Mohamad Saker on how Synergi stands out in the region’s BPO landscape
Operating with three offices in the Middle East, Synergi has carved out a space as a boutique shared services and business process outsourcing (BPO) in the region. The company is reimagining how organizations streamline non-core functions while keeping focus on growth. We sat down with Founder and CEO Mohamad Saker to discuss Synergi’s journey, services, and vision for the future.
Synergi is still a young company but has already gained traction in the UAE and beyond. Can you share the story behind its inception?
When we founded Synergi in Abu Dhabi, our aim was simple but ambitious: to give companies a partner that could take away the burden of their non-core functions while helping them scale smarter.
The GCC has always been fertile ground for businesses, but many struggled with efficiency, compliance, and digital transformation. We saw an opportunity to build something different: a boutique firm that combines the intimacy of a trusted partner with the scalability of technology.
What makes Synergi stand out in such a competitive outsourcing and consulting space?
There are plenty of traditional outsourcers and, on the other end, the large global consulting firms who also have managed services businesses. We sit right in the middle. We’re boutique, so we stay close to our clients, but we’re also tech-driven, embedding AI and automation into everything we do. That allows us to deliver speed, quality, and cost efficiency in a way that traditional providers can’t.
We also designed our services around the build-operate-transfer model. This means we don’t just run a function, we set the foundation, operate it, and then transfer the capability to the client when they’re ready. It creates long-term value, not dependency.
The BPO industry has long been associated with low cost and low quality; we are on a mission to provide a premium quality service at a reasonable and flexible pricing mechanism.
Let’s talk about the services. What areas does Synergi focus on?
We offer end-to-end solutions across Human Resources, Finance, IT, Procurement, and Marketing. Clients come to us at different stages of their maturity, startups looking for quick operational setups, mid-sized companies scaling into new markets, or established enterprises restructuring for efficiency.
Some examples include payroll outsourcing for government-related entities, shared services design for family groups, accounting for a renowned crypto trader or marketing operations for companies expanding into the GCC. What unites them all is the need for a partner who can deliver quickly, compliantly, and with a roadmap for growth.
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Marketing is one of Synergi’s newer focus areas. Why was that added to the mix?
We found that many companies in the region either relied heavily on agencies for marketing or tried to build everything in-house, both approaches have limitations. By offering marketing as a shared service, we help clients run performance-driven campaigns, manage social media, optimize SEO, and align everything with their business strategy.
The beauty is that marketing integrates naturally with our other services. For instance, when we’re supporting a client’s digital transformation, we also make sure their market-facing story is consistent, data-driven, and aligned with growth.
AI is a cornerstone of the firm’s vision. How exactly are is Synergi integrating AI into its services?
AI is not just a buzzword for us, it’s a core enabler. We’ve developed our proprietary ‘Shared Services Assessment Tool’, which uses AI and predictive analytics to benchmark organizations, determine their maturity, and design an optimization roadmap.
On a practical level, we leverage AI in areas like payroll accuracy, procurement spend analysis, marketing performance tracking, and HR recruitment. The combination of human expertise and AI gives our clients the best of both worlds: smarter decisions, faster execution, and lower costs.
You mentioned client work across multiple sectors. Could you share a few highlights?
We’ve supported semi-government entities in the UAE with HR and payroll operations, designed shared services for family offices and investment groups, and worked with fast-growing companies in hospitality, fintech, and manufacturing.
One project I’m particularly proud of was building a Center of Excellence for payroll operations for a major Mubadala vertical. It showed how a well-run shared service function doesn’t just cut costs, it improves compliance, efficiency, and employee satisfaction.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for Synergi over the next five years?
Our vision is clear: we want to be the region’s first true Shared Services-as-a-Service (SSaaS) company. That means embedding AI at the core, delivering value across borders, and building long-term partnerships.
We’re expanding beyond the UAE into KSA, other GCC markets and globally like US, Romania and India. Ultimately, we aim to build enough equity, credibility, and scale to attract a global investor who shares our ambition.
If you had one message for business leaders in the region considering shared services, what would it be?
Don’t think of shared services or BPO as a cost-cutting tool, it’s a growth enabler. By freeing up leadership time, embedding smart systems, and ensuring compliance, you give your business the space to innovate and scale. That’s the mindset we bring to every engagement at Synergi.
