oligarchs

Akmal Mamarahimov, a former hotel manager, has emerged as the secretive owner of the Empyrean Group, a Dubai-based equipment supplier that has won lucrative contracts in Uzbekistan.

Mamarahimov’s Empyrean has won tenders worth more than $293 million in just three years from one of Uzbekistan’s largest mining companies.

Empyrean supplies commercial equipment from major Western companies including Caterpillar and Komatsu trucks, Michelin tyres and lubricants from Shell.

Empyrean was founded in 2018 and it has enjoyed rapid growth despite its lack of track record or experience in the machinery and equipment industry. Mamarahimov also had no prior experience in the sector – other than involvement with a Russian supply company that failed after just two years.

Empyrean’s quick growth has thrust the previously unknown Mamarahimov into the limelight. He was born in Navoi, Uzbekistan, in July 1979 but has been based in Dubai for several years and was recently issued a Golden Visa, which is given to businessmen who make large investments into the emirate.

Mamarahimov is known to lead a jet-setting lifestyle, visiting Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the USA, Turkey and South Korea earlier this year.

Mamarahimov’s brother, Muslim, was previously a senior manager at Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combinat (NMMC) and worked at the mining giant’s Moscow operations. Mamarahimov also has Moscow connections after acquiring a 60% stake in a company called Centre for Business Supply LLC that, like Empyrean, was engaged in supplying mining equipment and machinery. CBS was established on 11 March 2016 but wound up just two years later.

Earlier in his career, Mamarahimov was a director of the Grand M hotel in Navoi.

Mamarahimov is also designated as a person with significant control of Perok Alliance LLP, incorporated in London on 17 February 2009 and dissolved 24 August 2021.