Husam Khoury: A Pioneer of Arab Digital Innovation
When we talk about the early days of the internet in the Arab world, one name that consistently stands out is Husam Khoury, a visionary entrepreneur from Jordan whose contributions helped redefine how Arabic content and online services evolved. As the co-founder of Maktoob.com, the first Arabic email and internet portal, Khoury’s influence extends far beyond business—he played a key role in integrating the Arab world into the digital age.
Early Life and Background
Born and raised in Jordan, Husam Khoury grew up in a region that, at the time, was just beginning to embrace modern technology. From an early age, Khoury demonstrated a natural curiosity for business and innovation. He pursued higher education in engineering and business management, which later became the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.
Before venturing into the world of technology startups, Khoury spent years in project management and construction, gaining experience in large-scale operations, strategic planning, and financial management. This background gave him the analytical and leadership skills necessary to build and scale successful ventures in competitive environments.
The Birth of Maktoob.com
In the late 1990s, the Middle East’s online landscape was still in its infancy. There were very few Arabic-language websites, and internet usage in the region was limited to English speakers. Recognizing this massive gap, Husam Khoury teamed up with Samih Toukan, a fellow Jordanian entrepreneur, to create something revolutionary: an Arabic-language email service and web portal that would make the internet accessible to millions of Arabic speakers.
In 1998, the two co-founded Maktoob.com, with a simple but powerful vision—to make the internet relevant, usable, and appealing to Arabic-speaking users across the world.
The name “Maktoob” (meaning “written” or “destiny” in Arabic) symbolized their mission to bridge language and technology. Maktoob’s email system allowed users to send and receive messages in Arabic for the first time, at a time when major global platforms like Yahoo and Hotmail did not support Arabic script properly.
This innovation was groundbreaking. It democratized internet access for Arabic speakers and gave the Middle East its first taste of a homegrown tech ecosystem.
Maktoob’s Rise and Expansion
What started as an Arabic email service soon evolved into a full-fledged internet portal. By the early 2000s, Maktoob had grown into one of the most visited websites in the Arab world, offering news, entertainment, sports, business updates, online communities, and discussion forums.
Under Husam Khoury’s strategic guidance, the company expanded its services to include:
- Maktoob Business – a professional and financial portal
- Maktoob Jobs – connecting employers with Arabic-speaking job seekers
- Maktoob Chat and Forums – fostering online communities
- CashU – a digital payment system tailored for users without credit cards
CashU, in particular, became one of the most significant innovations to emerge from Maktoob. Developed under Khoury’s leadership, it offered a secure online payment solution for Middle Eastern users, many of whom lacked access to international banking systems. This product was years ahead of its time and helped pave the way for fintech growth in the region.
By 2005, Maktoob had millions of registered users from across the Arab world, from Morocco to Saudi Arabia. It had become not just a website, but a digital movement—symbolizing the region’s growing confidence in its ability to innovate.
Yahoo’s Acquisition of Maktoob
In 2009, the world took notice of Maktoob’s success. Tech giant Yahoo! announced that it would acquire Maktoob in a deal reportedly worth $164 million. It was the first major acquisition of an Arab technology company by a global player—a milestone that marked the Middle East’s arrival on the global tech scene.
For Husam Khoury and his team, this was both a business triumph and a validation of years of effort to localize technology for Arabic users. Yahoo’s acquisition was not only about buying a website—it was about acquiring a gateway to the Arab internet audience.
Khoury’s role in building Maktoob’s financial structure, negotiating partnerships, and maintaining operational efficiency was critical in making the company an attractive acquisition target. His strategic mindset and disciplined management approach complemented Toukan’s visionary leadership, forming a partnership that became legendary in Middle Eastern entrepreneurship.
The sale of Maktoob to Yahoo remains one of the most celebrated success stories in the region’s startup history, inspiring a generation of Arab entrepreneurs to believe that global success was possible from the Middle East.
Post-Maktoob Ventures
After the acquisition, Husam Khoury didn’t rest on his achievements. Along with Samih Toukan, he co-founded Jabbar Internet Group in 2010, a venture capital and investment firm focused on nurturing digital startups in the Arab world.
Jabbar was established with the proceeds from the Yahoo-Maktoob deal, with a vision to reinvest in the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The group has since funded several high-growth companies, including:
- com – the “Amazon of the Middle East,” later acquired by Amazon in 2017
- CashU – which continued to operate as a leading digital payment solution
- Tahadi Games – an online gaming company for Arabic users
- com, iKoo, and other online ventures
Through Jabbar Internet Group, Husam Khoury played an instrumental role in supporting the rise of the startup ecosystem in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), especially at a time when venture capital was scarce and risky.
His work has directly influenced the creation of hundreds of tech jobs, increased investor confidence in Arab startups, and contributed to making Dubai, Amman, and Cairo regional hubs for innovation.
Leadership Style and Philosophy
Colleagues and industry peers often describe Husam Khoury as a strategic, disciplined, and pragmatic leader. While he is less publicly visible than some of his contemporaries, his impact behind the scenes is profound.
He is known for his ability to build sustainable business models rather than short-term hype. His background in engineering and project management gives him a unique perspective—he approaches business challenges like engineering problems, with structure, data, and foresight.
Khoury’s leadership emphasizes long-term value creation, regional collaboration, and empowering young talent. His philosophy centers on giving entrepreneurs not just capital, but mentorship, operational support, and access to global networks.
Legacy and Impact
Husam Khoury’s journey reflects the transformation of the Middle East from a consumer of global technology to a producer of it. His work with Maktoob laid the groundwork for the Arabic digital content industry, while his investments through Jabbar helped accelerate the startup revolution across the region.
Today, many of the Arab world’s most successful founders cite Maktoob and Jabbar as their early inspirations. The Yahoo-Maktoob deal demonstrated that international investors were willing to bet on Middle Eastern innovation—a crucial psychological and financial breakthrough.
In addition to his business legacy, Khoury continues to be involved in initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, education, and digital inclusion. His commitment to nurturing young Arab innovators has helped bridge the gap between local talent and global opportunity.
Conclusion
Husam Khoury’s story is one of vision, perseverance, and quiet leadership. From pioneering Arabic-language internet services to building one of the region’s first successful tech exits, he has left an indelible mark on the Middle East’s digital landscape.
In an era when the Arab world was struggling to find its voice online, Khoury helped millions connect, communicate, and create. His journey from engineer to tech pioneer encapsulates the potential of the region’s human capital—a reminder that with creativity, collaboration, and courage, the Middle East can lead the next wave of global innovation.
Published: 5th December 2025
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Samih Toukan: The Visionary Behind Arab Tech Revolution
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Ahmad Hanandeh: Leading Jordan’s Digital Transformation
