Naum Koen (Russian: Наум Коен) is an UAE-based Israeli-Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist who is the founder and CEO of
NY Koen Group. Koen is the chairman and founder of the
Jewish Community Center of UAE
The Jewish Community Center of UAE is a community led by the Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman and community president Solly Wolf.
History
Since the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, a small Jewish community grew and lived in the UA ...
.
He was named Honorary Chairman of
Beitar Jerusalem Basketball Club.
Personal life
Naum Koen was born in the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
, his name at birth being Nakhshun Nakhshunov. His family relocated to
Ofakim
Ofakim ( he, אֳפָקִים ''ʾŎfāqīm'', or אוֹפָקִים ''ʾŌfāqīm'', ''lit.'' "horizons") is a city in the Southern District of Israel, 20 kilometers (12.4 mi) west of Beersheba. It achieved municipal status in 1955. I ...
, Israel from the city of
Derbent
Derbent (russian: Дербе́нт; lez, Кьвевар, Цал; az, Дәрбәнд, italic=no, Dərbənd; av, Дербенд; fa, دربند), formerly romanized as Derbend, is a city in Dagestan, Russia, located on the Caspian Sea. It i ...
, Russia when he was 13 years old. After a brief service in the IDF, Koen relocated to
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
, where his first business venture was a shawarma shop at a university campus. From thereon he became involved in real estate and the luxury import car business. Naum Koen is married to Yevgeniya Koen and they have 4 children: Daniel, Miryam, Sofya, and Sara. He resides in
Dubai
Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...
. His wife is the founder and CEO of Jeni Coin, a jewelry company wholly owned by
NY Koen Group, which has boutiques in multiple countries including
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
.
Career
Koen Started his career dealing with the diamond-cutting and supply business. In 2006 he has moved to Dubai and set up a multinational holding company
NY Koen Group. In December 2020, he brokered the deal between
Moshe Hogeg and
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Nahyan whereby the Sheikh now owns 50% of the
Beitar Jerusalem Football Club.
Philanthropy
Koen is the founder and Chairman of the
Jewish Community Center of UAE
The Jewish Community Center of UAE is a community led by the Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman and community president Solly Wolf.
History
Since the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, a small Jewish community grew and lived in the UA ...
.
In May 2019 it was reported that Koen in partnership with
Cyrus S. Poonawalla have proposed supplying Ukraine with 100 thousand doses of measles vaccine for free vaccination. Koen is founder and major sponsor of an Israeli Organization Belev Echad.
Controversy
In January 2018 neighbors complained that Koen was keeping a lion on his property near Kiev, later research has shown that the lion was kept in good condition with all his needs met. Investigation by
Channel 13 News
''Hadashot 13'' ( he, חדשות 13, lit= hannel13 News) is one of the three major brands of Israeli television news programmes. Produced for Reshet 13 by ''Hadashot 10 LTD'' ( he, חדשות 10 בע״מ, lit=10 News Ltd.), a subsidiary of Reshet. ...
has revealed that a lawsuit was filed in 2013 mentioning Nachshon Nachshonov, according to which he had outstanding debts when he left Israel. Koen's spokesperson said in response that "The allegations raised regarding the diamond deal have already been discussed and rejected by the court".
See also
*
Solly Wolf
Solly Wolf is a Jewish businessman residing in the United Arab Emirates, UAE. He is the president of the Jewish Community Center of UAE.
Life
Early life
Wolf was raised in the English city of Brighton. In an interview with Ami Magazine, he ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koen, Naum
Businesspeople in aviation
Israeli billionaires
Ukrainian billionaires
1981 births
Living people
Russian Jews
Russian emigrants to Israel
Israeli expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
Emirati Jews
Emirati billionaires
Emirati businesspeople
People from Derbent
Russian businesspeople in Israel