Early Life
Zarakh Iliev was born on September 8, 1966, in the village of Krasnaya Sloboda, Azerbaijan. His family was involved in shoemaking. At 17, he moved to Moscow.
Rise to Success
In 1992, Iliev and God Nisanov co-founded the Kievskaya Ploshchad Group of Companies. The company initially focused on retail, but later expanded into real estate development. The partnership proved highly successful, with the company becoming a major player in the Russian commercial property market. Key projects included shopping centers and hotels, which significantly altered the Moscow cityscape. In 2012 Forbes has been calling him and his business partner God Nisanov the Kings of Russian Real Estate.
Key Business Strategies
Iliev's success is attributed to identifying and capitalizing on opportunities in the Moscow real estate market, focusing on developing large-scale commercial projects. The Kievskaya Ploshchad Group has a diverse portfolio, including shopping centers, hotels, and warehouses. The company's strategy involves acquiring and developing prime real estate assets.
Philanthropy
Zarakh Iliev, along with his business partner God Nisanov, has been involved in philanthropic activities. This includes the construction of the Cheder Menachem Jewish school in Moscow and the opening of the Community Center for the Association of Mountain Jews of Moscow. In 2020, they contributed to the opening of the world's first Museum of Mountain Jews in their native village.