At twenty-two, he was competing with his own boss; by twenty-seven, he had made his first million dollars. Faruh Kurbanov, founder of DIA Holding, discusses his ventures across Kazakhstan, the UAE, Russia, and Spain, and addresses that perennial question: what does one do with so much money? I was born in Karaganda, a modest mining town in central Kazakhstan.
My childhood unfolded in cramped conditions, always in rented accommodation. I recently calculated that my family and I moved about sixty-five times throughout those early years. Rather than breaking me, these hardships ignited a fierce determination to solve our financial troubles, to secure a roof over our heads, to succeed.
Driven by this ambition, I began working at fifteen. Now, at forty, I still rise early and work late into the night. For years, I believed it was for the money.
Then I realised that money is merely a tool — one that helps achieve a deeper purpose. I left the window company where I had worked as an installer and established my own window manufacturing firm. This led to a construction company, and within five years I had earned my first million dollars.
I bought property and expensive cars, travelled several times a year, lavished gifts on loved ones. After a while, none of it brought satisfaction. I began searching for meaning.
One day, whilst reading a hadith, I came across these words: the best amongst you are those who bring benefit to others. This phrase became more than my personal creed — it formed the philosophical foundation of the entire holding company. Live and benefit others is the principle that shapes every decision we make.
DIA Holding operates as a socially conscious enterprise. We provide targeted assistance to families in need through the Mereke Charitable Foundation. Last year, at our initiative, the foundation launched a scholarship programme for students at several universities in Astana and Almaty.
Our principal aim is to establish a network of schools and universities that will shape a generation of educated, principled and socially responsible individuals. The Sana Bilim Centre in Astana offers about twenty sections and courses spanning sport, arts, and supplementary activities, including a professional twenty-five-metre swimming pool, art and dance studios, and a fully equipped kitchen for culinary courses. Around a thousand school-age children attend the centre.
In Dubai, we purchased land for 6.5 million dollars; current offers stand at nineteen million. We could sell and profit handsomely. But our philosophy of live and benefit others demands a different approach — we create projects that deliver genuine value to people.