Elmenus appoints Walid El-Saadany as CEO to drive AI integration, market expansion 

EGYPT – Elmenus, Egypt’s leading food discovery and delivery platform, has announced the appointment of Walid El-Saadany as its new Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.  

El-Saadany succeeds Amir Allam, the company’s founder, who will continue serving on the Board. 

Bringing nearly 20 years of experience in technology, logistics, and venture-backed startups, El-Saadany is set to lead Elmenus through its next phase of strategic development.  

He previously held leadership roles at Otlob, where he oversaw two major acquisitions: first by Foodpanda and later by Delivery Hero, which eventually rebranded the platform as Talabat. His experience is expected to support Elmenus in strengthening its operations and expanding its market presence. 

Under his leadership, Elmenus aims to scale operations and deepen integration of artificial intelligence.

The company is planning to launch a suite of AI-driven tools focused on enhancing restaurant discovery, optimizing delivery logistics, and providing users with more personalized food recommendations.  

These technologies are expected to improve the efficiency of the platform while supporting restaurant partners with pricing strategies, customer engagement, and operational insights. 

Another core focus of Elmenus’ future strategy includes investment in human capital. The company intends to implement training programs aimed at upskilling delivery riders and software developers.  

Additionally, Elmenus will extend support to small restaurant operators and women-led kitchen ventures, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive growth and local empowerment. 

“Elmenus is at an inflection point,” said El-Saadany. “We’re entering a new chapter, one rooted in local relevance and powered by world-class execution.” 

Founded in 2011, Elmenus has emerged as a major player in Egypt’s food-tech landscape. Over the past year, more than 8.5 million unique users engaged with the platform across four key cities.  

The company currently partners with over 12,000 restaurants, more than 1,000 of which offer online ordering. 

Elmenus has raised US$30 million in funding to date, backed by notable investors such as Careem, Global Ventures, Algebra Ventures, and former Just Eat CEO David Buttress. 

This leadership transition comes amid rapid growth in Egypt’s food delivery and digital payments sectors, fueled by increasing smartphone penetration and demand for localized digital services.  

El-Saadany’s appointment signals a focused push towards innovation, scale, and long-term market stability. 

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