Abdallah Abu Sheikh
Abdallah Abu Sheikh | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jordan |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Known for | Founder of Astra Tech, CEO of Botim |
Abdallah Abu Sheikh () is a prominent Emirati entrepreneur, recognized as the founder of Astra Tech and serving as the CEO of Botim.
Early life and education
Originally from Jordan, Abu Sheikh spent part of his childhood in both England and China. He completed his secondary education at King's Academy boarding school. He holds dual bachelor's degrees: one in commerce from Saint Mary's University and another in Accounting and Finance from Dalhousie University. In 2021, he obtained an MBA from London Business School.
Career
In 2016, Abu Sheikh co-established LUX Development Partners (LUXDP), a company specializing in renewable energy. Three years later, in 2019, he co-launched Rizek, a digital platform providing services such as home cleaning, maintenance, and healthcare—including COVID-19 testing and vaccination offerings. The startup secured $3.5 million in seed capital, followed by an additional $10 million to support its growth initiatives.
Abu Sheikh went on to create Barq EV in 2021, focusing on manufacturing electric vehicles tailored for the regional market.
March 2022 marked the inception of Astra Tech under his leadership, a firm dedicated to technology investments and development. By July 2022, Astra Tech had acquired Rizek and attracted $500 million in funding by December, led by Group 42. In August 2022, Astra Tech expanded its portfolio by acquiring UAE-based fintech PayBy, followed by the purchase of BOTIM, a Middle Eastern internet calling service, in January 2023.
In November 2024, Abdallah relinquished his role as CEO of Astra Tech and divested his holdings.
He was featured on the cover of the May 2022 edition of Entrepreneur magazine Middle East.
Personal life
Residing in the UAE with his wife and son, Abu Sheikh established the Mohammad Abu-Sheikh Scholarship Fund at his alma mater King's Academy in 2022 as a tribute to his late father.
Awards
- Named among the Most Influential Arabs in 2022
- Included in Forbes Under 30 EL Gouna 2022
- Awarded Young Achiever of the Year in 2023
- Listed among the Top 100 Most Inspiring Leaders of 2023
- Recognized as one of GCC's Top 50 CEOs for 2023
- Honored as Investor of the Year by Entrepreneur Middle East in 2023
- Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2023
- Again acknowledged among the Most Influential Arabs in 2025