OUR CO-FOUNDER
Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Sarfaraz
Academic Qualifications
Graduate from Mumtaz College, Lucknow University. Uttar Pradesh, India.
Present Position
Managing Diretor/CEO of Sahara Air-Conditioning Company and Chaiman of sahara Kuwait group of companies in Kuwait.
About
  • Brief History
    Mr. Aijaz Ahmad is the Managing Director/CEO of Sahara Air-Conditioning Company and Chairman of Sahara Kuwait group of companies in Kuwait. He is an honest, industrious and noble human being who started Sahara Kuwait with a humble beginning in 1995 and now employs more than 1200 staff within all the companies of Sahara Kuwait group. He believes that one can prosper in business through commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. His unique personality, leadership, relentless effort and passion for excellence have established Sahara Air-Conditioning Company as a brand in Kuwait. He is a simple and humble person who likes to maintain a low profile. All the success that he has achieved in life has not changed him at all and he is a proudly connected with his roots and family traditions though he is a modern person.
  • Childhood and Early Life
    Mr. Aijaz hails from Lucknow, a multicultural city that flourished as a North Indian cultural and artistic hub. He was born in a middle class and had to struggle a lot as he lost his father at the age of 12. His great mother Saeeda Khatoon, a strong lady with full of will power, supported him very well to provide the best education with her very limited resources and she was instrumental for his mission of success. He used to buy used books and borrowed books from his friends as he could not afford at that time for new books due to his family situation. Many times he used the facilities of Aminul Daula Library of Aminabad Lucknow for the free books. After his high school education, he undertook training with Voltas India for the Air Conditioning services. As he kept his education in continuation with his sincere efforts and hard work, he completed his graduation from Mumtaz Degree College, University of Lucknow in 1983. During his college days, he used to spend almost 14 hours daily for his study and for technical training.
  • Career
    Fiery instinct, futuristic outlook, indomitable will and a burning passion was all that Mr. Aijaz had when he landed in Kuwait, way back in 1984. Initially he worked with Namesco Kuwait and later he joined the Gulf Engineering Company as a Jnr. Supervisor and left as a Maintenance Projects Manager after ten years of service till December 1995. He was very trusted staff of the Company and had shared good relation with Mr. Marwan Boodai, Mr.Jassim Boodai, Mr. Aziz Siddiqui Mr. Khalid Naiem and with all other staff of the company & Management. He established in year 195 Sahara Air-Conditioning Company With very limited staff and capital. Since then, he has travel\ted a long path of success in his career and he has been putting his heart, soul and mind in developing this business and has been working with positive attitude all along. His passion for hard work, persistence, futuristic vision and business acumen soon sŁaled yielding excellent results. With his great vision, dedication and hard work, Mr. Aijaz successfully catapulted Sahara Air-Conditioning Company into one of the leading companies of Kuwait in a short span of time specializing in design, Supply, installation & maintenance of Air-Conditioning systems for Residential, commercial, industrial, and for oil sectors. Driven by the quest to achieve the highest quality and diversify the business, he along with his brother Mr. Zafar Akhtar started the Royal International Company in 2005 which is specialized in Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and General Trading. The Royal International is also one of the leading companies for oil Sector Air-conditioning work in Kuwait.
  • Brief History
    Mr. Aijaz Ahmad is the Managing Director/CEO of Sahara Air-Conditioning Company and Chairman of Sahara Kuwait group of companies in Kuwait. He is an honest, industrious and noble human being who started Sahara Kuwait with a humble beginning in 1995 and now employs more than 1200 staff within all the companies of Sahara Kuwait group. He believes that one can prosper in business through commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. His unique personality, leadership, relentless effort and passion for excellence have established Sahara Air-Conditioning Company as a brand in Kuwait. He is a simple and humble person who likes to maintain a low profile. All the success that he has achieved in life has not changed him at all and he is a proudly connected with his roots and family traditions though he is a modern person.
  • Personal Life & Legacy
    Aijaz Ahmad is married to Mrs. Shagufta Qidwai since January 7, 1992 and blessed with two children: Nidal Ahmad and Bilal Ahmad. Nidal Ahmad completed his Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Dundee and Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Management from the University of Glasgow Scotland UK and currently working with Sahara Kuwait group. Bilal Ahmad also completed his Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering with Honours from University of Dundee and Master of Science in advanced Mechanical Engineering with Management from the University of Starthclyde Scotland UK and currently working for Sahara Air-Conditioning Co.
  • Philanthropic Works
    If there is one thing that Mr. Aijaz can be reticent about, it is his contribution to charities. A humble and unassuming person in spite of all his success, he believes that it is his duty to give back to the Society. A philanthropist to the core, he donates generously to deserving causes, but prefers to maintain a cloak of anonymity at all times. Sarfaraz & Qidwai Educational & Social Work Foundation, the philanthropic Branch of Sahara group & Sarfaraz family was launched ten years ago for his Mission of education, medical and social supports. Presently the foundation is running a small education center as sarfaraz model school for free education up to class 8 students for free of cost for more than 120 no's of less privilege children in one of his adopted village close to Lucknow in UP India.
  • View about Kuwait
    He has maintained a close rapport with key people at the highest levels in Kuwait and He is also senior member of IBPC. He carries great respect and honor for the Kuwait and its people, expressing his profound appreciation for the country and the people of Kuwait, he said, "today, after being in Kuwait and serving this great country for nearly more than three decades, I feel that the word 'great' fully justifies for the government and people of Kuwait with their great humanitarian values and helping attitude, which are beneficial to everyone living in this country. My heart, my soul and all my sincerities are always there for this country." Recollecting the painful memories of the Iraqi invasion, Mr. Aijaz feels that his existence during those days was put to good use to help this great country and during that period no efforts were spared in offering the support services to the nation. Along with some of his Kuwaiti nationals and other nationality friends, during the occupation period of Kuwait by Iraq, It was to make sure the operation of Telephone Exchanges, Clinics, Hospitals, National Bakeries and the distribution of food and fulfilling the other required necessities are taken care as best as possible to the individuals who were in need at that time. His sincere efforts also played a very important role to protect the head office of Boodai Corporation and most of the assets of the group. He was appreciated at that time by Mr. Mustafa Jasim Boodai, Mr. Jasim Boodai & Mr. Marwan Boodai, Mr.Tariq Abdul Kareem Mr. Abdullah Bou Qammas & Mr. Aziz Siddiqui Directors of Boodai Corporation, for his hard work & support to restart the operation of the full Boodai Group soon after the liberation of Kuwait & for the revival of its business activities as he was working with the Boodai group at that time.
  • Conclusion
    Mr. Aijaz’s life is surely the rags to riches story as he took one step at a time to make all the Companies under Sahara Kuwait Group of Companies. Mr. Ajjaz inherited most of his qualities from his great mother. The courage to swim against the tide, the ability to adapt to the age but at the same adhere to traditions - both moral and religious were qualities that he imbibed from her. The credit of his success also goes to his mentor Mr. Mohammad Younus Salim Saheb, Former Governor for the State of Bihar, who was Like a grandfather to him. Describing his close relation with Mr. Younus Salim Saheb, He says, “His wisdom, his noble gestures and his way of supporting others were all great resource of inspiration to me.” He feels a sense of pride in owning that his success is due to the support, patience and guidance of his wife Mrs. Shagufta Qidwai who correctly reads his mind and reflects his ambitions and aspirations in every way. He has achieved so much of success and so many great goals in his life and strongly believes "If there is a will there is a way of success.”