It’s been a busy year for Barrak who managed to secure Zain’s claims to the third mobile license in Saudi Arabia while also acquiring the Iraqna mobile company in Iraq for US$1.2 billion.

Zain has become the world’s fourth-largest telecoms company measured by geographic presence and employs 15,000 people worldwide.

Al Barrak has also led Zain’s expansion in Africa where it has established operations in 15 sub-Saharan countries.

Al Barrak holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering, an MSc in Systems Engineering from Ohio University, and a PhD in Information Systems & Technology Management from the University of London. He is also an alumnus of Harvard University.