Conviction-led investing in MENA public markets

Harnessing mispricing and inefficiencies for long-term growth
Why Ajeej Public Equities is a cornerstone of our platform

Since its foundation in 2007, Ajeej Capital has been defined by its conviction-led approach to public equities. From the very beginning, founders Tarek Sakka and Fouad Dajani were driven by a mission to influence the evolution of MENA capital markets through a fundamentally driven, independent investment methodology. They recognised a gap in the market — the absence of an asset manager that could combine global standards with regional expertise — and set out to build an institution to fill it. Today, Ajeej Public Equities remains the beating heart of the firm’s multi-asset platform.

The philosophy is clear: Ajeej invests with conviction in opportunities where inefficiencies, mispricing, and information asymmetry create upside. By remaining benchmark agnostic, the team avoids being tied to country or sector weights, focusing instead on bottom-up fundamentals. This allows the portfolio to concentrate on companies where the knowledge curve is highest, magnifying the impact of insight and discipline. Over the years, this approach has not only generated strong absolute returns but has also allowed Ajeej to deliver performance through cycles of volatility and reform.

Experience has been a defining advantage. The core team has been together since inception, navigating crises including the global financial meltdown, the Arab Spring, and oil price shocks. Each event added resilience, sharpened insight, and reaffirmed the importance of discipline. This shared history underpins the team’s ability to remain steadfast when markets are turbulent.

“Our edge lies in the conviction to back our analysis and the discipline to remain focused on fundamentals, even when markets are volatile.”

‍Ajeej Portfolio Manager

For allocators, Ajeej Public Equities offers not just returns but also credibility. With over 500% returns since inception, a 98% five-year return, and a track record of consistently outperforming benchmarks, Ajeej has proven that conviction-led strategies work in MENA markets. Public equities remain a cornerstone of Ajeej’s offering, setting the foundation for everything that has followed.

‍