BUILDING BLOCKS

As Founder and Chairman, Rizwan Sajan has grown Danube Group into a multi-vertical conglomerate, cementing its position as one of Dubai's most prominent private-sector developers. His latest move, a Shah Rukh Khan-branded tower, introduces one of Danube's most high-profile projects to date.

- BY RAWAN HASSAN

Dubai's pull as a centre for entrepreneurs shows no sign of slowing. In the first half of 2025, more than 35,000 companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce – a 4% year-on-year rise. Over the same period, the Chamber helped 60 local firms expand internationally, achieving 76% growth compared to 34 companies supported during the same period in 2024. With more than 90% of the U.A.E.'s scale-ups based in the emirate, Dubai continues to draw founders and innovators seeking growth, supported by the Dubai Economic Agenda 2033 (D33), which aims to double the city’s economy by 2033.

One of those entrepreneurs shaped by the city’s rise is Rizwan Sajan, Founder and Chairman of Danube Group. Across three decades, he has grown the company into a multi-vertical conglomerate spanning building materials, home improvement, and real estate. In 2024, the group recorded $2.2 billion in total sales and more than 50,000 products – a scale that underscores the business he built.

In November 2025, Danube announced one of its most ambitious real estates launches yet: a 55-storey premium commercial tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, named after Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan. SHAHRUKHZ by Danube, the company's first fully commercial tower, will feature more than 40 world-class amenities and is scheduled for completion in June 2029. Marking 33 years of milestones for both Shah Rukh Khan and Rizwan Sajan, the tower is set to become one of Danube’s most recognisable developments. “Named after a living legend, it’s completely one-of-a-kind,” says Sajan. “It’s designed as a distinctive, collectible asset - something that truly stands apart.” The project achieved a full sellout on its debut in Dubai, with a total development value reaching $572 million, as of December 2025.