Omar Christidis was a first mover and early evangelist in the Middle East digital sector, and has a decade-long track record in driving the conversation around tech and innovation in the region.
Over 12 years, his company, Arabnet, has organized over 30 tech conferences, featuring more than 2,000 global experts, and has issued over a dozen original research reports. Omar is an Advisory Board member of the Strategic Foresights Program at the Middle East Institute (Washington DC), a Faculty Member and Moderator at the Aspen Institute, UK, a Board Member of the Lebanese Exhibitions & Conferences Association (LECA), and a Founding Board Member of the Yale Arab Alumni Association.
Omar possesses expert knowledge in digital disruption, emerging business models, and corporate innovation strategies. His cross-sectoral expertise and industry insight enables him to play an effective role in spotting future trends, identifying gaps in the market, and future-proofing businesses.
Omar has participated in conferences and forums around the globe, including, but not limited to, Smart Cities in New York, Misk Global Forum (KSA), Future Investment Initiative (KSA), Global Entrepreneurship Summit. As a moderator, he regularly interviews global leaders such as Sir Martin Sorrel and Gary Vaynerchuk.
Furthermore, he’s been featured in world renowned publications and cable news channels including Forbes, CNN, CNBC Arabia, and Sky News Arabia to name a few.
Omar is also uniquely positioned as an ideal gateway for global players into the regional market. Through Arabnet, he has supported over 650 startups; he is also Partner and Board Member at Flat6Labs Beirut, a $20 million accelerator and early stage fund with 33 investments in Lebanese startups.