Cover feature: DAMAC Group’s Ali Sajwani on the company’s journey of transformation

Cover feature: DAMAC Group’s Ali Sajwani on the company’s journey of transformation

Image: Mark Mathew/ Motivate Media Group

“We are on a journey of transformation – transitioning from a successful family business into a global corporation that is agile, streamlined and focused on growth and diversification. It’s a key step to consolidate and futureproof the legacy my father has built over four decades,” says Ali Sajwani, referring to DAMAC Group, the multi-billion-dollar home-grown conglomerate that his father, Hussain Sajwani, founded in 1982.

As the group’s managing director of Operations and Technology, Sajwani is spearheading the evolution of DAMAC, the parent company of luxury property developer DAMAC Properties, high-end jewellery brand de Grisogono, fashion house Roberto Cavalli, and data centre firm, Edgnex.

He has also been tasked with overseeing the company’s digitalisation, including its decision to embark into the metaverse and build its own digital cities, becoming one of the pioneers in the GCC to do so. Considering the scale of the group’s local, regional and global operations, his remit requires constant interaction and involvement in every aspect of the business, and it’s something he has been doing since he was 13 years old.

Learning the ropes

“My father has always involved us closely in the business and sought our counsel for every major decision. In fact, I