Samih Toukan is a pioneering tech entrepreneur, best known for founding Maktoob.com in 2000, the world’s first Arabic email service and largest Arab online community, with over 16 million users. In 2009, Maktoob was acquired by Yahoo!, marking the region’s largest tech acquisition at the time. Post-acquisition, Samih became Chairman of Jabbar Internet Group, which launched several leading online ventures, including Souq.com, the Arab world’s largest e-commerce platform. Today, Jabbar remains a major investor in internet and tech companies across the Middle East. Toukan holds a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of London and a Master’s in Management and International Business from HEC University in France.

He started his career with Andersen Consulting, co-founding Business Optimization Consultants in 1994 before creating Maktoob. In recognition of his contributions to the tech sector in Jordan, he received the Al Hussein Medal for Distinguished Performance from King Abdullah II in 2009.

An active investor and mentor, Samih has supported many startups globally and is a founding investor in Oasis500, Jordan’s top startup incubator. He also chairs Under My Olive Tree, a nonprofit focused on educational support for underprivileged youth, and serves on the board of Ruwwad Micro-Venture Fund, which aids entrepreneurs in marginalized communities in Jordan. Samih has been named one of the world’s most influential Arabs by Arabian Business and continues to champion innovation in the region.