Who we are
The MENA specialists.
We are corporate Investigation & Strategic Intelligence Consultants with a combined experience of more than 20 years. Our team members have delivered thousands of due diligence, market research, and asset tracing assignments covering the entire Middle East & North Africa region, including Turkey, Iran and beyond.
Through our research, analysis, and investigative consulting expertise, our fact-finders team help clients navigate and mitigate complex risks. We are specialist in conducting Investigative research and enquiries to support reputational due diligence, market entry, and fraud investigations. We are experts in analysing complex ownership structures, reputational risk and political exposure (PEPs).
Why Us?
Cost Effective Solutions
We do realise that in today's economy, budget constraints are increasingly becoming a challenge for our clients, that's why as a small, specialised, localised boutique consulting firm, we are able to provide a very competitive pricing on our services and products.
Responsiveness
Central to our confidence in meeting the objectives and quality expectations of our clients is the level of access we offer to our analyst team. This enables our team to comprehensively understand the challenges our clients face and develop appropriate solutions.
Meet the team
Zakariya Alarbi
Omar Mahmud
Zakariya, the Founder and Managing Director of Fort Corps, leads a premier Corporate Investigation & Strategic Intelligence Consultancy. With a deep focus on navigating risks in complex and opaque markets, he is a specialist in investigative research, reputational due diligence, and market entry strategies across the MENA region.
Zakariya has cultivated trusted relationships within government and public-sector spheres, advising clients on regulatory outreach, stakeholder strategy, and government engagement. He has played a pivotal role in shaping lobbying strategies and public affairs initiatives, particularly in Libya, where his on-the-ground experience and network of relationships set him apart as a regional expert.
His core competencies include analysis of complex ownership structures, political risk, and threats to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in emerging markets. Zakariya is fluent in multiple Arabic dialects and brings operational insight across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Türkiye, Iran, and Pakistan.
He is highly proficient in OSINT, HUMINT, FININT, and SOCMINT methodologies, and frequently advises clients on FCPA investigations, competitive intelligence, M&A due diligence, and pre-transaction risk assessments.
Prior to founding Fort Corps, Zakariya served as a Managing Consultant at a UK-based corporate intelligence firm, where he advised multinational clients on cross-border investigations and high-risk operations. His academic background includes degrees in Engineering, International Relations, and Security Studies, as well as an MBA, supplemented by hands-on experience in insurance, private equity, and public affairs advisory.
Zakariya’s combination of linguistic, cultural, and strategic intelligence expertise makes him a trusted advisor to organizations navigating sensitive regulatory environments and high-stakes stakeholder landscapes across the MENA region.
Omar Mahmud, Managing Partner at Fort Corps, brings a wealth of expertise honed over a decade leading corporate intelligence projects across the MENA region. Originally from Iraq and fluent in Arabic, Omar has overseen myriad investigative due diligence and asset tracing cases. His academic journey includes a Master’s in Project Management and a Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering, providing him with a unique and well-rounded skill set. Omar’s proficiency lies in strategically navigating the intricate landscape of corporate investigations and strategic intelligence. His diverse background allows him to offer comprehensive solutions to organizations aiming to identify red flags and manage risks in the dynamic markets of MENA, Iran, and Turkey. As a Managing Partner for over a year at Fort Corps, Omar’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the consultancy’s success. Fort Corps, under Omar’s guidance, excels in providing bespoke solutions, leveraging his skills in complex ownership structure analysis, reputational risk assessment, and fraud investigations. His expertise extends to offering market entry strategies, compliance support, litigation, and political risk analysis. Omar’s academic and professional journey uniquely positions him to provide strategic insights, making Fort Corps a trusted partner for organizations seeking personalized and effective solutions in the corporate investigations and strategic intelligence sector.
