From a Mumbai Slum to a $4 Billion Empire: The Inspiring Journey of Rizwan Sajan

Rizwan Sajan, the founder and chairman of Dubai-based Danube Group, is a name synonymous with determination, grit, and success. Born in a small slum in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, Rizwan’s early life was marked by hardship. His father later moved the family to a chawl in Pantnagar, Ghatkopar, but fate struck hard when Rizwan lost his father at the tender age of 16. With his education incomplete, the responsibility of running the household fell squarely on his young shoulders. Yet, Rizwan never lost hope. Today, he is a celebrated entrepreneur in the Gulf region, leading one of the most prominent real estate and construction material businesses.

Humble Beginnings
Rizwan was born in a modest slum in Ghatkopar, Mumbai. Despite his father’s limited income, the family’s aspirations were high. Rizwan’s father successfully acquired a MHADA chawl through a government lottery, with a combination of subsidy, loan, and personal savings. Understanding the importance of education, he enrolled Rizwan at the prestigious Fatima Convent School in Ghatkopar, ensuring that Rizwan got the chance to learn alongside children from wealthier backgrounds.

Early Lessons in Hard Work
To cover his modest pocket money, Rizwan began delivering milk and newspapers in the early mornings, earning around ₹100–150 per month. He also sold fireworks during Diwali and Rakhis during Raksha Bandhan. These early experiences not only helped the family financially but also honed Rizwan’s entrepreneurial and selling skills, laying the foundation for his future ventures.

A Turning Point
At just 16, Rizwan’s father passed away in 1980, leaving Rizwan to manage the household with his mother, younger brother, and sister. Balancing studies, a job, and household responsibilities, he worked tirelessly, delivering milk at 4:30 AM, studying, and then working in an office until 6 PM.

Opportunity Knocks in Kuwait
In 1982, Rizwan got an opportunity to work as a salesman in Kuwait. While he earned only ₹6,000 per month in India, his Kuwaiti salary was 1,500 Dinars (approximately ₹18,000) plus commissions. Leveraging his sales skills, Rizwan quickly rose through the ranks, and within a few years, he earned 15,000 Dinars with a commission of 50,000 Dinars per month. With this income, he bought a Toyota Land Cruiser, funded his sister’s wedding, purchased a house in Bandra, and got married.

Challenges and Resilience
However, his success in Kuwait was disrupted when Iraq invaded the country in 1990. Rizwan had to flee with his one-year-old son, Adil, returning to Mumbai under harrowing circumstances. Job hunting in India proved difficult without formal education.

Dubai – The New Horizon
In 1993, a friend in Dubai offered Rizwan a chance to sell hardware materials. Starting afresh, he excelled in sales once again, earning substantial commissions. With the savings, he ventured into his own business in construction materials, marking the birth of what would become the Danube Group. Inspired by Europe’s Danube River, he named his company Danube.

Building a Legacy
Danube Group grew rapidly. Rizwan diversified into sanitary solutions with Milano in 2006, home furnishing with Danube Home in 2008, aluminum composite panels in 2012, and real estate in 2014. Today, the group operates in over 40 countries, employs around 6,000 people, and generates a turnover of $4 billion.

A Star-Studded Recognition
Rizwan’s business acumen has earned him recognition even in Bollywood circles. Recently, Shahrukh Khan inaugurated the Shahrukh by Danube commercial tower in Dubai, which sold out in a single day, generating approximately ₹5,000 crore in sales. Rizwan’s son, Adil Sajan, now also plays a pivotal role as the company’s Managing Director.

Rizwan Sajan’s journey from a Mumbai slum to a multi-billion-dollar empire is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and vision—a story that continues to inspire millions across the globe.