Wahba began his career as an economist for the World Bank, where he worked on the social dimensions of structural adjustment.

[8][9] In 2012, Wahba formed I Squared Capital, a U.S.-based private equity group that invests in infrastructure projects in the U.S. and in developing economies, particularly China and India.

[11] The firm’s assets are focused in the energy, utilities, transport, digital infrastructure and social sectors in the U.S., Europe and in select high-growth economies including China, India and Latin America.

[12] Wahba is known as an advocate for increased investment in infrastructure both to address public needs and as a tool to create sustainable economic growth.

He argues that infrastructure investment is capable of stimulating economic growth while also providing tangible benefits to the public and the environment.

[22][23][12] His research at Harvard included labor migration and worker remittances as a source of foreign capital to emerging markets.

[36] In 2023, the Wilson Center announced the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, an initiative intended to support policy reforms that strengthen American leadership.