Early Life and Education
Hussain Sajwani was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 1952 or 1953. His parents were entrepreneurs; his father owned a shop in the local souk. Sajwani received a government scholarship to attend medical college in Baghdad but later moved to the United States. He studied industrial engineering at the University of Washington.
Rise to Success
Sajwani's career began in 1981 in the finance department of Abu Dhabi Gas Industries. In 1983, he launched a catering venture, Global Logistics Services, which catered to the U.S. military and Bechtel. In 2002, he founded DAMAC Properties, which has delivered approximately 27,400 homes. DAMAC Properties was ranked #1 on Forbes 2017 Global 2000 list for fastest-growing global companies.
Key Business Strategies
Sajwani is known for his marketing, sometimes offering incentives like free Lamborghinis to apartment buyers. He has co-branding deals with brands such as Versace and Bugatti. He also partnered with Donald Trump to develop Trump-branded golf courses in Dubai.
Philanthropy
Sajwani is involved in philanthropy through the Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation. The foundation supports education, youth empowerment, and skills development. The foundation has contributed to the 1 Billion Meals initiative.