My Dad Died When I Was 12 - The Lessons He Left Behind

Zarir Saifuddin is one of those rare souls you meet once in a lifetime - the kind of man who’s been shaped by pain, pressure, and purpose.

From the moment we sat down, I could feel it - he carries his father’s legacy like a fire in his chest. Losing his dad at 12 years old could have broken him, but instead, it became the moment that forged who he is today.

What struck me wasn’t just the stories - though they were unforgettable. It was how intentional his father was. Teaching him how to face fear, how to lead, how to become a man—before he even became a teenager.

From being sent alone to America at 9, to getting beaten and thrown into a dumpster at 12, to holding his breath in pitch-black ocean depths as an adult—Zarir’s life reads like a movie and every scene carries a lesson.

As we spoke, I felt like I was looking at his father. Not just in the way he carried himself, but in the principles, the presence, the power. He is the embodiment of the man who raised him.

This conversation isn’t just about parenting. It’s about legacy. About how a father can shape a son so powerfully that his presence is still alive, decades after he's gone.

And now, through this episode, those same lessons will echo far beyond one family - passed from father to son, from speaker to listener, from heart to heart.

May it be a means of lasting benefit for his father, and for everyone who listens.
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Who is Zarir Saif Uddin

Zarir Saif Uddin is proof that pressure creates power. From mastering elite sports to closing million-dirham deals, he’s built a reputation for doing the hard things most people avoid. He’s not interested in titles—he’s focused on results. Whether it’s raising capital, navigating high-stakes meetings, or pushing his limits underwater, Zarir moves with clarity, confidence, and conviction. He’s built different - and he’s just getting started.

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Zarir Saif Uddin Socials

Instagram:   / zarirsaifuddin  
Facebook:   / zarir.saifuddin  
LinkedIn:   / zarir-saifuddin-94ba6b13  

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Raising Humans Socials

RH Instagram:   / raisinghumans.ae  
MG Instagram:   / mghanch  
TikTok:   / raisinghumans.ae  

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Timestamps

00:00 - Coming Up
00:58 - Intro and Zarir’s Background
02:06 - Fathers Early Years & Legacy
06:32 - Father’s Charisma and Charm
07:09 - Arabic Poem on Eloquence
08:45 - Charisma Can Be Learned
10:02 - His Parents’ Relationship
14:19 - The Nature of His Mother
15:54 - Processing His Father’s Death
19:17 - Entrepreneurship Story – Exhibition Business
22:36 - Dealing with Betrayal and Pressure
31:15 - Miami Tennis Academy
35:01 - They Threw Me in a Bin
41:29 - Benefit of Being Away from Parents
42:58 - Every Shot
45:13 - Paragliding Story and Overcoming Fear
52:08 - Free Diving at Night – Embracing Fear
54:58 - Importance of Sports Over Academics
58:43 - Basketball Underdog Story
01:05:02 - Message to Future Children

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