Egyptian investment bank Zilla Capital has announced plans to enter the Moroccan market by the second half of 2026, as part of a broader regional expansion strategy. According to Moustafa El Shenety, Managing Partner and Head of Investment Banking at the firm, Morocco is seen as a key strategic market where the group aims to build a long-term presence.
Zilla Capital intends to begin its Moroccan operations with financial advisory services, laying the groundwork for a broader platform to support local businesses. The initial focus will be on helping Moroccan companies with capital market transactions, corporate restructuring, and growth strategies. The approach is designed to gradually establish a solid local footprint through value-added advisory work.
The timing of this move aligns with renewed momentum in Morocco’s financial markets. A wave of upcoming IPOs and the investment opportunities tied to major infrastructure projects—particularly those connected to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco is co-hosting—have helped draw renewed attention from regional and international investors. El Shenety noted that investor interest in Morocco is growing, fueled by large-scale, long-term projects that are reshaping the country’s economic landscape.
At the same time, Zilla Capital is pursuing regulatory approvals to launch operations in Saudi Arabia, where licenses are expected by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Saudi Arabia is considered a strategic priority for the firm, especially in the bond market, and forms another pillar of its controlled regional growth plan—one in which Morocco is expected to play a central role.
Founded in 2018, Zilla Capital has quickly become a major player in asset management and financial advisory across the Middle East and Africa. The firm specializes in IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and financial product structuring, with successful deals already completed in Egypt, the UAE, and Kenya.
