Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman.[1][2][3] He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.[4] He is also the chairman of Azizi Bank,[5][6] which he established in 2006 in Kabul, Afghanistan, with $7.5 million in equity capital and has since reached up to $80 million.[7]
Azizi is currently building the second tallest tower in Dubai.[8] He was featured in the list of "Arabian Business 100 Inspiring leaders in the Middle East" in March 2018.[9][10]
He is regarded by many Afghans as Afghanistan's richest man, who handled as much as 70% of the petroleum products sold
in Afghanistan, reported by Asia Sentinel.[11]
In 2007, Mirwais Azizi established Azizi Developments.[3] A year prior, he founded Azizi Bank, which became one of the largest commercial financial institutions in Afghanistan.[5] He also acquired Bakhtar Bank (now Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)[15] which is one of the fastest growing banks in Afghanistan.[10]
Azizi Developments started selling off-plan properties in Dubai until the 2007–2008 financial crisis. 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.[17] Presently, the company has more than 200 projects under various stages of development with a current portfolio in Dubai valued over AED 45 billion.[18] The Azizi Hotak Group, which he started with an initial investment of $80 million, operates in 10 countries.[13]
