Ahmad Al-Zaini

Ahmad Al-Zaini
أحمد الزيني
Born (1988-04-05) April 5, 1988
EducationKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, 2012)
OccupationsEntrepreneur, investor

Ahmad Al-Zaini (Arabic: أحمد الزيني; born April 5, 1988) is a Saudi entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Foodics, a Saudi Arabian financial technology company that develops cloud-based restaurant management and payment systems.[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life and education

Ahmad Al-Zaini was born April 5, 1988 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.[4] He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in 2012.[5][4]

Career

In 2010, Al-Zaini co-founded ALWANS, a company focused on developing mobile applications, investing in startup ideas, and technology projects with a focus on e-commerce. He has remained on its board, with responsibilities including business growth strategies, coaching, and investment strategies.[6][4]

Since 2009 he has been a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce Club and was head of the marketing committee for the Division M Toastmaster Annual Conference. Al-Zaini is also an administrator and member of the Anchorage Society for Human Resources Management (ASHRM), affiliated with the U.S.-based Society for Human Resource Management.[6] Al-Zaini also established the Wazi Volunteering Club, which promotes awareness of the impact of technology on Saudi society.[6]

In 2014, Al-Zaini co-founded Foodics, where he serves as CEO.[3][7][8] The company offers a cloud-based point-of-sale platform, digital payment services, and business management tools for the food and beverage industry.[9] Under his leadership, Foodics has expanded across the Middle East and North Africa, raising $170 million in Series C funding in 2022 and reaching more than 30,000 clients.[10][2] The company has introduced products such as Foodics BI, an AI-powered analytics platform, and electronic invoicing services compliant with Saudi regulations.[6][11]

In 2018, Al-Zaini was recognized by Endeavor Global as a High-Impact Entrepreneur.[3][6] He was named among Forbes Middle East’s "Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future[12][13] and was included in Arabian Business’s "GCC Young Achievers" list in 2021.[14] In 2025, he received the Inc. Arabia Best in Business Award in the fintech and financial services category on behalf of Foodics.[15] The same year, Entrepreneur Middle East named his company Foodics the leader in F&B fintech.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Sequoia, Prosus Back Saudi Food Startup Raising $170 Million". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  2. 1 2 Entrepreneur Middle East Staff (2024-12-20). "The 100: Ahmad Al Zaini, CEO and Co-Founder, Foodics | Entrepreneur". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on 2025-08-04. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ahmad AlZaini - Forbes Middle East Events". Forbes Middle East Events. Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "From Student to CEO: Ahmad Al-Zaini's Inspiring Journey". 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  5. ↑ Ahmed, Ayesha (2024-02-14). "Ahmad Al-Zaini's Foodics Phenomenon: What's Behind the F&B Industry Shake-Up? | The Gulf Entrepreneur". Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Writer, Staff. "Young Achievers 2021 Ahmad Al-Zaini". Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  7. ↑ Pathe, Tyler (2022-07-18). "Ahmad Al Zaini, FOODICS' CEO and co-founder". The Fintech Times. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  8. ↑ "KSA-Based Foodics Acquires UK-Based Solo Venture". Inc. Arabia English - en.incarabia.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  9. ↑ "Saudi F&B Hero: Co-founder and CEO, FOODICS, Ahmad Al Zaini - Caterer Middle East". 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  10. ↑ "Sequoia, Prosus Back Saudi Food Startup Raising $170 Million". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  11. ↑ "Read Report - The Growing Business of Foodtech". Lucidity Insights. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  12. ↑ "Ahmad AlZaini - Forbes Middle East Events". Forbes Middle East Events -. 2025-03-27. Archived from the original on 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  13. ↑ "Ahmad Al-Zaini: Revolutionizing the F&B Industry with Innovative FoodTech Solutions". www.dayofdubai.com. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  14. ↑ "Ahmad Al-Zaini, CEO of Saudi retail and food tech startup Foodics". Arab News. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  15. ↑ "Inc. Arabia Best in Business Awards Riyadh 2025: The Winners". Inc. Arabia English - en.incarabia.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  16. ↑ Staff, Entrepreneur Middle East (2024-12-20). "The 100: Ahmad Al Zaini, CEO and Co-Founder, Foodics". Entrepreneur Middle East. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
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