Who: Rabea Ataya

Rabea Ataya is the founder and CEO of Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job portal. With over 25 years of experience in technology and entrepreneurship, his journey is rooted in a deep belief in the potential of the region and the talent of its youth. Ataya’s passion for using technology to make a meaningful social impact led him to establish Bayt.com in 2000, inspired by his personal experience of the disconnect in the job market.

Bayt.com was launched at a time when internet penetration in the region was less than 1%, presenting a significant challenge in educating employers and job seekers about the benefits of online recruitment. However, through perseverance and building a strong founding team, Bayt.com became cash-flow positive within the first year and has since grown to house over 52 million CVs with 5 million monthly visitors.

Ataya’s entrepreneurial spirit was shaped by his family’s journey as refugees and the resilience shown by his father. His education at Stanford University, where he got his master’s degree in Engineering Economic Systems and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, equipped him with the tools needed to build and scale regional organizations that positively affect the community.

Beyond Bayt.com, Ataya co-founded InfoFort and serves on the board of several organizations. His commitment to empowering Middle Eastern youth and supporting SMEs is evident through his continued work on digital platforms that bridge geographical and informational gaps, offering opportunities and driving economic growth in the region.