In a period of unprecedented digital and financial transformation across the GCC, a new breed of leaders is emerging — those capable of combining strategic foresight with financial precision. Among them stands Ahmed Abu Elazm, who describes himself as “a rare hybrid — CEO vision with CFO precision.”
With more than 24 years of experience and a proven track record spanning multinational companies across Egypt, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, Ahmed has become one of the region’s most influential voices in strategic finance, governance, and digital asset transformation.
Today, he serves as CFO & Strategic Advisor at Kasoob Investment Group (UAE) — the group behind the rapidly emerging Kasoob Digital — and as Financial & Strategic Advisor to World of Oceans Investment Holding Group (Saudi Arabia). His work bridges two of the region’s most dynamic investment environments: the UAE’s innovation ecosystem and Saudi Arabia’s deep, fast-scaling economy.
In this exclusive feature, Ahmed shares his journey, his leadership philosophy, and his vision for how stablecoins, Web3, and cross-border investment strategies will shape the next decade across the GCC.
Tell us about yourself and your career
I’m Ahmed Abu Elazm — a rare hybrid: CEO vision with CFO precision. This describes exactly how I operate.
If you’re looking for:
• Startup growth & setup
• Investment, funding, or strategic financing
• Strong governance & effective boards
• Turning financial chaos into clarity
• Business valuation & corporate restructuring
• Converting ideas into actionable numbers
Then you’ll understand the core of my professional identity: I build systems that scale, boards that decide, and businesses that last.
My career spans more than 24 years, during which I worked with multinational companies across Egypt, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — a journey that shaped my cross-border mindset and strengthened my ability to operate inside complex, fast-moving investment ecosystems.
This international exposure allowed me to evolve from traditional finance into digital transformation, Web3 infrastructure, and cross-border investment strategy — ultimately positioning me to advise high-growth investment groups like Kasoob Investment Group (UAE) and World of Oceans (Saudi Arabia).
What is your leadership philosophy?
My leadership philosophy is rooted in one core belief:
“Strong governance builds trust, and clear strategy builds value.”
Leadership today is not about authority — it’s about clarity, direction, and the ability to build systems that scale beyond individuals.
Transformation requires:
• A clear financial strategy
• A committed leadership team
• A governance structure that supports growth
I aim to build organizations designed around systems, transparency, measurable performance, and long-term sustainability.
Tell us about your work with World of Oceans Investment Holding Group
World of Oceans is a rapidly expanding Saudi investment group with ambitious growth plans across multiple sectors.
My role includes:
• Designing the group’s financial and investment strategy
• Implementing governance and restructuring systems
• Preparing subsidiaries for institutional investment
• Leading pre-IPO readiness efforts
• Building strategic dashboards for effective decision-making
• Ensuring alignment between operational and financial performance
Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation under Vision 2030. My mission is to ensure World of Oceans is structured, governed, and financially prepared to capture these unprecedented opportunities.
What is your current focus?
1) Launching Kasoob Digital (UAE)
A fully regulated digital-asset and stablecoin venture built on a compliance-first foundation.
2) Structuring cross-border investment frameworks between UAE & Saudi Arabia
Creating scalable models that align with both regulatory environments.
3) Implementing governance and restructuring inside Saudi groups
Particularly World of Oceans, to enhance investor readiness.
4) Developing stablecoin infrastructure for real GCC use cases
Payments, settlements, digital commerce, and tokenized assets.
5) Leading high-value strategic partnerships with international Web3 and fintech firms.
What has been your greatest success in your current roles?
1) Building Kasoob Digital from concept to regulated, future-ready reality
Aligned with VARA, ADGM, and international compliance frameworks.
2) Leading governance and restructuring transformations within Saudi investments
Resulting in improved clarity, efficiency, and investor confidence.
3) Driving cross-border investment deals exceeding $100M
Across the GCC, Europe, and Asia.
Each success reflects a core principle I follow:
Governance + Strategy = Sustainable Growth.
How will strategic finance, stablecoins & cross-border innovation shape the next decade?
Three forces will define the next decade:
1) Strategic Finance
CFOs will shift from reporting → to leading growth, valuation, fundraising, and deal structuring.
2) Stablecoins
They will form the backbone of GCC digital economies — powering cross-border payments, e-commerce, trade, and tokenization.
3) Cross-Border Innovation
The UAE contributes speed and regulatory frameworks.
Saudi Arabia contributes scale and institutional depth.
The companies combining both will dominate the next era.
What role will the modern CFO play?
The modern CFO is no longer a financial controller — he is:
• A strategist
• A technologist
• A governance architect
• A deal-maker
• A transformation leader
The CFO of the future = Strategy × Technology × Capital.
What are the current opportunities in the UAE vs the Saudi Market?
UAE:
• Fast regulatory adaptation
• Strong digital-asset and fintech frameworks
• Global capital accessibility
• International business gateway
Saudi Arabia:
• Depth of capital
• Large domestic market
• Vision 2030 alignment
• Long-term institutional appetite
The winning strategy:
Build and innovate in the UAE → Scale and expand in Saudi.
How are Stablecoins & Web3 revolutionizing the industry?
Stablecoins are moving from speculation to infrastructure. They enable:
• Instant cross-border settlement
• Lower-cost payments
• Tokenization of real assets
• More transparent financial systems
Web3 adds automation, interoperability, and digital identity — forming the next generation of financial infrastructure.
How is Kasoob Investment Gorup positioned to lead this evolution?
Kasoob’s strategy is simple:
Build a trusted, regulated digital-asset ecosystem designed for institutions, not speculation.
We focus on:
• Strong governance
• Compliance-first frameworks
• Strategic partnerships
• Real-world utility
• Scalable digital infrastructure
At the heart of this strategy is Kasoob Digital.
What makes Kasoob Digital unique?
1) Licensing before launch
Regulation first — product second.
2) Real-use-case stablecoin models
Not hype, not volatility — real institutional utility.
3) Enterprise-grade infrastructure
For financial institutions, payment processors, and corporates.
4) Strong governance, risk, and compliance systems
Aligned with VARA, ADGM, and global frameworks.
5) Cross-border interoperability
Designed to operate seamlessly between UAE and Saudi Arabia.
What is the long-term vision?
Kasoob Digital (UAE)
To become a leading stablecoin and digital-asset infrastructure provider in the GCC and the wider MENA region, building regulated, trusted, and enterprise-grade rails that support payments, settlements, tokenization, and digital commerce across emerging digital economies.
Kasoob Investment Group
To build a powerful fintech and investment ecosystem bridging UAE innovation with Saudi investment depth. The roadmap includes:
• Tokenization
• Stablecoin payment rails
• Institutional digital platforms
• Cross-border fintech networks
• Long-term GCC-wide digital transformation
How do you see the GCC Investment Landscape evolving over the next 10 years?
The region is entering its strongest decade — driven by:
1) Regulated digital assets
2) AI-powered investment models
3) Tokenized financial markets
4) UAE–Saudi integration
5) Digital-first investment strategies
The GCC is positioning itself as a global benchmark for regulated digital economies.
Where can readers connect with you?
I welcome discussions with founders, investors, and strategic partners.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ahmedabuelazm
Email (Saudi Arabia – World of Oceans Group): ahmed@wo.com.sa
Email (UAE – Kasoob Investment Group): ahmed@kasoob.com
Websites: www.kasoob.com | www.wo.com.sa
