Zarakh Iliev is a Russian businessman and commercial real estate developer with a substantial property portfolio. He is the co-owner and chairman of the board of directors of Kievskaya Ploshchad, a leading property development firm in Russia. Iliev also serves as chairman of the board of directors of Vysotka LLC. He is regularly featured in Forbes business magazine for his achievements in business.
Early Life and Career:
Born in 1966 in Azerbaijan, Iliev showed entrepreneurial talent from a young age when he opened his own business in the city of Quba. Iliev decided to broaden his horizons and moved to Moscow in the 1990s where he joined forces with another Azerbaijani national, God Nisanov. Iliev and Nisanov began exploring business options in the retail sector and soon launched their company Kievskaya Ploshchad through which they began developing large-scale commercial properties. Kievskaya Ploshchad grew into being one of the top real estate development companies in Russia.
Business:
Working alongside his business partner God Nisanov, Zarakh Iliev has completed ground-breaking property projects that have not only created popular innovative retail and entertainment spaces, but also increased tourism to the capital. Iliev is constantly on the lookout for projects that require pioneering restorations that preserve historical relevance as the buildings are transformed into contemporary venues that serve multiple purposes. Other business ventures he has been involved in include hotels, transport hubs, entertainment facilities and several food-related properties.
Special Projects:
Some of the most significant projects Iliev has been responsible for over the years are:
• The Radisson Royal Flotilla – A river cruise company that offers trips along the Moskva River every day of the year, even in the coldest weather conditions.
• Moskvarium Centre for Oceanography and Marine Biology – A landlocked aquarium that features hundreds of marine animals on show, as well as a scientific facility.
• Food City –The very first agricultural centre in Russia which offers fresh wholesale ingredients as well as prepared meals at a variety of cafés and restaurants.
• Depo Gastronomic Quarter – An innovative food mall opened in a former tram station that was converted by Iliev and Nisanov for this purpose. Depo boasts a wide range of cuisines from all corners of the world and various entertaining events.
• Radisson Royal Hotel/Hotel Ukraina – A majestic building and one of the seven Stalin skyscrapers, this hotel was extensively refurbished and now operates as a luxurious Radisson Collection hotel.
Earlier significant projects include purpose-built shopping malls like the Elektronnyy Ray which is Moscow’s first mall focused on electronic goods, the Grand, which is a mall dedicated to furniture sales and Moskva automobile mall, one of the biggest centres that sell new and used cars.
Personal Life
Zarakh Iliev is married and is the father of two children. In his free time, the businessman enjoys fishing and exploring art. Iliev is also a patented inventor and has developed and engineered several moving structures like a rotating stand for cars at the Moskva Automobile Centre.
