| Mirwais Azizi | |
| Native Name Lang: | Pashto |
| Birth Name: | Mirwais Azizi |
| Birth Place: | Laghman Province, Afghanistan |
| Alma Mater: | Kabul University |
| Occupation: | Founder-chairman of Azizi Groups of UAE-AFG & Azizi Bank |
| Years Active: | Since 2000 - |
| Known For: | Founder of Azizi Bank |
| Credits: | , which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by |
| Works: | , which produces label "Works"; or by |
| Label Name: | , which produces label "Label(s)" --> |
| Office: | may be used as an alternative when the label is better rendered as "Office" (e.g. public office or appointments) --> |
| Children: | 7, including Farhad Azizi and Fawad Azizi |
| Family: | Azizi Family |
Mirwais Azizi (born 1962) is a Dubai-based Afghan businessman.[1] [2] He is the chairman of Azizi Group of companies, which he founded in 1989 with a presence in realty, banking, investment, and hospitality.[3] He is also the chairman of Azizi Bank,[4] [5] which he established in 2006 in Kabul, Afghanistan, with $7.5 million in equity capital and has since reached up to $80 million.[6]
Azizi is currently building the second tallest tower in Dubai.[7] He was 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 soldin Afghanistan, reported by Asia Sentinel.[10]
Azizi was born in Laghman, Afghanistan. He graduated in Law from the University of Kabul.[11] He left Afghanistan in 1988.[12]
In 2007, Mirwais Azizi established Azizi Developments. A year prior, he founded Azizi Bank, which became one of the largest commercial financial institutions in Afghanistan.[4] He also acquired Bakhtar Bank (now Islamic Bank of Afghanistan)[13] which is one of the fastest growing banks in Afghanistan.[9]
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.[14]
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 in Dubai valued over AED 45 billion.[15] The Azizi Hotak Group, which he started with an initial investment of $80 million, operates in 10 countries.[16]
He has served on the board of trustees for American University of Afghanistan, the first non-profit higher education institution in Afghanistan.[9] [11]
List of companies/organizations owned by Mirwais Azizi:
He is married to Parigul, with whom he has 7 children, including Farhad Azizi, Fawad Azizi, and Jawad Azizi.[11]