Ten Minutes with Osama Seddiqi

1.      When and how was Seddiqi Properties founded? Can you share a brief background on the company?

My grandfather Mr. Ahmed Seddiqi, set us on this path and was instrumental in building the first property in our portfolio, over three decades ago. Our beginnings were very humble, as we navigated this new endeavour within the business. 

Over the years as our portfolio began to slowly grow, Seddiqi Properties was established as the real estate arm of the business. Pioneered by my uncle, Mr. Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, we sought to expand our luxury offering with the vision of my grandfather serving as our focal point. It was under my uncle’s guidance that Reem I, a gateway to leisurely living was built.

Established in 2016, Seddiqi Properties was founded with the intention of having an in-house division that manages our properties with the same thoughtfulness and attention that goes into everything we do as a Seddiqi family business. 

Today, Seddiqi Properties manages all the properties under our portfolio and those owned by the Seddiqi family. As part of my journey into the business, we have prioritised strategically growing the portfolio spanning across luxury commercial and residential spaces. This includes Rolex Tower, which personifies prime city living to The Nadd, a contemporary offering designed with the luxury connoisseur in mind.

We provide end-to-end solutions to our tenants which includes leasing, property, and facilities management. Since all the property management is done in-house, we can maintain exceptional quality at every step of the way, right from the way we care for our real estate to our tenants.  

2.     What is the mission and vision of Seddiqi Properties?

Seddiqi Properties’ mission and vision are inspired by the values and virtuous DNA of our group heritage. With each space in our portfolio, we want to offer living and working spaces that enable an effortless way of life.

Our mission is to offer a diverse portfolio of unique properties that are designed, built, and maintained attentively. Our goal is to put the utmost expertise, experience and thought into the properties we create and how we manage them. We are attentive to the needs of our tenants and properties and take steps to ensure they have what they need to live and work in environments that are healthy and increase happiness.​

3.     What would you say are your strengths being a family-owned business?

With a strong heritage in luxury craftsmanship for over 70 years as part of the core business that my grandfather founded, the same level of quality of service is reflected in the thought and consideration we put into managing our properties and the way we take care of our tenants across the portfolio. Our tenants are our extended family.​

In fact, our relationship with our tenants is one of our core strengths and their long-standing tenures are an indication of this. On an average, our tenants stay with us for around four years, and our longest tenant has stayed with us for 19 years and still counting, which is a testament to the strength of the business. 

4.      ​ How do you think the pandemic has impacted the tenant-property manager relationship?

Our approach at Seddiqi Properties, even before the pandemic, always prioritised integrity, and thoughtfulness. We continue to provide information and detail to ensure that the thought that has gone into our properties, decisions and actions is clear to our audience.​

However, in many ways, the pandemic completely transformed the way we connected with our homes. From a space we live in, it became our “everything”, a place where we worked and lived. 

The communication channels and relationships cultivated through this time have set a new precedent that continue to impact tenant retention. Tenants place this overall community connectedness to a higher level in their continued pursuit of where they want to live and work. 

Moving forward, we must keep this momentum of keeping open lines of communication and building relationships based on trust. It’s important for tenants to know that you’re there and you care about their concerns, and this is a business strength. This tenant-first reputation goes a long way to developing long standing relationships founded on trust.

5.     According to you, what is the secret of Seddiqi Properties success?

The commitment, passion, and energy the team of highly professional and driven individuals brings every day to work is key to the success of Seddiqi Properties. This along with our carefully selected suppliers, consultants and all the stakeholders are equally responsible and important in our success. It is this meticulous planning, relationship-building and quality-consciousness that has enabled us to be where we are today.