Dahlia Khalifa

Dahlia Khalifa is the World Bank Division Director for the Middle East Department, covering Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In this role, she leads the Bank’s strategic engagement across these countries, covering a full spectrum of development priorities, including private sector-led job creation, foundational infrastructure, human capital, sustainable and inclusive growth, governance, and evidence-based policy dialogue and reform.

Dahlia joined the World Bank Group in 2004 bringing deep expertise in finance, investment, and private sector development. Before assuming her current role, she served as IFC’s Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa, based in Lagos, Nigeria, where she led investment and advisory operations. She has also held senior World Bank Group leadership roles spanning investment climate, macroeconomics, trade, competitiveness, and youth employment.

Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Dahlia founded and managed financial services companies providing brokerage, corporate finance, private equity investment, and management consulting services, primarily across the Middle East and Africa. She also lectured in undergraduate economics, with a focus on macroeconomics, microeconomics, comparative economics, and economic development.

Dahlia holds a Doctorate in Government and a Master of Arts in International Law from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, as well as a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University in Cairo.