Mirwais Azizi
Mirwais Azizi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mirwais Azizi 1962 (age 61–62) |
| Alma mater | Kabul University |
| Occupation | Founder-chairman of Azizi Groups of UAE-AFG & Azizi Bank |
| Years active | Since 2000 - |
| Known for | Founder of Azizi Bank |
| Children | 7, including Farhad Azizi and Fawad Azizi |
| Family | Azizi Family |
Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman.[1][2][3] He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.[4] He is also the chairman of Azizi Bank,[5][6] which he established in 2006 in Kabul, Afghanistan, with $7.5 million in equity capital and has since reached up to $80 million.[7]
Azizi is currently building the second tallest tower in Dubai.[8] He was featured in the list of "Arabian Business 100 Inspiring leaders in the Middle East" in March 2018.[9][10]
He is regarded by many Afghans as Afghanistan's richest man, who handled as much as 70% of the petroleum products sold in Afghanistan, reported by Asia Sentinel.[11]
Biography
[edit]Early life and education
[edit]Azizi was born in Laghman, Afghanistan. He graduated in Law from the University of Kabul.[12] He left Afghanistan in 1988.[13][14]
Career
[edit]In 2007, Mirwais Azizi established Azizi Developments.[3] A year prior, he founded Azizi Bank, which became one of the largest commercial financial institutions in Afghanistan.[5] He also acquired Bakhtar Bank (now Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)[15] which is one of the fastest growing banks in Afghanistan.[10]
Azizi Developments started selling off-plan properties in Dubai until the 2007–2008 financial crisis. The majority of buyers could not continue payments and Azizi instructed that their deposits be handed back.[16]
In 2013, Azizi Developments resumed the construction of projects.[17] Presently, the company has more than 200 projects under various stages of development with a current portfolio in Dubai valued over AED 45 billion.[18] The Azizi Hotak Group, which he started with an initial investment of $80 million, operates in 10 countries.[13]
He has served on the board of trustees for American University of Afghanistan, the first non-profit higher education institution in Afghanistan.[10][12]
Companies
[edit]List of companies/organizations owned by Mirwais Azizi:
- Azizi Investments[19]
- Azizi Developments[17]
- Azizi Bank[3]
- Bakhtar Bank (now as Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)
- Azizi Hospitality
- Azizi Foundation
Personal life
[edit]He is married to Parigul, with whom he has 7 children, including Farhad Azizi, Fawad Azizi, and Jawad Azizi.[12]
See also
[edit]
Further reading
[edit]- The Report: Dubai 2016. Oxford Business Group. 17 October 2016. p. 152. ISBN 9781910068687.
- Hamid Wahed Alikuzai (11 October 2013). A Concise History of Afghanistan in 25 Volumes, Volume 1. Trafford Publishing. p. 891. ISBN 9781490714479.
References
[edit]- ^ "Afghan businessman announces plan to invest $10 billion over next 5 years". Ariana News. January 13, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Afghan Businessman to Invest $10 Billion in Country". TOLOnews. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b c Rousseau, Oscar (March 10, 2018). "Face to face: Mirwais Azizi, Azizi Developments". ConstructionWeekOnline. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (October 26, 2017). "Build and they will come: Azizi CEO Farhad Azizi". Arabian Business.
- ^ a b Barnard, Lucy (March 30, 2015). "Azizi presses ahead with thousands of apartments in Dubai". The National (Abu Dhabi).
- ^ Schreck, Adam (September 7, 2010). "2nd Afghan bank with Dubai ties defends links". Deseret News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018.
- ^ Gregson, Jonathan (May 1, 2018). "World's Best Bank Awards 2018: Asia-Pacific". Global Finance.
- ^ "Mirwais Azizi building world's second-tallest tower in Dubai". Ariana News. September 6, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ^ "100 Inspiring Leaders in the Middle East". Arabian Business. 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ a b c "100 Inspiring Leaders In The Middle EastMirwais : Azizi". Arabian Business. March 2018.
- ^ "The Afghani Way of Banking". Asia Sentinel. January 2, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Rebuilding Afghanistan". May 4, 2008 – via PressReader.
- ^ a b Fenton, Suzanne (June 4, 2008). "Azizi Investments plans 55 Dubai projects". Gulf News.
- ^ "Azizi, Mirwais Dr". Afghan Biographies. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ Mohammadi, Zarmina (April 25, 2018). "First Islamic Bank In Afghanistan Opens For Business". TOLOnews.
- ^ Halligan, Neil (April 17, 2016). "Time to deliver for Azizi Developments". Arabian Business.
- ^ a b "Azizi Developments celebrates first handovers in Riviera". Arab News. 2022-08-27. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "UAE's Azizi records $350m home sales at Cityscape". Arabian Business. September 17, 2017.
- ^ Higgins, Andrew (February 22, 2010). "In Afghanistan, signs of crony capitalism". The Washington Post.
External links
[edit]- Wigglesworth, Robin (September 8, 2010). "Afghan elite enjoys high life in Dubai". Financial Times.
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