His journey began in 1988, when he left Afghanistan in search of a better life for himself and his family in the tragic backdrop of the Afghan-Soviet War.
Afghanistan is an economically struggling country with high unemployment and a dire business environment, but there is a remarkable success story in Mirwaiz Azizi. The Afghan-born businessman, who once fled the war-torn country, is now one of the UAE’s richest individuals and a prominent figure in the global business world. Mirwaiz Azizi, also known as the “Ambani of Afghanistan”, currently resides in Dubai. According to Afghan sources, he is the richest individual in Afghanistan and is credited as the founder of the Azizi Group.
Azizi’s journey began in 1988, when he left Afghanistan in search of a better life for himself and his family against the tragic backdrop of the Afghan-Soviet War. By 1989, he founded Azizi Group as a refugee in Dubai. At the time, Afghanistan was embroiled in conflict and the country’s future seemed uncertain. However, Mirwaiz was determined to secure a prosperous life for his family in a foreign land.
Mirwaiz Azizi’s journey
According to reports, Mirwais Azizi first settled in Uzbekistan, where he started a textile manufacturing business. Driven by ambition, he entered the tobacco industry, starting in Bulgaria and later expanding into the countries of the Russian Federation. After relocating to the UAE, he shifted his focus to the oil and gas sector.
Mirwais founded Azizi Bank, which quickly became Afghanistan’s largest and most robust commercial financial institution. To further consolidate his presence, Azizi Group acquired Al-Bakhtar Bank, one of the fastest growing financial institutions in Afghanistan.
In 2007, Mirwais founded Azizi Developments. The company started selling off-plan properties in Dubai in 2008, but faced setbacks due to the global financial crisis. However, by 2013, Azizi Developments resumed construction on the project and achieved great success. Currently, with a portfolio worth $12 billion and over 200 ongoing projects, the company is one of the most influential private real estate developers in the UAE.
Despite the success, Mirwais remains committed to supporting Afghanistan. Through his philanthropy, he created 5,000 new jobs, helped rebuild infrastructure, and supported the development of 10,000 homes and commercial spaces.
Leading real estate development company in Dubai
Over the years, Azizi Group has expanded its reach into various sectors such as finance, investment, real estate and hospitality. The group currently includes several companies such as Azizi Investment, Azizi Development, Azizi Bank, Azizi Hospitality and Azizi Foundation. Among them, Azizi Development has become one of Dubai’s leading real estate development companies, managing projects worth over Rs 20 million. 100,000 million.
According to Devex, Azizi Group has a turnover of Rs 200 billion. $340 billion, significant growth from humble beginnings. Mirwaiz initially started the business with just USD 700 (approximately Rs 58,000) and showcased his incredible journey from refugee to millionaire.
