The French army, in search of housing of European standards, represented an opportunity that he quickly seized. He founded the Kamaj Group, approached the general staff and convinced the army to entrust him with the management of its housing. He built housing that met their standards, which he provided on long-term leases. That was a successful gamble that began his rise to prosperity.
From 1995, he expanded Kamaj’s activities by integrating security, maintenance and rent management. This integrated model enabled him to strengthen his position and attract a wider clientele.
Enter the US
The 2000s marked a turning point: with the establishment of American bases, the demand for real estate exploded. Kamaj positioned itself in the furnished accommodation market and increased its investments in new infrastructure.
At the same time, frustrated by the lack of access to the international press, he decided in 2004 to import the world’s leading newspapers. “It didn’t make me the most money, but it was a necessity”, he acknowledges.
Another gamble was the Riyad market, abandoned for years, He decided to rehabilitate it into a structured centre, despite the prevailing scepticism. Through a great deal of work and development, the market came back to life and became a focal point of Djiboutian commerce. The hotel industry is following the same logic of anticipating demand. In 2011, a few years after the opening of the Kempinski, he inaugurated Les Acacias, an establishment designed to attract business and transit customers. In 2018, he bought the Plein Ciel hotel, located in the city centre, opposite the Presidency.
Looking beyond Djibouti
Robleh is not slowing down. With Kamaj Energie, he is developing a gas terminal in Damerjog, taking advantage of the expansion of port infrastructure. In real estate, he is going into mass housing. The aim is to respond to the shortage of residential property for the middle class. But his biggest challenge remains the completion of his tourism projects, notably an ongoing development on the Moucha Islands.
Beyond Djibouti, he keeps a close eye on opportunities in the sub-region, ready to capture new economic dynamics. At 58, Houssein Mahamoud Robleh says he is no longer content to build: he structures and shapes the markets in which he operates.
