Elie Habib: The Tech Visionary Behind Anghami’s Success
In the modern Arab world, where music, technology, and innovation are rapidly converging, few figures stand out as prominently as Elie Habib — the Lebanese engineer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Anghami, the first legal music streaming platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). From humble beginnings in Lebanon to leading one of the region’s most globally recognized digital entertainment brands, Habib’s journey reflects the story of Middle Eastern resilience, creativity, and ambition in the digital age.
Early Life and Education
Elie Habib was born and raised in Lebanon, a country known for its rich musical heritage and deep appreciation for culture and art. Growing up during a time of social and economic challenges, Elie was drawn to technology and problem-solving as tools to create opportunities. His curiosity for innovation led him to study Computer and Communications Engineering at the American University of Beirut (AUB), one of the Arab world’s top institutions for technology and engineering.
From an early age, Habib demonstrated both technical brilliance and entrepreneurial instincts. During his university years, he was already experimenting with software development and the early internet. His fascination with technology was paired with a practical understanding of how to solve real-world problems through digital platforms — a mindset that would later become the foundation for his success.
Early Career and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Before co-founding Anghami, Elie Habib gained extensive experience in the tech industry. He started his career by building software and technology solutions for local companies, specializing in software development, mobile applications, and digital transformation at a time when Lebanon’s tech ecosystem was still in its infancy.
In 1999, Habib founded PowerMeMobile, a company focused on delivering mobile content and services in the pre-smartphone era. Through this venture, he became one of the pioneers in developing mobile technology in the region. PowerMeMobile grew into a profitable company, serving clients across the Middle East. This early success gave Habib both credibility and practical experience in leading technology projects, managing teams, and understanding consumer needs in a fast-evolving market.
However, despite the success, Habib always envisioned something bigger — a platform that could bring together two of his greatest passions: technology and music.
The Birth of Anghami
In 2011, Elie Habib joined forces with long-time friend and business partner Eddy Maroun to create Anghami — an Arabic word meaning “My Tunes.” The idea was born from a simple yet powerful observation: while global platforms like iTunes and Spotify were revolutionizing music consumption, the Arab world lacked a legal, high-quality alternative tailored to local audiences.
At the time, music piracy was rampant in the region, and artists had limited ways to monetize their work digitally. Habib and Maroun set out to change that by creating a streaming platform that would make music accessible, affordable, and legal for listeners in the Middle East while ensuring fair compensation for artists.
The two co-founders faced numerous challenges — from convincing record labels to trust a Lebanese startup to building an app that could operate efficiently in a region with limited internet speeds. Despite these obstacles, Habib’s strong technical background and Maroun’s business acumen proved to be a perfect combination.
By 2012, Anghami officially launched, becoming the first music streaming service of its kind in the Arab world. The platform offered millions of Arabic and international tracks, available instantly on smartphones and computers.
Growth and Innovation
Under Habib’s leadership as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Anghami rapidly scaled across the MENA region. His focus on technology, user experience, and data analytics helped the company evolve from a startup into a regional tech powerhouse.
Elie was instrumental in developing Anghami’s proprietary streaming technology and recommendation algorithms, which personalize the user experience. By analyzing listening habits, moods, and regional trends, the platform delivers customized playlists that resonate deeply with Arab audiences.
Another major innovation under Habib’s direction was Anghami’s ability to function efficiently even in areas with limited connectivity. He and his engineering team built systems that optimized data usage, allowing users to stream or download songs with minimal bandwidth — a critical advantage in emerging markets.
Through continuous innovation, Anghami attracted millions of users across Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and beyond. The platform’s catalog expanded to over 100 million songs, including exclusive partnerships with top Arab artists and major international labels like Universal, Sony, and Warner Music.
Challenges and Resilience
Building a regional tech company in the Middle East came with numerous hurdles. Political instability, economic crises, and infrastructure limitations made growth difficult. Lebanon’s frequent power cuts, weak internet infrastructure, and financial turmoil were constant challenges for Habib and his team.
Yet, rather than being discouraged, Habib embraced these obstacles as opportunities for creative problem-solving. Anghami built distributed teams and data centers across multiple countries to ensure stability and continuity. This resilience became one of the company’s greatest strengths.
Even during Lebanon’s economic collapse in 2019 and the devastating Beirut explosion of 2020, Anghami continued to operate, support its employees, and expand internationally — a testament to the company’s strong leadership and determination.
Global Recognition and Expansion
Anghami’s success story eventually captured international attention. In 2021, Anghami became the first Arab tech company to list on NASDAQ, marking a historic milestone for the entire Middle Eastern startup ecosystem. This move not only positioned Anghami on the global stage but also demonstrated the potential of Arab innovation in the digital economy.
Under Habib’s technological leadership, Anghami diversified beyond music streaming into a broader entertainment ecosystem, including podcasts, live concerts, and social features. The platform also introduced Anghami Labs, an innovation hub focused on artificial intelligence (AI), recommendation engines, and artist analytics.
Vision and Leadership Style
Elie Habib’s leadership is characterized by humility, technical excellence, and visionary thinking. Unlike many traditional executives, he remains deeply involved in the product development process — coding, designing systems, and mentoring young engineers.
He often emphasizes building for impact rather than short-term profit, focusing on products that make life easier and more enjoyable for millions of people. His philosophy centers on local innovation for global reach — believing that the Arab world can produce world-class technology that competes internationally.
Habib is also an advocate for nurturing local talent. He frequently speaks at universities and entrepreneurship events across the region, encouraging young people to build, create, and dream beyond boundaries.
Legacy and Influence
Today, Elie Habib stands as one of the most influential tech entrepreneurs in the Middle East. Through Anghami, he has not only changed how people listen to music but also transformed how the region perceives digital entrepreneurship.
His success story inspires a new generation of Arab innovators to pursue ambitious ideas, even in challenging environments. Anghami’s journey — from a Beirut-based startup to a NASDAQ-listed company — proves that innovation and excellence can emerge from anywhere.
Conclusion
Elie Habib’s journey is a remarkable example of vision, persistence, and purpose-driven leadership. As co-founder and CTO of Anghami, he turned a simple idea — giving Arabs a legal, easy way to stream music — into a revolutionary platform that bridges cultures and generations.
Through technology, creativity, and an unyielding belief in regional potential, Habib has helped put Middle Eastern innovation on the global map. His story is not just about building a company; it’s about building a legacy that will inspire future generations to dream big, code boldly, and redefine what’s possible in the Arab world.
Published: 21th November 2025
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