Mahdi Shafiei

Mahdi Shafiei is an Iranian-Emirati entrepreneur, content creator, and business mentor based in Dubai. He is best known as the founder and CEO of Trifid Media, a leading social media and digital marketing agency in the GCC region. He is also the founder of Tri Space, a real estate venture, and Trifid Network, a digital product incubator.

Early life and education

Mahdi Shafiei was born in Dubai in the early 1990s. From a young age, he showed an entrepreneurial spirit, launching small ventures during his school years. He graduated from The Sheffield Private School in Dubai and later earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Advertising) from Canadian University Dubai in 2016.

Career

Trifid Media

Shafiei founded Trifid Media in March 2018. The company quickly gained recognition as a pioneer in social media strategy and video content marketing, especially with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Under his leadership, the agency delivered over 10 billion views and more than USD 100 million in media sales. Trifid Media operates across six GCC countries with nearly 200 full-time employees, many of whom are Gen Z professionals.

Tri Space and Trifid Network

In 2023, Shafiei launched Tri Space, a real estate initiative that achieved USD 25 million in property sales within its first year. He later introduced Trifid Network in 2024 with a goal of launching 100 digital products by 2026.

Content creation and mentorship

Mahdi Shafiei is active on platforms like LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, where he shares motivational and educational content related to entrepreneurship, business growth, and personal development. His philosophy promotes execution over over-planning, embracing failure, and empowering young professionals through mentorship and opportunity-sharing.

Media and recognition

He has been featured in several media outlets, including Gulf News, which profiled the rise of Trifid Media and described Shafiei as one of the most impactful entrepreneurs in the Middle East. His business strategies and youth-driven leadership model have been praised for disrupting traditional marketing norms in the GCC.

Personal philosophy

Shafiei emphasizes work-life harmony and believes in treating business as a passion rather than a chore. He promotes ownership culture within his companies by offering equity to young team members and encourages bold, resilient leadership.

Mahdi Shafiei

Contents