Corporate governance
Hussain Sajwani
Hussain Sajwani, a UAE national, is the founder of the global property development company, DAMAC Properties.
A self-made billionaire, Sajwani has been recognised as one of the most powerful Arabs, among many other accolades.
Hussain Sajwani, a UAE national, is the founder of the global property development company, DAMAC Properties.
A self-made billionaire, Sajwani has been recognised as one of the most powerful Arabs, among many other accolades.
Sajwani is a pioneer of the property market expansion in Dubai. In the mid-90s, he built several hotels to accommodate the growing influx of people coming to the emirate to do business and trade. In 2002, he identified a growing market opportunity and established DAMAC Properties, which has grown to become the one of the largest property development companies in the Middle East.
Today, DAMAC Properties has several prestigious projects in key global cities like Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Baghdad, Toronto, Maldives, Miami and London, employing nearly 2,000 professionals.
To date, DAMAC Properties has delivered c. 39,400 homes and has c. 28,000 at various stages of progress.
As a market leader, DAMAC Properties has also joined forces with some of the most recognisable lifestyle brands, to bring distinguished living concepts to the market. Projects include luxury apartments and villas with interiors by Italian fashion-houses Versace Home, Fendi Casa and Just Cavalli and the uniquely conceptualised Paramount Hotels & Resorts, which delivers serviced living at its most opulent.
As an astute businessman and investor, Sajwani also has a proven track record of successful forays into the global equity and capital markets.
Under his strategic investment arm, The DICO Group (www.dicogroup.com), he currently holds investment portfolios of securities in a number of regional and global markets. DICO focuses on investments in new concepts, private equities, mergers and acquisitions and holds majority and minority holdings in publicly traded companies and industries like luxury fashion, real estate, hospitality, manufacturing and more.
The most recent acquisition for The DICO Group was of the Italian fashion group Roberto Cavalli SPA which was finalised in December 2019.
Some of the DICO Group’s most notable investments include DAMAC Towers Nine Elms in London, a luxury resort in the Maldives and shopping malls in Iraq.
Today the DICO Group’s global footprint extends across North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
A graduate from the University of Washington, he started his career as a Contracts Manager in GASCO, a subsidiary of ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company). After a short period, he established his own catering business in 1982.
Sajwani resides in Dubai with his wife and four children, Ali, Amira, Abbas and Mehdi Sajwani.
Alongside his family, Sajwani advocates for access to quality education under the Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation, including the popular One Million Arab Coders an initiative that aims to empower one million Arabs with the language of the future, computer coding.
For more information please visit www.hussainsajwani.com
Farooq Arjomand
Mr Arjomand received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Seattle Pacific University in the United States in 1984. He began his career as a banker at HSBC in 1985 and gained extensive experience of private banking, corporate finance, trade services and investment banking.
Mr Arjomand received his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from Seattle Pacific University in the United States in 1984. He began his career as a banker at HSBC in 1985 and gained extensive experience of private banking, corporate finance, trade services and investment banking.
Mr Arjomand founded the Arjomand Group of companies in 2000. The Group conducts various activities including real estate, manufacturing, trades, financial activities and aviation across the GCC, Asia, Europe and the US. Mr Arjomand is also a board member of Al Ahlia Insurance Company BSC, Bahrain.
Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib
Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib has over 37 years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry in the Middle East. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Jordan in 1980.
Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib has over 37 years of experience in the catering and hospitality industry in the Middle East. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Jordan in 1980.
Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib has been the Group Director of Global Logistic Services Company Co. LLC since 1989. The company specialises in comprehensive solutions for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and provision of catering and support services for clients in a number of industries including oil and gas, hospitality and educational institutions, amongst others. In his role, Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib oversees the business development and operating strategies of the business, which spans the MENA region, and is responsible for its sustained profitability.
Prior to this role, Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib held several managerial positions with catering companies in Saudi Arabia, where he was charged with the sales and marketing efforts, sales network expansion, achieving sales revenues targets and control of operations of regional projects.
Mr Sofyan Adnan Sami Khatib is currently on the board of a number of private and public companies in MENA, including Al Anwar Ceramics Tiles Company SAOG and Al Jazeira Services Co SAOG, and is Chairman of SAK Investments Limited.
Christophe Jacques Marc Cuvillier
Christophe Jacques Marc Cuvillier was elected as a member of the Board of Directors on 17 July 2023. Christophe Cuvillier, a 60-year-old French citizen and graduate of HEC Paris, boasts extensive leadership experience within a range of prominent French and international corporations.
Christophe Jacques Marc Cuvillier was elected as a member of the Board of Directors on 17 July 2023. Christophe Cuvillier, a 60-year-old French citizen and graduate of HEC Paris, boasts extensive leadership experience within a range of prominent French and international corporations.
Currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the fashion group SMCP, Christophe also contributes his expertise as a member of the EMEA Advisory Board of Salesforce. His commitment extends to his role as a Board member for Raise France, an esteemed investment fund, as well as a member of the International Advisory Board of HEC Paris business school.
Prior to these positions, Christophe played a pivotal role from 2013 to 2020 as the Chairman of the Management Board for Unibail-Rodamco, which later transformed into Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. His journey with the company began in 2011 when he assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer. Notably, Christophe held key leadership roles within the PPR group (now known as Kering) prior to his tenure at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. From 2000 to 2005, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of FNAC, subsequently taking on the responsibilities of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conforama from 2005 to 2008. His leadership trajectory continued as he helmed FNAC as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2010.
Preceding his involvement with the PPR group, Christophe spent 14 impactful years within the Luxury Products Division of L'Oréal. During this time, he held esteemed senior management roles in various corners of the world, including France, Italy, the UK, and Australia.
Christophe Cuvillier's illustrious career journey underscores his deep-rooted industry expertise and exceptional leadership acumen.
