Rizwan Sajan - Biography
Renowned Indian entrepreneur Rizwan Sajan founded the Danube Group, one of the biggest corporate conglomerates in the United Arab Emirates. He was born on December 27, 1963, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and his inspirational tale of overcoming poverty to become a successful businessman is very inspiring.
In difficult and trying times, the Lady Luck is with those who persevere and who work harder, stronger, and more intelligently. This is the tale of another “slumdog millionaire” who serves as an inspiration and role model for many.
The tale of Rizwan Sajan, who made his way from the streets of Mumbai to the opulent realm of Dubai, is told here. Despite many failures and losses, his confidence, tenacity, and unwavering desire to succeed are what have allowed him to reach his current level of success. A person’s struggles force him to push himself to the limit, which results in enormous achievement.
Let’s examine the tale of Rizwan Sajan, who achieved such remarkable achievement as a result of his diligent efforts.
Name | Rizwan Sajan |
Birthplace | Mumbai, India |
Age | 61 year old (2024) |
Nationality | Non-Resident Indian |
Date Of Birth | December 27, 1963 |
Education | University of Mumbai |
Position | Founder and Chairman, Danube Group |
Net worth | $2.5 billion |
Table of Contents
Rizwan Sajan – Early Life & Education
The tale of Rizwan Sajan is one of perseverance from an early age. Despite his difficult upbringing in the Ghatkopar neighbourhood of Mumbai, he refused to allow these setbacks dictate his future.
Life was still difficult, even though his father’s lottery victory gave the family a new lease on life and enabled them to relocate to a nicer neighbourhood.
Rizwan wanted to help because he recognised the support his family needed. His spirit of entrepreneurship was born. Beginning with modest business endeavours, he made use of the abilities of his classmates and the neighbourhood by offering a wide range of goods for sale, from books to milk, firecrackers, and rakhis.
He probably learnt important lessons about business, tenacity, and the value of taking advantage of opportunities from this early experience. Until he had to confront the hard realities of life one day, everything appeared to be progressing. When he was sixteen, his father died. Rizwan was therefore forced to shoulder the responsibility of providing for his family’s financial requirements. He left school to launch a modest box file manufacturing company.
However, the financial strain was still too much to bear. In order to deal with this financial situation, he made the decision to take some significant career actions.
He asked his uncle for assistance in 1981 and was hired as a trainee salesman by him in Kuwait. He advanced in his career swiftly as a result of his diligence. Up until the subsequent turning point, everything appeared to be progressing once more. He was compelled to flee to India in 1990 due to the invasion of Kuwait. He was back in Mumbai again. His unwavering tenacity, however, was the key to his success. He made the decision to start over in the employment market. He eventually found employment in Dubai at a broking company that deals in building goods.
Rizwan Sajan Family
In Mumbai, Rizwan Sajan was raised in a middle-class household. At the Nathani High Steel mill, his father was a supervisor. Rizwan has an interest in business even as a young boy. When he was twelve years old, he borrowed money from his father to purchase stationery and books from wholesalers. He made a little money by selling these things to his classmates. His first foray into the business world was this little endeavour.
But when Rizwan lost his father when he was sixteen, things took a tough turn. He was compelled by this tragedy to drop out of school and work odd jobs to help provide for his family. Gulbanu Sajan, Rizwan Sajan’s mother, was very important to his upbringing, especially after his father died. Additionally, he has a younger sister named Shabnam Kassam and a brother named Anis Sajan.
Rizwan Sajan Wife
Rizwan is married to Sameera and the couple has one son named Adel Sajan.
Rizwan Sajan Wife and Children
The personal and professional lives of Rizwan Sajan are intertwined. His spouse, Sameera Sajan, has been his staunchest advocate during his professional life. Adel Sajan, the couple’s son, is married to Dr. Sana Sajan and works in the family business.
Adel has played a key role in propelling the expansion of Danube Group, where he currently holds the position of Group Managing Director.
Rizwan Sajan Moving to Dubai
Rizwan Sajan began working as a trainee salesman in his uncle’s building supplies store in Kuwait after relocating there in 1981. He rose through the ranks swiftly thanks to his diligence and hard work, eventually becoming a manager.
However, he was forced to return to Mumbai after Kuwait when the Gulf War started in 1990. Sajan remained resolute in spite of this setback.
In search of greater prospects, Rizwan Sajan made the decision to relocate to Dubai in 1993. In order to make ends meet, he began working in a hardware shop. But he was resolved to go further.
Rizwan Sajan Achievements
Rizwan Sajan has won prominent accolades such as the Dubai Quality Award and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award.
Along with these honours, Rizwan was listed among the Top 100 Indian Business Leaders in the United Arab Emirates by Forbes Middle East. Being acknowledged among other successful businesspeople is a significant achievement and illustrates Rizwan’s influence in the industry.
Rizwan Sajan Net Worth
Due to his commercial success, Rizwan Sajan is among the richest Indian entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates. An estimated Rs 20,830 crore is his net worth. However, his riches is a reflection of his vision, leadership, and capacity to transform obstacles into opportunities, in addition to his hard work.
Rizwan Sajan – Danube Group
He ultimately made the decision to start his own company in 1993 and established the Danube Group after all the ups and downs and the experience he had gained. The logical place to launch the firm was Dubai. Everything went his way, and his company grew quickly in tandem with Dubai’s expansion. Additionally, he expanded into numerous other industries, such as Danube Home for Home Furnishing (2008), Milano (2006), a brand of sanitary solutions, and Alucopanel (2012), which deals with aluminium composite panels. He never passed up a chance and didn’t hesitate to take risks in order to succeed. He started working in the real estate industry in 2014, and it was a huge success for his professional career.
Thanks to partnerships with companies like Aston Martin, Fashion TV, and Tonino Lamborghini Casa, the company has become one of the biggest business empires in the world.
Rizwan Sajan – The 1% Man
Rizwan came to the realisation that numerous real estate behemoths already controlled the Dubai real estate industry. He needed to invent something new in order to succeed in such a cutthroat business. As he studied the industry, he discovered that because they were salaried workers, foreigners in the UAE had a habit of simply renting apartments rather than purchasing them. He made the decision to turn these tenants into homeowners in order to take advantage of their potential.
He did this by introducing the 1% plan, which required customers to make a tiny down payment and only 1% of the monthly cost, with the rest amount to be paid after the project was finished. Many people were able to afford to acquire a home because to this clever, creative idea. The foreigners’ perspective was changed by this idea, which gave them hope that they could own a home. Many stepped up to purchase homes, which is regarded as a crucial milestone in the company’s growth.
Because his collection of firms contributed to the economy of the United Arab Emirates, Rizwan was one of the first foreigners to be granted a 10-year resident visa in 2019.
Despite the difficulties he encountered, Riwan was always successful in all of his undertakings thanks to his creative thinking and astute actions.
Rizwan Sajan – Philanthropy
Rizwan’s difficult upbringing and hardships have led him to recognise the need of giving back to society, and as a result, he engages in significant charitable endeavours such as:
• In 2023, Rizwan gave the UAE government AED 5 million for the “1 Billion Meals Endowment Initiative.”
• To address the challenges encountered by blue-collar workers in the United Arab Emirates, the Danube company established the Danube Welfare Centre (DWC) in 2012. Through this program, the workers receive computer and English language training.
• Every year during the month of Ramadan, the company provides Iftaar to thousands of workers.
Rizwan Sajan – Awards and Recognitions
• He was rated 12th on Forbes Middle East’s list of the “Top 100 Indian leaders in the UAE.”
• The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award was also given to him.
• In 2022, he was recognised as The Economic Times Global Indian Leader.
FAQs about Rizwan Sajan:
1. What is Rizwan Sajan’s age?
Rizwan Sajan is 60 years old and was born on December 27, 1963.
2. Who is Rizwan Sajan’s wife?
Sameera Sajan is the spouse of Rizwan Sajan. She has been crucial in helping him with his life and career ventures.
3. What is the name of the company founded by Rizwan Sajan?
Danube Group is the name of the business that Rizwan Sajan created. With operations in industries like retail, real estate, and construction, it has expanded to become one of the UAE’s biggest diversified corporations.
4. What is Rizwan Sajan’s net worth?
An estimated $2.5 billion (Rs 20,830 crore) is Rizwan Sajan’s net worth. He is among the richest Indian businessmen in the United Arab Emirates as a result of his success with Danube Group.