Rizwan Sajan

Rizwan Sajan (born December 27, 1963) is an Indian entrepreneur based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is the founder and chairman of the Danube Group, a diversified conglomerate with operations in building materials, real estate, and home furnishings across.
==Early life and education==
Sajan was born in the slums of Ghatkopar, Mumbai, India, into a middle-class family. He grew up facing significant financial struggles. He lost his father at 16. Sajan left formal education early and worked various jobs to support his family, including selling books, firecrackers, and delivering milk.
In 1981, he moved to Kuwait and began his career as a trainee salesman in his uncle's building materials store. However, the Gulf War in 1991 forced him to return to Mumbai.
==Career==
Sajan founded Danube Group in 1993 as a small trading firm specializing in building materials. Under his leadership, the company expanded into a diversified conglomerate with operations in building materials, home décor, and real estate development. Danube Group operates across the UAE, India, China, Canada, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman.
In 2006, Danube Group established Milano for sanitary solutions.
In 2008, Sajan established Danube Home for home furnishings. The company has expanded its footprint across the GCC and beyond, establishing itself as one of the region's largest home décor retailers.
In 2012, the group established Alucopanel, manufacturing aluminum composite panel.
In 2014, Sajan entered the real estate sector with Danube Properties, which became a significant player in the UAE's property market. The company has launched several successful projects, including residential towers and luxury developments. Danube Properties is known for its collaboration with brands such as Aston Martin, Fashion TV, and Tonino Lamborghini Casa, which contribute to the interiors of its luxury residential projects.
Sajan is credited with introducing the innovative 1% payment plan for real estate in Dubai, allowing buyers to acquire property through monthly payments of just 1% of the total price. The groundbreaking approach earned Sajan the moniker “Dubai’s 1% Man.”
Danube Group's flagship company, Danube Building Materials FZCO, became one of the largest suppliers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), offering over 25,000 products and comprehensive value-added services.
In 2018, Sajan diversified into media by acquiring the rights to Filmfare Middle East. The group has also diversified into hospitality with Danube Hospitality in 2019, and into sports-related services with the launch of Danube Sports in 2022.
==Awards and recognitions==
Sajan has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career. 
* He was ranked 12th among the ‘Top 100 Indian Leaders in the UAE’ by Forbes Middle East.
* Sajan was honored with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award 
* He was named The Economic Times Global Indian Leader in 2022. 
* He has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Indians in the UAE by Arabian Business. 
* Sajan has been awarded the Dubai Quality Award 
* He has received the Star Business Leadership Award in the family business leader category in 2017. 
* He has won the Forbes Top Indian Business Leader in the Arab World five times.
* He has received the Top Real Estate Company in the Arab World award three times from Forbes Middle East. 
* He was also awarded the Best Real Estate Company in the Arab World by The Gulf Business Awards
* He has received the Real Estate Tycoon Award in 2017 from the Land Department of Dubai. 
* He has received the Prestigious Brands of Asia Award
* Honored with the Most Admired Retailer Award by Herald Global & BARC Asia
* He received the Visionary of the Year at the 1st CEO Awards. 
* Sajan has also been honored with the Dubai Customs Award, 
* He was credited with the RAKSME Award 
* Sajan won the the Dubai Logistics and Supply Chain Award. 
* He was listed among UAE’s Top 20 Performers.
==Philanthropy==
As a part of Danube Group’s corporate social responsibility, Sajan has established the Danube Welfare Society. The organization offers free training programs to help unskilled workers develop their language and professional skills. Additionally, Sajan has supported various charitable initiatives, including donating AED 5 million to the UAE government’s ‘1 Billion Meals Endowment Initiative’ in 2023 and organizing annual iftar events for laborers during Ramadan.
==Personal life==
Sajan is married to Sameera Sajan, and together they have a son, Adel Sajan. 
==References==
==External links==
* Danube Group
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Category:1963 births
Category:Indian businesspeople
Category:Entrepreneurs
Category:People from Maharashtra