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Hussain Sajwani had no idea that his love of business and adventurous spirit would make him one of the UAE’s leading industrialists andInvestment in the United Arab Emirates.
His passion for business was evident from childhood, prompting his father to send him to the United States during his university studies to attend the University of Washington, where he earned a
Bachelor of Science in Economics and Industrial Engineering in 1981.
Sajwani grew up in a middle-class family with four siblings and took a challenging path, combining hands-on experience with education, to eventually become one of the leading billionaires in the UAE and the Arab world.
So how did he achieve this status?
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An Early Passion for Business
Hussain Sajwani grew up in his father’s shop, where he sold and repaired watches. He spent hours learning from his father’s experience in dealing with
Customers; until a personality began to take shape Entrepreneur within him. He graduated from the University of Washington 17 years later, having studied economics and industrial engineering, and went on to pursue
his career.
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بداية طموحة
After graduating from the University of Washington, Sajwani began his career as a contracts manager at JASCO, an oil company subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Shortly
afterward, in 1982, he founded his own catering company.
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نجاح مُبكر
From the outset, the company’s catering division saw significant growth, supplying more than 150,000 meals a day across several markets in the Middle East and Africa. The company then
doubled its capital as its business grew, prompting him to expand its activities.
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نمو المشروع
In addition to catering services for construction workers’ housing and army camps, educational institutions, some five-star hotels, and onshore and offshore sites, the division specializes
in support services such as camp and workers’ accommodation management, maintenance, and labor supply.
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Real estate investment
Driven by his love of adventure, Hussain Sajwani ventured into the UAE real estate market and founded DAMAC, which quickly established a prominent position
among the country’s real estate investment companies, becoming one of the largest construction and property development companies in the Middle East.
Sajwani drew on his extensive real estate development experience to manage the company, from marketing and sales to legal, financial,
and administrative affairs. This strengthened the company’s position and paved the way for its success. Today, it owns a number of Projects prestigious properties in major global cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha,
Amman, Beirut, Jeddah, Riyadh, and London.
DAMAC Properties employs around 2,000 people. It is a publicly listed joint-stock company, with shares traded on the Dubai Financial Market,
and has one of the strongest track records in the luxury property development market. To date, it has delivered more than 17,900 homes, with its residential portfolio totaling
around 44,000 units at various stages of planning and construction.
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A Portfolio of Leading Brands
As a leading market brand, DAMAC Properties collaborates with some of the world’s most distinguished fashion and lifestyle brands.
Its extensive portfolio includes a golf course designed by “Tiger Woods” and operated and managed by “The Trump Organization,” as well as luxury apartments featuring interiors
by renowned Italian fashion houses such as “Versace” and “Fendi,” exceptional lavish villas with “Bugatti” touches, and a collaboration with “Paramount
Hotels & Resorts, introducing a new concept in distinctive, fully serviced modern living.
In October 2011, DAMAC Properties launched its hospitality arm, “DAMAC Maison,” to provide residents with premium management services across more than
15,000 fully serviced hotel rooms and apartments, strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading hotel apartment management and development companies.
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نمو استثنائي
DAMAC Properties’ exceptional growth is attributed to Sajwani’s visionary outlook and his skill in establishing andProject Management.
Ranked among the world’s 100 most influential Arabs, Sajwani has a strong ability to turn ideas into reality and to take on
the leadership role needed to sustain and grow businesses.
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The Empire’s Expansion
As his profits grew, Sajwani launched Deyaar Investment, whose assets in the region reached AED 3 billion.
Its investments are divided into four main areas: strategic properties, ownership stakes in subsidiaries across developing sectors, and long-term investments
in fast-growing banks, and debt securities issued by regional companies and banks.
The Emirati billionaire also launched Al Amanah Building Materials, based in Oman. The company supplies high-quality building materials and represents several global brands,
including Villeroy & Boch, GROHE, Dornbracht, and others.
Seeking to gain a foothold in the real estate investment market, he founded Al Anwar Ceramic Tiles in 1998, the first company of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman, which is responsible for
It markets its glazed wall and floor tiles under the “Al Shams” brand.
What Sajwani studied in economics led him to establish Al Jazeera Services, which is listed on the Muscat Securities Market and has a share capital of
US$110 million.
The company was listed in 1997 and has a broad shareholder base that includes pension funds, brokerage firms, publicly listed companies,
major commercial institutions, and prominent individuals from Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
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Supporting Entrepreneurs:
Despite his many commitments, Sajwani is keen to make an active contribution to worthy causes and to support entrepreneurs, charities, and civil society organizations.
on a wide scale, with a particular focus on initiatives Entrepreneurship, and encouraging young people to innovate and chart a successful career path.
Sajwani, who lives in Dubai with his wife and four children, also makes a point of keeping up with the latest developments in architecture and design, and how they are connected
to the region’s history in particular.
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Lessons Learned:
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1- Experience is half the battle:
The more an entrepreneur equips a venture with the necessary expertise gained through study and experience, the greater its chances of success.
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2- A job isn’t everything:
Some entrepreneurs may settle for landing their dream job and abandon a venture they had planned to launch to avoid taking risks. But in the world of business and finance, it is essential
From taking risks to reaping the rewards, a job will never make you a billionaire.
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3. Early beginnings lead to success:
Early beginnings often pave the way to success. Much of what billionaire Hussain Sajwani has achieved today is credited to what he learned from his father at a young age, which instilled in him
an adventurous spirit and a willingness to take risks in pursuit of wealth.
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4- Supporting entrepreneurs:
If you’re fortunate enough to become wealthy, dear entrepreneur, don’t forget those who are just starting out. Lend them a helping hand—whether through advice, by championing their ideas,
or through direct support.




