Elie Khouri: Vivium Founder and Dubai Investor

Introduction

Elie Khouri is a Lebanese-French businessman, investor, media executive, and art collector based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He is best known as the founder of Vivium and the chairman of Omnicom Media MENA.

Khouri spent more than three decades working in advertising, communications, and media. He helped establish OMD in the Middle East and North Africa before moving into a senior leadership position at Omnicom Media Group.

He later founded Vivium, a private investment office with interests in real estate, hospitality, design, business ventures, and collectibles. He is also known to television audiences as an investor on Shark Tank Dubai.

As of August 2026, Elie Khouri remains active in business investment, media leadership, entrepreneurship, and contemporary art.

Elie Khouri Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Elie Khouri
Birth year	1964
Birthplace	Beirut, Lebanon
Nationality	Lebanese-French
Profession	Businessman, investor and media executive
Education	American University of Beirut
Current business	Vivium
Vivium role	Founder
Omnicom role	Chairman of Omnicom Media MENA
Television appearance	Shark Tank Dubai
Based in	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Known for	Media leadership, investment and art collecting

Who Is Elie Khouri?

Elie Khouri is a Dubai-based business leader with experience in advertising, media, investments, luxury property, design, hospitality, and art.

His public career can be divided into two main parts. The first part was his long career within the advertising and media industry. The second part began when he created Vivium and increased his focus on private investments.

Khouri is widely recognised in the Middle East because of his leadership at Omnicom Media MENA. He has also become known to a wider audience through his appearances as an investor on Shark Tank Dubai.

Early Life and Education

Elie Khouri was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1964. He grew up during a difficult period in Lebanon’s history, including the Lebanese Civil War.

Khouri has spoken publicly about living through challenging conditions during his youth. These experiences influenced his understanding of risk, independence, and business.

He studied at the American University of Beirut. He completed an MBA before entering the advertising industry in 1988.

His education in business and finance gave him a foundation for his later work in advertising, company leadership, and investment management.

Beginning of His Advertising Career

Elie Khouri began his advertising career with BBDO in Cyprus after completing his MBA.

His early work included managing advertising accounts and helping with the production of commercial campaigns. The position also allowed him to travel to important advertising markets such as London, New York, and Los Angeles.

He later moved to Dubai and joined Impact BBDO. This move became an important point in his career because Dubai was growing into a major regional centre for advertising, media, and international business.

Khouri also worked in Beirut before returning to Dubai to take on larger regional responsibilities.

Building OMD in the Middle East

In 2001, Elie Khouri left BBDO to help establish OMD in the Middle East and North Africa.

OMD is a global media agency that operates as part of Omnicom. Khouri played an important role in developing its regional business, client network, leadership structure, and services.

The company expanded its operations across several markets in the Middle East and North Africa. It worked with international and regional brands on media planning, advertising strategy, audience research, and marketing campaigns.

Khouri’s responsibilities continued to grow as Omnicom developed a larger regional media division.

Leadership at Omnicom Media MENA

Elie Khouri became one of the main leaders of Omnicom’s media operations in the Middle East and North Africa.

He previously served as the regional chief executive. In 2019, he was elevated to the position of chairman of Omnicom Media MENA.

As chairman, his work focuses on leadership, long-term planning, regional development, and cooperation between different Omnicom companies.

As of August 2026, Omnicom Media MENA continues to list Elie Khouri as its chairman.

His career with Omnicom has lasted for more than three decades. During this period, he worked across advertising, communications, media planning, company development, and executive leadership.

Founding Vivium

Elie Khouri founded Vivium in 2017.

Vivium is a Dubai-based single-family investment office. It manages a selected portfolio of businesses, investments, properties, brands, and collectible assets.

The company focuses on five main areas:

• Real estate
• Hospitality
• Design
• Business ventures
• Collectibles

Vivium describes its strategy as a long-term investment approach. It looks for businesses and assets that may create financial value while also supporting design, culture, creativity, and innovation.

The company’s name comes from the Latin expression “ad vivum,” which can be understood as “from life to life.”

Vivium’s Real Estate Investments

Real estate is one of Vivium’s main investment areas.

The company has developed partnerships and business interests connected with luxury property markets in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Vivium has worked with the Sotheby’s International Realty network in several markets. Its property interests focus mainly on high-quality residential homes, luxury developments, and selected real estate opportunities.

The company does not focus only on buying property. It also works with brands, developers, designers, and property specialists to build connected business opportunities.

Hospitality and Design Businesses

Vivium has expanded into luxury hospitality through Luura, a Mediterranean hotel and travel brand.

Luura has announced projects connected with Greece, including planned destinations in Paros and Athens. These projects are designed around travel, architecture, local culture, and Mediterranean living.

Vivium is also active in interior design and collectible furniture through Atelio.

Atelio works with international furniture and design brands. It helps create luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality interiors in markets such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

These businesses show that Khouri’s investment interests extend beyond traditional finance. They combine property, travel, design, art, and customer experience.

Elie Khouri on Shark Tank Dubai

Elie Khouri became one of the investors on Shark Tank Dubai when the programme launched in 2023.

The programme gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their companies or business ideas to experienced investors. The investors may offer money, business advice, or a partnership in exchange for a share of the company.

Khouri uses his experience in advertising, brand development, investment, and company leadership to study the businesses presented on the programme.

He often focuses on the founder’s knowledge, the strength of the product, the size of the market, the business model, and the company’s ability to grow.

His appearance on the show has introduced him to viewers who may not have known about his earlier career in the media industry.

Investment Approach

Elie Khouri’s public investment comments show that he prefers businesses with clear ideas, capable founders, and long-term growth opportunities.

He has spoken about the importance of understanding both the product and the person leading the company.

A good idea may not become a strong business without an experienced and committed team. For this reason, he studies the founder’s personality, knowledge, preparation, and ability to accept advice.

His investment interests include property, technology, hospitality, design, consumer companies, financial technology, and businesses connected with Vivium’s wider portfolio.

Readers interested in other UAE investors, entrepreneurs, and companies can explore more profiles on AE Businesses.

Art Collection and Cultural Work

Elie Khouri is also known internationally as a contemporary art collector.

He has built a large collection that includes work from artists in the Middle East and other parts of the world. His interests include painting, sculpture, digital art, performance, design objects, and new forms of creative media.

Khouri has said that he collects art because he wants to live with it and understand it. He does not view every artwork only as a financial investment.

His collection includes themes such as human figures, geometric forms, technology, language, and communication.

ARTnews has included Elie Khouri in its list of the world’s Top 200 Collectors. This recognition reflects his position within the international art community.

He has also supported major cultural institutions and museum committees connected with contemporary art.

Elie Khouri Art Foundation

Vivium announced the development of the Elie Khouri Art Foundation as part of Khouri’s growing cultural activities.

The foundation provides a more organised structure for his art collection, cultural partnerships, public programmes, and support for creative work.

Its development shows that his interest in art is not limited to privately owning valuable pieces. It also includes preserving, studying, presenting, and supporting art.

Leadership Style

Elie Khouri has described leadership through four main ideas:

1. Purpose
2. People
3. Product
4. Profit

Purpose explains why a company exists. People build and manage the business. The product gives customers something useful. Profit helps the company survive and grow.

Khouri has also emphasised the importance of hiring capable people. He believes leaders should build teams that can make decisions, solve problems, and bring new ideas into the company.

His career shows a strong focus on long-term planning, brand building, and connecting different industries.

Why Is Elie Khouri Famous?

Elie Khouri is famous for several connected reasons.

He helped build Omnicom’s media business across the Middle East and North Africa. He founded Vivium and developed an investment portfolio across real estate, hospitality, design, ventures, and collectibles.

He became more familiar to the general public after joining Shark Tank Dubai. He is also respected in the international art world as a collector and cultural supporter.

His career connects advertising, investment, entrepreneurship, property, television, design, and contemporary art.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Elie Khouri?

Elie Khouri is a Lebanese-French businessman, investor, media executive, and art collector based in Dubai.

What is Elie Khouri known for?

He is known for founding Vivium, leading Omnicom Media MENA, appearing on Shark Tank Dubai, and collecting contemporary art.

What is Elie Khouri’s current position?

As of August 2026, he is the founder of Vivium and chairman of Omnicom Media MENA.

What is Vivium?

Vivium is a Dubai-based single-family investment office with interests in real estate, hospitality, design, ventures, and collectibles.

Is Elie Khouri an investor on Shark Tank Dubai?

Yes. He has appeared as one of the investors on Shark Tank Dubai.

Where was Elie Khouri born?

He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1964.

Where did Elie Khouri study?

He studied at the American University of Beirut and completed an MBA.

Is Elie Khouri an art collector?

Yes. He owns a major contemporary art collection and has been included in the ARTnews Top 200 Collectors list.

Conclusion

Elie Khouri has built a career across several major industries.

He began in advertising and helped develop one of the Middle East’s important media agency groups. He later created Vivium to manage investments across property, hospitality, design, business ventures, and collectibles.

His role on Shark Tank Dubai has allowed him to support and advise entrepreneurs. His work in contemporary art has also made him an important figure in international collecting and cultural patronage.

As of August 2026, he continues to work as the founder of Vivium and chairman of Omnicom Media MENA.