Imbono Expands Dubai Hub, Targets 100M Lives with Emerging Markets Platform

Mohammed Fathy

Last updated 31-03-2026

4 min

Imbono launched a global investor-operator platform uniting Gemcorp ICS and Gemcorp Angola.

It will finance, execute and operate strategic projects across emerging markets.

Dubai expansion signals “long-term commitment”, with a larger DIFC office and 40 hires.

Backed by Gemcorp, it blends global capital with hands-on delivery.

The bold aim is reaching 100 million people by 2040.

Imbono has stepped into the spotlight with the formal launch of its global investor-operator platform, bringing together Gemcorp ICS and Gemcorp Angola under one integrated structure. The idea is simple on paper but ambitious in practice: finance, execute and operate strategic projects across emerging markets, all under one roof.

At the same time, the company is doubling down on Dubai. It is expanding its office at DIFC Square from 4,435 square feet to 11,538 square feet and plans to hire more than 40 people in 2026. That is not a small move. It signals a clear intention to use the UAE as its operational anchor for activities stretching across the Middle East, Africa and beyond.

Imbono is headquartered in the UAE, with regional hubs across emerging markets. Its focus is on building, operating and maintaining national strategic assets, while sourcing essential goods and services that underpin economic development. The target is bold: to reach more than 100 million people by 2040 through projects tied to food, energy and water security, as well as social infrastructure.

Marcus Weyll, CEO of Imbono, said Dubai continues to show “resilience and vision”, even amid regional headwinds. He pointed to policy clarity, connectivity and a forward-looking agenda as reasons the company is confident about scaling from the emirate. According to him, the expanded DIFC footprint and hiring plans reflect long-term commitment and an execution-focused mindset.

That long-term thinking is central to Imbono’s pitch. Its model is built around multi-decade horizons, which mirrors the UAE’s own planning ethos. And believe it or not, geography still matters. Dubai’s position as a crossroads linking Africa, Latin America, Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe gives platforms like this a practical edge when mobilising capital, talent and technology.

Through its partnership with Gemcorp Capital, Imbono combines global capital with operational delivery on the ground. In other words, it does not just want to finance projects and walk away. It aims to see them through and manage them sustainably. Over the past decade, the broader group has invested $8.7 billion across 25 countries, working on complex projects in critical sectors.

From my years watching startups and growth-stage ventures across MENA, I’ve seen how big visions can sometimes be a bit of a faff when execution falls short. Access to capital is one thing; delivering infrastructure in emerging markets is quite another. That said, platforms that blend financing with hands-on operations often stand a better chance of being spot on when it comes to impact. I reckon the real test for Imbono will be whether it can keep projects on track over the long haul, well… that’s where many stumble.

For Dubai, the expansion is another tick in the box as it continues to attract firms that bridge emerging markets. At Arageek, we often speak with founders who see the UAE not just as a market, but as a launchpad. Imbono’s move reinforces that narrative, especially as it ramps up hiring and deepens its roots at DIFC Square.

Launched in February 2026, Imbono is positioning itself as more than a financial player. Backed by Gemcorp, a privately owned investment group specialising in emerging markets private credit and structured solutions, it wants to combine disciplined underwriting with on-the-ground execution. Gemcorp itself has built its reputation on making complex markets investable, with strategies spanning trade finance, liquid markets and special situations.

Whether Imbono can deliver on its ambition to transform more than 100 million lives by 2040 remains to be seen. It is an eye-catching goal, definately. But in a region where long-term infrastructure and essential services are tightly linked to economic resilience, the timing may be just right.

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