Business executive, engineer, technology strategist, social worker
Title
Founder & Managing Director, SAAZ Group of Companies
Spouse
Zeba Ibrar Syed
Children
Aahana (daughter), Absham (son)
Known for
Founder of SAAZ Group; President of Indian Youth Society (IYS) Kuwait; Harvard Business Council Excellence Award recipient
Awards
Harvard Business Council Excellence Award (2021)
Dr. Shabbir Qamar born on 1st march 1981 is an Indian business executive, engineer, technology strategist, and social advocate based in Kuwait. He is the Founder and Managing Director of the SAAZ Group of Companies, a diversified multi-sector conglomerate that encompasses SAAZ Technologies, SAAZ General Trading Co., SAAZ Contracting Co. LLC, and SAAZ Artistic Production Company.
With over 26 years of professional experience across corporate management, telecommunications, infrastructure contracting, and media production, Dr. Qamar has established himself as a prominent corporate leader and community figure within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Beyond his corporate leadership, he actively serves as the President of the Indian Youth Society (IYS) in Kuwait, leading community engagement, cultural exchange, and expatriate welfare initiatives.
Early life and academic background
Dr. Shabbir Qamar was born in Bihar, India. Raised in an environment that prioritized academic rigor, he developed a foundational interest in mathematics, technology, and analytical sciences during his early school years.
He moved to New Delhi to pursue higher studies in engineering at Jamia Millia Islamia, one of India's premier central universities. His technical education provided him with a strong understanding of systems engineering, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure.
Recognizing the crucial intersection between technical innovation and commercial enterprise, Dr. Qamar expanded his academic profile by pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Telecom Management. Building further upon his professional and operational experience, he later earned a Doctorate in Business Management. His doctoral research focused extensively on telecom business outsourcing, analyzing operational efficiency, global service delivery frameworks, cost-optimization models, and strategic vendor management within the global telecommunications sector. His academic findings received wide appreciation for their practical relevance to multinational enterprise operations.
Corporate and professional career
Early corporate career
Dr. Qamar's career spans more than two decades in major corporate and multinational environments. During his early and mid-career phase, he held senior management and technical leadership roles with high-profile telecommunications and technology providers in Asia and the Middle East.
Hutchison Essar India: Dr. Qamar worked with Hutchison Essar (later acquired by Vodafone India) during a period of rapid growth in the Indian mobile telecommunications landscape. His work centered on network strategy, operational planning, and service optimization.
Ooredoo Kuwait: Following his tenure in India, Dr. Qamar relocated to Kuwait to join Ooredoo Kuwait (formerly Wataniya Telecom). Over his long association with the organization, he managed large-scale technology integration projects, telecommunications outsourcing operations, and cross-functional corporate teams.
His dual background in technical engineering and advanced business administration enabled him to successfully lead complex digital transformations, vendor negotiations, and multi-million-dollar technology deployments across regional markets.
SAAZ Group of Companies
Leveraging his extensive industry experience, Dr. Qamar founded the SAAZ Group of Companies, serving as its Managing Director. Under his strategic vision, the group grew from a specialized consulting entity into a multi-sector corporate enterprise operating across the Middle East.
The group operates through four primary business divisions:
SAAZ Technologies: The technology wing of the group, focusing on IT consulting, software solutions, digital transformation, enterprise network management, and telecom business outsourcing. The division advises corporate clients on optimizing digital infrastructure and operational workflows.
SAAZ General Trading Co.: The commercial wing managing general trading operations, supply chain management, distribution, and commercial trade logistics across regional markets.
SAAZ Contracting Co. LLC: The civil engineering and infrastructure arm of the group, engaged in structural contracting, commercial construction, facilities management, and engineering solutions for commercial and residential developments.
SAAZ Artistic Production Company: The media, entertainment, and creative division, specializing in event management, media production, corporate branding, cultural programming, and artistic showcases designed to connect diverse audiences in the region.
Through SAAZ Group, Dr. Qamar has spearheaded projects combining technology adoption with localized service execution, positioning the conglomerate as a versatile player across different commercial domains.
Community advocacy and social work
Indian Youth Society (IYS) Kuwait
In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Dr. Qamar has spent over two decades as an active social worker and community organizer in Kuwait. He serves as the President of the Indian Youth Society (IYS) Kuwait, a recognized non-profit organization registered with the Embassy of India in Kuwait.
Under his leadership, IYS Kuwait serves as a vital platform for the Indian expatriate population in the country, working to:
Promote Indian social, cultural, and traditional values among youth living abroad.
Organize charitable initiatives, health awareness campaigns, blood donation drives, and relief efforts for workers and vulnerable individuals.
Host cultural concerts, youth talent showcases, literary meets, and theatrical performances that bring together diverse communities.
Facilitate intercultural dialogue and foster social cohesion between the Indian community and the wider Kuwaiti society.
Through IYS, Dr. Qamar has been instrumental in creating structured youth engagement programs that encourage community service, leadership development, and cultural preservation among second-generation Indian expatriates in the Gulf.
Awards and honors
Dr. Qamar's contributions to corporate management, technology strategy, and social leadership have earned him international recognition:
Harvard Business Council Excellence Award (2021): Conferred by the Harvard Business Council, this prestigious international award recognized Dr. Qamar for his organizational excellence, innovation management, strategic business leadership, and contributions to shaping modern enterprise operations.
Personal life
Dr. Qamar resides in Kuwait, which has been his primary base of operations for more than 20 years. He is married to Zeba Ibrar Syed. The couple has two children: a daughter, Aahana, and a son, Absham. Despite his long-term residence in the Gulf, he maintains deep personal, cultural, and philanthropic connections to his homeland India and the Indian expatriate community.
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