At SIF-WIC 2025, Amira Sajwani highlighted how innovation in real estate and proptech can scale legacy into future-proof entrepreneurship across global markets.
SHARJAH: In a powerful fireside chat at the Sharjah Investment Forum – World Investment Conference 2025 (SIF–WIC), Amira Sajwani, Managing Director of DAMAC Properties and CEO of proptech startup PRYPCO, offered a compelling vision of how innovation and mentorship are reshaping the investment and entrepreneurship landscape across the region.
Joined by John Aguilar, founder of Asia’s top business reality show The Final Pitch, the session titled “Scaling Change Through Investment” was a headline event, exploring how bold leadership and smart capital decisions fuel transformation. The conversation was moderated by Inzamam Rashid, Gulf Editor at Monocle, and drew key insights from Sajwani’s dual leadership roles in real estate and technology.
“Innovation doesn’t discard legacy; it elevates it,” Sajwani said, reinforcing that transformation is most successful when rooted in heritage. “DAMAC’s growth has always been built on strong foundations. But our edge lies in adaptability and delivering smart, wellness-driven homes that resonate with a global and younger audience.”
She highlighted that in 2024 alone, DAMAC launched 28 new projects—many featuring never-before-seen concepts in the UAE. “Competition drives innovation. We focus on delivery, differentiation, and consistent customer trust,” she added.
On the future of investment, Sajwani turned to her experience at PRYPCO to discuss how proptech is democratising real estate, offering easier access, transparency, and global scalability. “Digitalisation is the bridge between legacy and what’s next. The UAE is setting a global benchmark by leading this shift with speed and intention.”
John Aguilar echoed her sentiment, stating that while capital is vital, a founder’s mindset is what shapes real success. “We take founders on a hero’s journey—where mentorship, self-awareness, and strategic storytelling elevate them to a point where they are not just pitching ideas, but scaling impact,” he said.
“Storytelling,” he noted, “is the new due diligence. It connects founders with the right networks, and when done authentically, accelerates trust and investment.”
The dialogue at SIF-WIC 2025 further highlighted Sharjah’s emergence as a thought leader in sustainable growth and global investment. Organised by Invest in Sharjah in partnership with WAIPA, the two-day forum welcomed over 10,000 participants from 142 countries, hosting more than 160 sessions under the theme “Transforming Our World: Investing for a Resilient and Sustainable Future.”
