Creative Investments Holding
Abu Dhabi-based investment company for the creative industries, led by Mohamed Talaat Khalifa, with USD 20 million of first-close commitments toward up to USD 50 million announced in September 2026.
Industry: Investment holding for the creative industries | Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
About Creative Investments Holding
Creative Investments Holding, also called Creative Holding, is an investment company dedicated to the creative industries. A press release distributed through Zawya describes it as a long-term capital holding company that acquires, creates and scales businesses rooted in regional culture, mainly in Egypt and the wider MENA region. Enterprise describes it as newly formed and based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Mohamed Talaat Khalifa, known as MTK, is the founder and chief executive. He is establishing the company through his investment arm, Leo Equities, and the release describes him as a veteran luxury and brands executive. Enterprise adds that he was previously managing director of the listed Concrete Fashion Group. Heba Makhlouf, a finance executive and arts specialist, leads finance, governance and compliance; Enterprise says she was previously CIO of the listed developer Sodic. The company has offices in Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Milan.
Creative Holding targets food and culinary experiences, hospitality, fashion and retail, and lifestyle and entertainment. It plans to take controlling or strategic stakes and to provide growth capital and operational infrastructure. Its pipeline includes a possible first acquisition in the heritage food sector, with no company named, and an evaluation of properties for Casa Leo, its proprietary boutique hotel concept.
On 7 September 2026 the company announced USD 20 million of initial commitments at the first close of its founding round, with a target of up to USD 50 million. The commitments remain subject to definitive agreements. The founding investors are Onsi Sawiris, Ali Abubakr and Egypt's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, a state agency. Enterprise reported that each investor's share will stay confidential until definitive agreements are signed. Enterprise also reported that later rounds will seek a wider group of investors, with no timeline set.
The company says it is aiming for a public listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Tadawul or the London Stock Exchange within five to seven years. The number of acquisitions the first USD 20 million will fund has not been decided, Enterprise reported.
Leadership
- Mohamed Talaat Khalifa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
- Heba Makhlouf, Finance executive leading finance, governance and compliance
- Onsi Sawiris, Founding investor
- Ali Abubakr, Founding investor