World Bank names Dahlia Khalifa to lead Middle East operations

The World Bank has announced the appointment of Dahlia Khalifa as Division Director for the Middle East Department, covering Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. She succeeds Jean-Christophe Carret, who served in the role for four years.

Based in Amman, Khalifa will lead the Bank's strategic engagement across five countries with vastly different development trajectories, from Lebanon's post-war reconstruction to Syria's emergence from over a decade of conflict, and Iraq's ongoing economic diversification efforts.

Her mandate covers private sector-led job creation, infrastructure, human capital, sustainable growth, governance and evidence-based policy reform, a broad and demanding agenda in one of the world's most volatile regions.

Khalifa joined the World Bank Group in 2004 and brings deep expertise in finance, investment and private sector development. Most recently, she served as IFC Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, based in Lagos, where she led investment and advisory operations across the region.