Adel Sajan

So we had our building material shops, you know, and in that we have a warehouse and we have like an open yard where we store timber, plywood, all kinds of wood over there. So 13 years old, I was supposed to work 8 to 1 during my summer holidays with my tie. I have to be on time. You had to wear a tie? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And I had to be on time. Like no 8 or 5, it's 8 o'clock.

And my first job was with the blue collar workers. And this is at age 13, you said? 13, which I love. But the only challenge with this was... I was working in the open yard. So I don't know if you've been to Dubai, but Dubai in the summers, it's a hundred plus degrees.

And my first job was with the blue collar workers. And this is at age 13, you said? 13, which I love. But the only challenge with this was... I was working in the open yard. So I don't know if you've been to Dubai, but Dubai in the summers, it's a hundred plus degrees.

And my first job was with the blue collar workers. And this is at age 13, you said? 13, which I love. But the only challenge with this was... I was working in the open yard. So I don't know if you've been to Dubai, but Dubai in the summers, it's a hundred plus degrees.

It's really hot. It's really hot. Like, you know, it's like 50 degrees Celsius. I don't know how much is in Fahrenheit, but it's like really, really, really hot. And I used to carry like four shirts. Because I would be like drenched every day and I'd like come back with like a red tomato face. And my mom and my dad would fight every day. And he's like, look, stay away from this. It's my domain.

It's really hot. It's really hot. Like, you know, it's like 50 degrees Celsius. I don't know how much is in Fahrenheit, but it's like really, really, really hot. And I used to carry like four shirts. Because I would be like drenched every day and I'd like come back with like a red tomato face. And my mom and my dad would fight every day. And he's like, look, stay away from this. It's my domain.

It's really hot. It's really hot. Like, you know, it's like 50 degrees Celsius. I don't know how much is in Fahrenheit, but it's like really, really, really hot. And I used to carry like four shirts. Because I would be like drenched every day and I'd like come back with like a red tomato face. And my mom and my dad would fight every day. And he's like, look, stay away from this. It's my domain.

Do whatever you want outside this. But this part is mine.

Do whatever you want outside this. But this part is mine.

Do whatever you want outside this. But this part is mine.

Which mother is going to like his son who's 13 getting roasted in the sun every day? Come on. You know, you're not going to find many mothers who could be okay with that. So... And you're an only child, right? I'm the only child. But I did get a salary. So I was paid about $120 a month, which was a lot of money as well, being 13, 22 years ago. So it was nice. It was fun.

Which mother is going to like his son who's 13 getting roasted in the sun every day? Come on. You know, you're not going to find many mothers who could be okay with that. So... And you're an only child, right? I'm the only child. But I did get a salary. So I was paid about $120 a month, which was a lot of money as well, being 13, 22 years ago. So it was nice. It was fun.

Which mother is going to like his son who's 13 getting roasted in the sun every day? Come on. You know, you're not going to find many mothers who could be okay with that. So... And you're an only child, right? I'm the only child. But I did get a salary. So I was paid about $120 a month, which was a lot of money as well, being 13, 22 years ago. So it was nice. It was fun.

And then, so from the age of 13 to 18, Every year for those three months, I always did something. So for the first three years, I was in the warehouse. Then one year I spent, you know, in media city, in marketing. In one year, we did door-to-door sales. So we started the steel division. So we used to go to all these AC fabricators, knocking in that, hey, we're from Danube.

And then, so from the age of 13 to 18, Every year for those three months, I always did something. So for the first three years, I was in the warehouse. Then one year I spent, you know, in media city, in marketing. In one year, we did door-to-door sales. So we started the steel division. So we used to go to all these AC fabricators, knocking in that, hey, we're from Danube.

And then, so from the age of 13 to 18, Every year for those three months, I always did something. So for the first three years, I was in the warehouse. Then one year I spent, you know, in media city, in marketing. In one year, we did door-to-door sales. So we started the steel division. So we used to go to all these AC fabricators, knocking in that, hey, we're from Danube.

This is what we're selling. One year, when I was 18, I spent, when I say one year, it's three months, my summer holidays. I spent in my dad's cabin. just observing what he does, how he deals with issues, how he's meeting people, how he meets bankers, how he meets inside, outside people, whatever.

This is what we're selling. One year, when I was 18, I spent, when I say one year, it's three months, my summer holidays. I spent in my dad's cabin. just observing what he does, how he deals with issues, how he's meeting people, how he meets bankers, how he meets inside, outside people, whatever.

This is what we're selling. One year, when I was 18, I spent, when I say one year, it's three months, my summer holidays. I spent in my dad's cabin. just observing what he does, how he deals with issues, how he's meeting people, how he meets bankers, how he meets inside, outside people, whatever.

That wasn't the last. That was the second last. Okay. The last was when I was supposed to study in the US. I had very good grades. Of course, we had the money by then. But then my dad's like, look, I think you should study over here in Dubai. So you can work and study at the same time. And we had just started our retail business. So at the age of 19, I became a buyer.