Egyptian entrepreneur Omar Khairy has announced plans for RIGA Holding to launch new operations in Botswana and South Africa by February 2026, as the engineering and construction firm deepens its push across sub-Saharan Africa.
The expansion follows a series of new contracts secured in early 2026 across sectors such as cement, mining, oil and gas. RIGA confirmed that it has recently won projects in Sao Tome, Senegal, Mozambique, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates, strengthening its footprint in Africa’s industrial and infrastructure space.
RIGA Holding is led by Egyptian businessman Khayri Abo Elyazzed, with Khairy serving as group chief operating officer. Speaking on the company’s growth plans, Khairy said Botswana and South Africa are key markets for RIGA’s southern Africa strategy, noting that the firm already works closely with major players in extractive and energy industries in the region. He said operating full subsidiaries in both countries will help the company attract new clients and execute projects more efficiently.
The announcement builds on what the company described as a strong performance in 2025, marked by acquisitions and project expansions, particularly in East Africa. At 29, Khairy has been central to RIGA’s operational growth since joining the company in 2017, focusing on execution, efficiency and cross-border expansion.
RIGA Holding now operates in 31 countries across the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The company has offices in Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Botswana and South Africa, and maintains a portfolio spanning mining, oil and gas, and cement. The firm says it is fully backed by African capital.
With Abo Elyazzed guiding strategy and Khairy overseeing operations, RIGA Holding continues to position itself as a homegrown African engineering and construction group, aiming to deliver large-scale industrial projects while expanding its reach across the continent.
