10 Talal Jassim Al-Bahar

The driving force behind Kuwait-based IFA Hotels & Resorts’ global expansion, Talal Jassim Al-Bahar lead the company through its listing on the Kuwait Stock Exchange in January 2006, and the subsequent creation and listing of its South African subsidiary on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in February of the same year.

Under Al-Bahar’s leadership, the company, a specialist in the development of premier integrated and mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects, has tripled in size and expanded its reach to North America, Europe, Asia and further into Africa.

In the Middle East, IFA has secured strategic alliances and joint venture partnerships with leading companies such as Kingdom Hotel Investments in Saudi Arabia and Nakheel in the UAE and works with upscale brands such as Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Kempinski Hotels, Mövenpick Hotels and Resorts and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts.

Al-Bahar is also the CEO of IFA Hotels & Resorts Limited in South Africa, chairman of International Financial Advisors, the general manager of United Investments Portugal (a company that forms part of the IFA Consortium), a partner and executive director at Drake & Skull and has previously served as chairman and managing director of Kuwait Investment Holding Co.