Islam Abaza is the General Counsel at Danone Middle East, bringing over 18 years of legal experience across the MENA region. He specializes in corporate, commercial, and finance law, with a focus on both conventional and Islamic finance. His expertise spans a broad range of legal areas, including legal due diligence, securities, corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and takeovers. Islam has extensive experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and pharmaceutical industries.

A bilingual Egyptian qualified attorney, Islam holds tertiary qualifications in law and has built a distinguished career in the Gulf and Egypt. Before joining Danone, he served as Vice President at United Arab Bank, Acting General Counsel at RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA), and spent over 12 years in private practice with international law firms. His work included capital markets, investment funds, corporate and debt restructuring, securitization, project finance, PPPs, and power projects, among other areas.

In his current role, he also leads corporate compliance for Danone Middle East and North Africa, ensuring adherence to the global compliance program and supporting sustainable growth. His diverse legal background, combined with his leadership in corporate governance and commercial transactions, positions him as a key player in driving Danone’s legal strategy in the region.