Samih Toukan

Samih Toukan is a prominent entrepreneur and investor, well-known as the founder of “Maktoob,” one of the Arab world’s most successful online platforms. Toukan, an engineer by profession, also serves as Chairman of Jabbar Internet Group, a pioneering organization in MENA’s technology sector.

His passion for advancing regional internet services and nurturing Arab entrepreneurs transformed Maktoob from a modest Arabic email website into an iconic regional success story.

Toukan’s journey began in technology consulting, starting with his company, Business Optimization Consultants (“BOC”), founded in 1994. Over years of consulting experience, he aligned his career with internet development, eventually leading him toward the groundbreaking idea of an Arabic email and content platform.

Under his strategic vision and perseverance, Maktoob evolved dramatically, culminating in its historic acquisition by Yahoo! in 2009—marking the biggest tech acquisition in the region at the time.

Toukan remains extremely private about his personal life despite international prominence.

Here at Arageek, we consider Samih Toukan’s inspiring journey a powerful testament to entrepreneurship’s transformative potential within the Arab region. His career provides invaluable lessons in persistence, innovation, and resilience—qualities we believe are exceedingly beneficial for aspiring startups and established entrepreneurs alike.

Born on February 27, 1969, to a Palestinian family originating from Nablus, Samih Toukan grew up in Jordan’s capital, Amman. His family had migrated to Amman due to hardships resulting from the Palestinian Nakba. Early academic achievements took him overseas, enabling him to pursue advanced degrees across Europe.

Toukan attained his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of London in 1990 and then acquired another Master’s in Business and International Management from HEC University, France, in 1992.

Samih Toukan values his personal and family life privately and prefers not to share personal details publicly.

Throughout his pioneering journey in the Arab tech landscape, Samih Toukan has led transformative ventures that shaped the digital future of the region. Here’s a look at the milestones that defined his path:

📌 1994 — Foundation of BOC

Toukan launched Business Optimization Consultants (BOC), a tech services firm through which he gained deep expertise in software development and internet technologies—laying the groundwork for his future endeavors.

📌 1998 — Birth of Maktoob

Together with Hussam Khoury and Fadi Ghandour (CEO of Aramex), Toukan co-founded Maktoob, an Arabic-language email platform. Initially experimental, it soon adopted the inspiring slogan: “Be Proud, You are Arab”—becoming a cultural and digital statement.

📌 2000 — Scale and Strategy

Maktoob rapidly expanded its subscriber base to over 100,000 global users, transitioning from a small project to a thriving tech company. A partnership with EFG-Hermes (Egypt) accelerated its regional growth.

📌 2004 — Bold Innovation

Toukan spearheaded campaigns like “Record: I am Arab” (Sajjel Ana Arabi), and introduced a revolutionary 1GB mailbox, one of the world’s largest at the time—cementing Maktoob’s lead in the regional digital space.

📌 2009 — Historic Acquisition

Under Toukan’s leadership, Yahoo! acquired Maktoob, marking a landmark moment for MENA’s tech industry and placing the Arab digital market on the global map.

📌 Post-Acquisition — Building Jabbar

After the acquisition, Toukan became Chairman of Jabbar Internet Group, launching and supporting numerous startups—including Souq.com, which became the region’s largest e-commerce platform and was later acquired by Amazon.

🏛️ Public Service

From 2003 to 2005, Toukan was appointed as a board member of Jordan’s Social Security Investment Fund, reflecting trust in his economic and strategic insights.

🎖️ Royal Recognition

On September 9, 2009, he was awarded the Al Hussein Medal of Distinguished Performance (First Degree) by King Abdullah II of Jordan, honoring his contribution to tech innovation in Jordan and the Arab world.

Toukan deliberately chose the Arabic word “Maktoob,” meaning “written” or “letter,” symbolizing encouragement—not just towards digital communication—but also towards reinforcing Arabic cultural pride and supporting content creation in the language.