At Dawia Family Office, we envision a thriving network of African family businesses that have successfully expanded globally, preserving their heritage while embracing new opportunities. Beyond individual success, we aim to foster a trusted community where these families connect, collaborate, and collectively reinvest in Africa’s future.
Empowering African family businesses to expand, thrive, and transition their legacy to the future generation while safeguarding their wealth through comprehensive services and strategic support.
CEO
Anissa leads Dawia Family Office with a focus on helping successful entrepreneurs build a lasting legacy in the UAE.
Languages: Arabic, Spanish, English, French.
Legal & Compliance Manager
Jai ensures legal compliance, safeguarding clients’ businesses from risk while navigating complex regulations.
Languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati.
Executive Assistant
Wardah provides seamless executive support, ensuring smooth operations and personalized service for clients and the Dawia team.
Languages: English, Hindi, Punjabi.
Tax Lead and CFO
Mohamed Elsayed provides expert financial management and tax compliance support, ensuring your client finances are secure and streamlined.
Languages: Arabic, English.
Senior Accountant
Yasin supports the Dawia Family Office accounting team in managing back-office accounting processes, ensuring the accurate and compliant management of financial records and client accounts through his financial expertise and attention to detail.
Languages: Arabic, English.
Structuring Analyst
Sibira is a Structural Analyst at Dawia Family Office, specializing in business structuring, compliance, and operational execution.
Languages: English, Malayalam, Tamil.
Zoho Consultant
Harry Rotich, Zoho Consultant at Dawia Family Office, streamlines operations through custom apps, automation, and integrations – ensuring efficiency and excellence.
Languages: English, Kiswahili, Kipsigis.
Concierge Associate
Irene oversees concierge services, managing school bookings, restaurant reservations, and home relocation. She also supervises office operations for Dawia Family Office.
Languages: English, Pidgin.
Accounting Executive
Komal supports the Dawai Family Office in managing back-office accounting processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance in financial records.
Languages: English, Hindi.
Accounting Executive
Luis supports the Dawia Family Office accounting team, bringing financial expertise and ensuring precise management of client accounts.
Languages: English, Portuguese.
Public Relations Officer
Maksood manages government relations and public administration processes, handling visas, labor cards, Emirates IDs, and regulatory submissions.
Languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic.
Execution Manager
Mia manages company formation, license renewals and compliance processes, ensuring seamless back-office operations for Dawia Family Office Clients.
Languages: English, Filipino.
Junior PRO
Mohamed supports PRO operations by assisting with documentation, submissions, and follow-ups across government departments.
Languages: English, Hindi, Malayalam.
Secure Your Family’s Future with Effective Governance
Ready to build a strong governance framework that ensures the continuity and success of your family business?
Contact Dawia Family Office today to start crafting a governance plan that aligns with your family’s values and goals.
As CEO of Dawia Family Office, Anissa plays a pivotal role in helping African entrepreneurs expand into the UAE while securing their family’s legacy.
With her hands-on experience in building businesses from the ground up, she understands the journey that many of Dawia’s clients are on. She has become a trusted advisor to families, guiding them through the complexities of business setup and relocation with hands-on support. Her focus is on ensuring that every aspect of their journey, from operations to family life, is handled with precision and care.
With over 13 years of experience in investment banking, including senior roles at CACIB, RBS, NBAD, and FAB, Anissa is well-versed in navigating complex financial landscapes.
Fluent in Arabic, Spanish, English, and French, Anissa bridges cultural gaps effortlessly, ensuring that families feel understood and supported throughout their transition. Her commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs is what drives Dawia’s mission—helping you safeguard your wealth, preserve your heritage, and embrace new global opportunities with confidence.
Jai is the Legal & Compliance Manager at Dawia Family Office, responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance and managing legal risks for both Dawia and its clients.
Currently pursuing a degree that combines business and law (BBA.LLB), Jai has gained significant expertise in corporate governance, contract negotiation and money laundering prevention. His main focus is ensuring that clients remain compliant with the UAE’s GoAML and ESR regulations, protecting their businesses from potential risks.
Jai is highly skilled in legal research, contract drafting and developing control frameworks that safeguard clients’ operations. His proficiency in English, French, Hindi and Gujarati allows him to serve a diverse range of clients, ensuring that all legal matters are handled efficiently and professionally. Jai’s dedication to the law is further highlighted by his active involvement in legal seminars and aid sessions, demonstrating his commitment to staying at the forefront of legal developments.
In his role at Dawia Family Office, Jai’s expertise ensures that clients can focus on growing their businesses, knowing their legal and compliance obligations are fully met.
Wardah Ilyas serves as the Executive Assistant at Dawia Family Office, ensuring that both the leadership team and clients receive top-level support.
With her background in education and communication, Wardah excels at managing the day-to-day operations that keep the office running smoothly.
Her organizational skills and attention to detail help facilitate seamless interactions between clients and the team, ensuring every need is addressed efficiently.
With fluency in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, Wardah is able to connect with a wide range of clients, providing a personalized and welcoming experience.
Her commitment to service and ability to anticipate the needs of both the team and clients make her an essential part of Dawia Family Office.
Mohamed Elsayed provides expert financial management and tax compliance support, ensuring your client finances are secure and streamlined.
Yasin supports the Dawia Family Office accounting team in managing back-office accounting processes, ensuring the accurate and compliant management of financial records and client accounts through his financial expertise and attention to detail.
Sibira is a Structural Analyst at Dawia Family Office, specializing in business structuring, compliance, and operational execution. With over three years of UAE business setup experience, she supports clients through strategic solutions and efficient coordination.
Harry Rotich is a skilled Zoho Developer and Consultant at Dawia Family Office, specializing in customizing and implementing Zoho solutions to streamline family office operations. He delivers efficient and scalable solutions, from building applications in Zoho Creator to automating workflows in Zoho CRM and integrating third-party applications. Harry’s expertise ensures seamless processes, accurate reporting, and tailored support driving operational excellence.
Irene holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Yaounde 2, SOA, Cameroon, which has equipped her with strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Beyond her professional role, Irene is passionate about hairdressing, candle-making, and culinary arts, while also enjoying travel and staying informed through internet research. Fluent in English and Pidgin, she effortlessly connects with a diverse range of clients and colleagues.
In her role, Irene is dedicated to ensuring seamless operations, providing personalized support, and creating a welcoming experience for all clients and visitors at Dawia Family Office.
Luis is the Accounting Executive at Dawia Family Office, where he is honing his skills and gaining hands-on experience in financial management and business operations.
Holding a Diploma in Financial Accounting from Damelin and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from Mancosa in South Africa, Luis brings a solid academic foundation to his role. As an intern, he contributes to the team by assisting with essential financial tasks, ensuring accuracy in reporting and supporting overall business operations.
Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Luis is able to communicate effectively with diverse clients, adding value to Dawia Family Office’s multilingual environment.
His passion for music, soccer, and exploring different cultures further enhances his ability to connect with clients and colleagues alike
Maksood manages government relations and public administration processes, handling visas, labor cards, Emirates IDs, and regulatory submissions. He ensures smooth coordination with UAE authorities, enabling timely approvals and compliant operations for Dawia Family Office clients.
Mia serves as the Execution Manager at Dawia Family Office, where she oversees essential administrative processes such as new company formation, license renewal, and Ejari registration.
With over four years of experience in government services, Mia has a deep understanding of UAE regulations and procedures, ensuring that the behind-the-scenes operations of Dawia’s clients run smoothly and efficiently.
Mia’s prior role involved handling complex tasks such as visa submissions, residency applications, and golden visa processing for VVIP clients, making her an expert in navigating the intricacies of government documentation and compliance.
Her attention to detail and strong organizational skills ensure that every process, from company setup to license renewals, is completed accurately and on time.
Mia spends her leisure time at a sports club in Dubai, where she watches Volleyball games with her fellow Filipino Community players.
Mohamed supports PRO operations by assisting with documentation, submissions, and follow-ups across government departments.
He plays a key role in ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and timely processing of client and internal administrative requirements.
