Business founders
Abdirashid Duale (Cabdirashiid Duale)
Abdirashid Duale (born 1977 in Burao) is the chief executive of Dahabshiil, the money transfer company his father Mohamed Said Duale founded in 1970. He took over from his father and expanded the firm into new markets. Dahabshiil carries money from Somalis abroad to families at home and serves aid agencies such as the UN, Save the Children and Oxfam.
Abdirashid DualeAbdirashid Mohamed Said Duale · Cabdirashiid Maxamed Saciid Ducaale
- Lived
- 1977 to today
- Known as one of
- Business founders
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
Who is he?
Abdirashid Duale is a Somali businessman and the CEO of Dahabshiil, an international money transfer company (Wikipedia, Abdirashid Duale). This page covers his public role in business.
Background
He was born in Burao in 1977 (Wikipedia). His father, Mohamed Said Duale, founded Dahabshiil in Burao in 1970 (same source). It began as an import-export business (African Arguments, "Making money in Somaliland", 2012). His own career began in the family shop in Burao (Wikipedia).
After the war
He said the family "more or less we lost everything" in the civil war (African Arguments). Many Somalis moved to Europe, America and the Gulf, and still wanted to support relatives at home. Money transfer became the firm's main work (same source). See hawala and money transfer companies.
Leading the company
He took over when his father retired and expanded into new markets (Wikipedia). The company has offices in London and Dubai (same source). Wikipedia says it employs more than 2,000 people and serves businesses, families and international bodies (same source). Later reports give higher figures. In 2012 he was dividing his time between London, Hargeisa and Dubai (African Arguments). The firm works through many thousands of small transfers and is known for speed and trust (same source).
Rules and partners
After 2001, rules on money transfer became much stricter. He said "compliance is number 1" (African Arguments). Dahabshiil moves funds for the UN, Save the Children and Oxfam (same source). It works in parts of southern Somalia where few other services reach (same source).
The diaspora as investors
He has said the diaspora is the largest source of investment in Somalia, mainly in housing and building (African Arguments). See Somalis in London.
In short
Chief executive of Dahabshiil, the money transfer company founded by his father in Burao.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Abdirashid Duale · en.wikipedia.org
- African Arguments, "Making money in Somaliland", 2012 · africanarguments.org
Abdirashid DualeAbdirashid Mohamed Said Duale · Cabdirashiid Maxamed Saciid Ducaale
- Lived
- 1977 to today
- Known as one of
- Business founders
- Era
- Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012; Who holds power, 2012 to now
- Sources
- 2 sources
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Where this matters
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Mohamed Said Duale (Maxamed Siciid Ducaale, Dahabshiil)Mohamed Said Duale, founder of Dahabshiil: from a Burao shop in 1970 to money transfers from 1988, in his own words.
- Jamila Gordon: from a Somali village to Qantas and LumachainJamila Gordon, Somali Australian founder of Lumachain and former Qantas CIO: early life in Somalia and Mogadishu, Kenya, study at La Trobe, IBM, Qantas, and awards.
- Elman Ali Ahmed (Cilmi Cali Axmed): Mogadishu businessman and peace workerElman Ali Ahmed: Mogadishu businessman, founder of Elman FC and of the 'Drop the gun, pick up the pen' programme, killed in 1996; his family and the Elman Peace Centre.
- Hussein Shire (Xuseen Shire): founder of Gateway buses in UgandaHussein Shire, Somali-Ugandan founder of Gateway buses: a Tororo shop in the 1950s, buses from 1983, routes to Karamoja, Kenya and South Sudan, and his death in 2014.
- Ali Haji Warsame (Cali Xaaji Warsame): accountant, Golis Telecom chief and Puntland education ministerAli Haji Warsame: Bosaso port in the 1990s, auditing in Abu Dhabi, chief executive of Golis Telecom 2012 to 2013, the 2014 Puntland presidential race, and education minister 2014 to 2015.
- Amina Moghe Hersi (Aamina Mooge Xirsi)Amina Moghe Hersi (born 1964): Somali businesswoman behind Kampala's Oasis Mall and the Atiak sugar factory.