Mirwais Azizi
Mirwais Azizi | |
|---|---|
دکتر میرویس عزیزی | |
| File:Mirwais azizi.jpg Mirwais Azizi in 2013. | |
| Born | Mirwais Azizi 1962 (age 61–62) |
| Nationality | Afghanistan |
| Citizenship | Afghanistan |
| Alma mater | Kabul University |
| Occupation | Founder-chairman of Azizi Group |
| Organization(s) | Azizi Group Azizi Developments Azizi Investments Azizi Bank Islamic Bank of Afghanistan Azizi Foundation |
| Spouse | Parigul Azizi |
| Children | 7, including Farhad Azizi and Fawad Azizi |
Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai based Afghan businessman.[1][2][3] He is the founder and chairman of Azizi Group of companies which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment and hospitality.[4] He is the chairman of Azizi Bank, the largest commercial bank in Afghanistan,[5][6] which he established in 2006 with $7.5 million in equity capital and has since reached to $80 million.[7]
He featured in the list of "Arabian Business 100 Inspiring leaders in the Middle East" in March 2018.[8][9]
He is regarded by many Afghans as Afghanistan's richest man, who handled as much as 70% of the petroleum products sold in Afghanistan, reportedly by Asia Sentinel.[10] In 2010, WikiLeaks claimed, he is "possibly the richest man in Afghanistan".[11]
Biography
Early life & education
He was born in a Pashtun family of Laghman, Afghanistan. He graduated in law from the University of Kabul.[12] He left Afghanistan in 1988.[13][14]
Career
In 2007, Mirwais Azizi established Azizi Developments. In 2006, he founded Azizi Bank, now the largest commercial financial institution in Afghanistan.[5] He also acquired Bakhtar Bank (now Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)[15] which is one of the fastest growing banks in Afghanistan.[9]
Azizi Developments started selling off-plan properties in Dubai until the global financial crisis struck. 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. Presently, the company has more than 200 projects under various stages of development with a current portfolio Dubai valued over AED 45 billion.[17] His petroleum business Azizi Hotak Group, which was 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.[9][12]
Companies
List of companies/organizations owned by Mirwais Azizi;
- Azizi Hotak General Trading Group
- Azizi Investments
- Azizi Developments
- Azizi Bank
- Bakhtar Bank (now as Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)
- Azizi Hospitality
- Azizi Foundation
Personal life
He is married to Parigul, with whom he has 7 children, including Farhad Azizi, Fawad Azizi and Jawad Azizi.[12]
See also
Further reading
- 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
- ^ Higgins, Andrew (February 22, 2010). "In Afghanistan, signs of crony capitalism". The Washington Post.
- ^ Rousseau, Oscar (March 10, 2018). "Face to face: Mirwais Azizi, Azizi Developments". ConstructionWeekOnline.
- ^ Wigglesworth, Robin (September 8, 2010). "Afghan elite enjoys high life in Dubai". Financial Times.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Gregson, Jonathan (May 1, 2018). "World's Best Bank Awards 2018: Asia-Pacific". Global Finance.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "AFGHANISTAN BANKING SECTOR VULNERABILITIES: EXPOSURE TO DUBAI'S COLLAPSING PROPERTY MARKET AND THE ROLE OF LOTTERY ACCOUNTS". WikiLeaks. February 13, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Rebuilding Afghanistan". Pressreader. May 4, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "UAE's Azizi records $350m home sales at Cityscape". Arabian Business. September 17, 2017.
External links
- Face to face: Mirwais Azizi, Azizi Developments on Arabian Industry
 | This Asian business-related biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |