From Mumbai Slums to Dubai Skyscrapers: The Inspiring Rise of Rizwan Sajan
Rizwan Sajan’s story shines as brightly as any in Dubai’s glittering skyline, where ambition meets opportunity. Sajan grew up in the poor Ghatkopar slums of Mumbai. He went from being a teenage street vendor to the founder of a multi-billion-dollar empire. His story shows how strong, determined, and forward-thinking he is. He is now the Chairman of the Danube Group and is one of the richest Indians in the UAE, with a net worth of $2.5 billion (about Rs 20,830 crore). His life isn’t just a story of business success; it’s a guide to turning problems into great success.
In the 1960s, Rizwan Sajan was born into a middle-class family in Mumbai. His father was a supervisor at the Nathani High Steel factory. Sajan showed signs of being an entrepreneur from a young age. When he was only 12, he borrowed Rs 1,000 from his father and promised to pay it back with interest. This was a brave move that showed he had the business sense to come.
When Sajan was 16, life changed in a terrible way. The sudden death of his father left the family in financial trouble, and the young boy had to take on the role of breadwinner for his mother and three siblings. He could no longer afford to go to school. Sajan worked hard to make ends meet. He sold books door-to-door, firecrackers and rakhis during festivals, and even milk at dawn. He later said in interviews, “I did everything to make extra money.” These tough times on the busy streets of Mumbai taught him a work ethic that would shape his future.
In 1981, when he was 18, luck smiled on him through family ties. Sajan’s uncle, who was a top salesman in Kuwait, offered him a job as a trainee at a store that sold building materials. The move changed his life: his salary went from Rs 6,000 (150 Kuwaiti dinars) a month in Mumbai to Rs 18,000 (150 Kuwaiti dinars) a month. Sajan learned a lot about the construction business and improved his sales skills with the help of his uncle. He quickly moved up the ranks. For more than ten years, he worked in the trade, learning how to handle supply chains, deal with customers, and understand how the Gulf market works.
Sajan came to Dubai in 1993 with a small amount of money and a big dream. He was more confident because of what he had been through. That year, he started the Danube Group as a small trading company that focused on building materials. It was a brokerage business where commissions were his only source of income. He thought, “It was a small kitty from my father’s savings that got me started.” Sajan didn’t just trade, though; he quickly moved into manufacturing and distribution when he saw the UAE’s booming construction industry.
The 2000s saw a huge amount of growth. Danube aggressively expanded its product line by adding gypsum products, sanitary ware, and electrical supplies. The company became a one-stop shop for builders in the Gulf, Asia, and Africa by having more than 50,000 products in one place. Sajan’s big-picture plan worked out: he teamed up with big names like Aston Martin, Fashion TV, and Tonino Lamborghini Casa to mix luxury branding with building materials.
In 2014, Sajan made a big change by getting into the real estate business. Danube Properties started with affordable luxury projects under the “My Dubai, My Home” campaign because they knew that Dubai had an insatiable need for high-end housing. The 101-story Danube Bayz tower is an example of how urban living has changed. It was built for expats and has world-class amenities and high security. This move turned the group into a large, varied company that includes businesses in building materials, real estate, and even lifestyle. By 2023, Danube had a mind-boggling $2 billion in sales and more than 4,000 employees in 10 countries at 50 locations.
Sajan’s brother, Anis Sajan, is the Vice Chairman, and his son, Adel Sajan, is a key executive and the second generation of the family. Adel’s father taught him to work hard by starting from the bottom with blue-collar workers when he was 14. In 2017, the family made news with Adel’s extravagant $30 million cruise wedding, which was inspired by the Bollywood movie Dil Dhadakne Do. Celebrities attended, which showed how far they had come in Dubai’s elite.
The way Rizwan Sajan leads is just as unique as his story. People call him the “1% Man” because he makes small improvements every day. He gives his team cutting-edge training and encourages them to come up with new ideas. Danube is a forward-thinking leader in the MENA region because he cares about the environment. This is clear from the eco-friendly building materials and green real estate projects he works on.
The praise came next. Sajan was number eight on the list of the Top 100 Indian Business Owners in the Arab World in 2018. Forbes Middle East has named him one of the Top 100 Indian Leaders in the UAE several times, including #12 in 2021. They have also named Danube the Top Real Estate Company in the Arab World three times. He also won the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award. These awards are not only for his business success, but also for his part in making Dubai’s famous skyline.
For Sajan, wealth is a way to improve things. He started the Danube Welfare Society as part of the group’s CSR efforts. It offers free language and professional development training to unskilled workers, which has helped thousands of people improve their lives. He gave Dhs 5 million to the UAE’s “1 Billion Meals Endowment Initiative” in 2023 to help end world hunger. “Giving back is not optional; it’s essential,” Sajan often says, echoing his roots in Mumbai’s underbelly.
His story has a warning: in July 2023, scammers pretended to be him online to steal money. Sajan quickly responded on Instagram, telling people to be careful and reminding them that even billionaires can be fooled.
Rizwan Sajan is worth about $2.5 billion as of 2025. He is the richest Indian in Dubai and a symbol of the UAE’s business potential. From delivering milk in monsoon-soaked Mumbai alleys to overseeing a $3 billion real estate empire, his path defies odds. Sajan’s three-decade grind reminds us that true success is not based on privilege, but on hard work.
Rizwan Sajan is not only changing the way people see Dubai; he is also showing that no dream is too far away and no start is too small. His saying, “Hustle today, legacy tomorrow,” still holds true for people who want to be rich and famous.