‘Forgotten’ Dh20m account saved him, recalls billionaire

As a young boy, Hussain Sajwani would spend his afternoons after school in his father’s shop in the local souk. There, he learned the valuable life lessons that made him one of the UAE’s richest businessmen.

- Hind Aldah

Speaking at the World Government Summit, the billionaire business tycoon recalled his childhood days, spent at his father’s shop. Everyday after school, seven-year-old Sajwani would be "forced" to stay in the shop from 3.30pm until 7.30pm.

Though, initially, he felt bored with not much to do at the shop, during his pre-teens, he eventually started writing invoices, checking inventories, and even haggling with customers.

The founder of the multi-billion real estate developer Damac Properties revealed that it was the experiences of his youth that shaped his mindset of striving to work hard and embrace challenges.