At a Glance
- Elfar holds over 30% stake in Naeem Holding, valued at $14.85 million.
- He has managed $4 billion in assets and $2 billion private-equity deals.
- His real estate ventures span Cairo, Giza, Marsa Alam, and global property franchises.
Youssef Medhat Elfar, an Egyptian businessman and financier, has become a familiar name in North Africa’s financial and real estate circles. With more than three decades in investment banking, asset management, and private equity, he is regarded as one of Egypt’s most seasoned dealmakers.
Today, he owns more than 30 percent of Naeem Holding for Investment, a dual-listed financial services group, considered one of the fastest-growing investment banks in the MENA region with operations in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. His stake, currently valued at about $14.85 million, reflects both his confidence in the company’s long-term prospects and his central role in shaping its strategy.
From commerce student to investment leader
Elfar studied accounting at Cairo University’s Faculty of Commerce, a foundation that helped him build a strong foothold in finance.
He went on to manage $4 billion in assets and oversee $2 billion in private-equity deals across the Middle East and North Africa. Shore Africa’s research notes that he is a non-executive board member of Palm Hills, with a 3.75 million stake in the company.
His investments cut across sectors—financial services, real estate, oil and gas, and industry—giving him both stability and room to capitalize on new opportunities.
Naeem Holding: Building a broad financial platform
Founded in 1997, Naeem Holding has grown into a diversified financial group offering brokerage, asset management, research, investment banking, and even gold trading. The firm, listed on both the Egyptian Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market, has more than $245 million in paid-in capital.
In the first half of 2025, Naeem posted a $2.8 million net profit, reversing a $1.27 million loss a year earlier. Its portfolio includes holdings in EGBank, income-producing real estate, and Smart Pack, a packaging company launched in 2020. The mix provides steady cash flow and a cushion against market swings.
A steady hand in real estate
Elfar also heads Naeem Real Estate Holding Group, formerly known as Reacap Financial Investments.
The unit, rebranded in 2025, manages land and property across Egypt and the region. Its portfolio spans business parks in Cairo’s Smart Village, resort land in Marsa Alam, and strategic plots in Giza. These assets supply regular income while offering long-term development value.
Bridging local markets with global brands
Beyond Naeem, Elfar is the regional master franchisor for Coldwell Banker and ERA Real Estate, two global property brokerage giants. The partnerships allow him to bring international brands into Middle Eastern and Eastern European markets, creating new entry points for cross-border real estate activity.
A role that goes beyond finance
For Elfar, raising his stake in Naeem above 30 percent was more than a financial play—it was a signal of commitment to the company and its future. His career, spanning billion-dollar portfolios and global real estate partnerships, places him among the leading financiers in the region.
By linking Egyptian capital with global networks and balancing financial services with real estate, Youssef Medhat Elfar reflects a new wave of Egyptian business leaders: firmly rooted in local markets yet outward-looking, pragmatic, and influential in shaping the region’s economic landscape.
