Mirwais Azizi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1962 (age 63–64) |
| Alma mater | Kabul University |
| Occupations | Founder-chairman of Azizi Groups of UAE-Afghan & Azizi Bank |
| Years active | Since 2000 - |
| Known for | Founder of Azizi Bank |
Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman. He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality. [1] He is also the chairman of Azizi Bank, [2] [3] which he established in 2006 in Kabul, Afghanistan, with $7.5 million in equity capital and has since reached up to $80 million. [4]
Azizi is currently building Burj Azizi, [5] the second-tallest tower in Dubai. [6] He was featured in the list of "Arabian Business 100 Inspiring leaders in the Middle East" in March 2018. [7] [8]
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 . [9]
Azizi was born in Laghman Province, Afghanistan. He graduated in Law from the University of Kabul. [10] He left Afghanistan in 1988. [11] [12]
In 2007, Azizi established Azizi Developments. [13] A year prior, he founded Azizi Bank, which became one of the largest commercial financial institutions in Afghanistan. [2] He also acquired Bakhtar Bank (now Islamic Bank of Afghanistan) [14] which is one of the fastest growing banks in Afghanistan. [8]
Azizi Developments started selling off-plan properties in Dubai until the 2008 financial crisis. The majority of buyers could not continue payments and Azizi instructed that their deposits be handed back. [15]
In 2013, Azizi Developments resumed the construction of projects. [16] Presently, the company has more than 200 projects under various stages of development with a current portfolio in Dubai valued over AED 45 billion. [17] The Azizi Hotak Group, which he started with an initial investment of $80 million, operates in 10 countries. [11]
He has served on the board of trustees for American University of Afghanistan, the first non-profit higher education institution in Afghanistan. [8] [10]
Azizi owned a number of companies such as Azizi Investments, [18] Azizi Developments, [16] Azizi Bank, [13] Bakhtar Bank (now as Islamic Bank of Afghanistan).
He is married to Parigul, with whom he has 7 children, including Farhad Azizi, Fawad Azizi, and Jawad Azizi. [10]
