billion. After selling Investcom, the Mikati brothers established M1 Group, a holding company with investments in telecommunications, real estate, and fashion.
Key Business Strategies
Key strategies include diversification, strategic partnerships, and identifying opportunities during times of crisis, such as the Lebanese civil war. The Mikati brothers expanded Investcom's operations across Africa, building a strong customer base. M1 Group continues to invest in various sectors, demonstrating a strategy of diversified holdings.
Philanthropy
Taha Mikati is committed to philanthropy through the Mikati Foundation, focusing on welfare and development in the Arab world and Africa. He supports social and educational initiatives through the foundation and is involved with the Azm and Saade Association, Dar Al-Aytam, and the Columbia University's Biomedical Engineering program.
