Go-to-market
10 Middle East market expansion leaders
These ten professionals have led Middle East, Gulf and Saudi Arabia businesses as general managers, country managers and regional heads at software and technology companies headquartered outside the region. A reader can learn how Middle East market expansion leaders approach their work from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Ahmad SALAMA
LinkedInExperience: Vice President & General Manager MENAT · Contentsquare
Former Vice President & General Manager MENAT at Contentsquare (2022–2025) and Vice President Middle East & Turkey at Software AG (2013–2022). Since 2025 he has been General Manager EMEA for Redzone at QAD, based in Dubai, and an advisor to Contentsquare.
Ali Abi Raad
LinkedInExperience: Country Manager, Middle East & India · InterSystems
Former Country Manager, Middle East & India at InterSystems (2019–2022) and Country Manager, Middle East, India & South Africa (2023–2025); he has been Managing Director for that region since 2025. Earlier InterSystems roles include Director of Sales - Middle East & India (2017–2019) and Business Development Manager (2014–2017).
Amr Hewedi
LinkedInExperience: KSA Country Leader, Oracle Digital · Oracle
Former KSA Country Leader, Oracle Digital at Oracle (2022–2025), and since 2025 General Manager for the Middle East and Africa region for Oracle Fusion in the healthcare industry, shaping its go-to-market strategy. Earlier Oracle roles include KSA Country Managing Director for Business Application and ERP Cloud (2009–2016) and a regional client engagement role (2016–2021).
Charles Nahas
LinkedInExperience: Regional General Manager, Commercial Solutions, Middle East · Microsoft
Regional General Manager, Commercial Solutions, Middle East at Microsoft since 2023, based in Kuwait City, and Regional General Manager at Microsoft (2019–2023). Earlier Microsoft roles include General Manager, Kuwait (2013–2019), Regional Director for the Microsoft Office Division, Middle East & Africa (2008–2013) and General Manager, East Med & Pakistan (2006–2008).
Kash Rafique
LinkedInExperience: General Manager and VP Sales - MEA · EDB
General Manager and VP Sales - MEA at EDB since 2025, after serving as Vice President of Sales - Middle East Africa there (2024–2025). Earlier he was Vice President - Middle East Africa at Informatica (2017–2022) and Director, Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey at IBM (2013–2017).
Moussalam DALATI
LinkedInExperience: General Manager, France, Middle East and Africa · Liferay
General Manager, France, Middle East and Africa at Liferay since 2016, based in Dubai; the profile headline describes a P&L leader with an INSEAD MBA. Earlier he worked in Business Development for the GCC region at Murex (2011–2016) and as an Associate at Strategy& (2010–2011), after software project management and consulting roles at Murex.
Nizar Badwan
LinkedInExperience: General Manager, Middle East · Exact Software
General Manager, Middle East at Exact Software since 2002, based in the United Arab Emirates and leading Exact Software Middle East FZ-LLC according to the profile. Before that he was Regional Director - Middle East at Great Plains Software (1993–2001) and a Manager at Arthur Andersen (1991–1993).
Saeed Abu-Hmeed
LinkedInExperience: General Manager - MEA · RLDatix
General Manager - MEA at RLDatix since 2022, based in Saudi Arabia; the profile describes RLDatix as a healthcare IT company focused on patient safety and quality improvement. He previously served there as Customer Success and Services Director - MEA (2021–2022) and Technical and Services Manager - MEA (2019–2021).
Ziad Nasr
LinkedInExperience: General Manager - Middle East · Acronis
General Manager - Middle East at Acronis in Dubai since 2022; the profile describes Acronis as a backup and data protection software company. Earlier he was Regional Director - MENA at Bitdefender (2015–2019), Managing Partner at Middle East Smart Solutions (2019–2022) and Regional Sales Manager - EMEA at Meridium (2013–2015).
Zouheir Diab
LinkedInExperience: General Manager - Saudi Arabia · Kore.ai
General Manager - Saudi Arabia at Kore.ai in Riyadh since 2026. Earlier he was Country Manager at Avaya (2018–2025) and at HPE Aruba Networking (2014–2018), General Manager at Rayat Technology Company (2008–2014) and Area Sales Manager at Cisco (2004–2008).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's market to yours, since selling into Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the wider Gulf involves different buyers, partners and local presence requirements. Also consider company stage: leaders who opened a region for a mid-sized software company face different choices than those running an established office for a large vendor.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01When does a software company need a local entity and team in the Gulf rather than selling through partners?
- 02How do you choose between Dubai and Riyadh as the first base for the region?
- 03How do government and large enterprise buyers in the region evaluate a foreign software vendor?
Reaching Middle East market expansion leaders
How can I contact one of these Middle East market expansion leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Contentsquare, InterSystems and Oracle, based on profile data retrieved on October 9, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Middle East market expansion leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Middle East market expansion leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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