M. A. Yusuff Ali

Last updated

M. A. Yusuff Ali
Yusuffali MA at his corporate office.jpg
Yusuff Ali in 2023
Born
Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader

(1955-11-15) 15 November 1955 (age 68)
Nattika, State of Travancore–Cochin (present day Thrissur, Kerala), India
OccupationsChairman and managing director of
OfficeY Tower, Abu Dhabi [3]
SpouseShabira Yusuff Ali
Children3
Relatives Shamsheer Vayalil (son-in-law), Adeeb Ahamed (son-in-law) [4]
Website Website

Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader, popularly known as M. A. Yusuff Ali (born 15 November 1955), is an Indian businessman and billionaire. [5] He is the chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International, which owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain worldwide and LuLu International Shopping Mall. [6] With an annual turnover of US$8.4 billion, LuLu Group International employs the largest number of Indian diaspora. [7] [8] According to Forbes Middle East, Yusuff Ali was ranked No. 1 in Top 100 Indian business owners in the Arab World 2018. [6] As per Forbes billionaires list published in October 2023, he was ranked 27th richest Indian with net worth of US$6.9 billion. [5]

Contents

In 2006, he started his large business ventures in India, by starting a convention centre cum hotel at his native place Thrissur, Kerala namely Lulu Convention Centre. [9] In 2013, Yusuff Ali acquired 4.99% of the Thrissur-based CSB Bank [10] [11] and 4.99% shares of Thrissur based Dhanlaxmi Bank. [12] Also in 2013, he increased his stake in the Aluva-based Federal Bank to 4.47%. [13] In 2014 Yusuff Ali acquired 2% stake of South Indian Bank - another Thrissur based bank. [14] In 2016, Yusuff Ali purchased the Scotland Yard Building in London. [15] As of 2013, he held a 9.37% share in Cochin International Airport. [16] He has bought a 10% stake in the UK-based trading firm, East India Company, and a 40% stake in its fine foods subsidiary for around $85 million in total. [17] [18] [19]

The Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre on Bolghatty Island in Kochi is one of the largest convention centres in South Asia, [20] along with Grand Hyatt hotel [21] in the same campus. Lulu group's First Mall in India was LuLu International Shopping Mall, Kochi started in 2013, then in 2019, he started shopping mall in India at Triprayar, Thrissur, Kerala, the Y Mall. [22] [23] In October 2021, Lulu group opened their second mall in India, Global Mall, at Rajaji Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka. [24] In December 2021, Lulu group opened their third mall in India at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. [25] In July 2022, Lulu group opened their fourth mall in India at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. [25] And in 2023, LuLu Group launches a new hypermarket and mall in Hyderabad, Palakkad and Coimbatore. [26] [27]

As per Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, dated OCTOBER 09, 2024, M.A. Yusuff Ali is ranked 39th with a net worth of $7.4 Billion. [28]

Early life

Yusuff Ali was born in Nattika, Thrissur in the erstwhile State of Travancore–Cochin on 15 November 1955. He did his schooling in Karanchira Thrissur at St. Xavier's High School. [29] He holds a diploma in Business Management and Administration.

After his studies, he left India in 1973 to Abu Dhabi, where his paternal uncle, M. K. Abdullah, the chairman and the founder of the LuLu Group of Companies, was doing business. He developed the import and wholesale distribution of the group and ventured into the supermarket business by launching the Lulu Hypermarket. He started his first LuLu Hypermarket in the 1990s, a time when the UAE's retail sector witnessed a major change, with the traditional groceries and supermarkets yielding place to large neighbourhood stores and hypermarkets. While the entry of Continent (now Carrefour) in 1995 changed the face of retail business in Dubai, Yusuff Ali took charge of Abu Dhabi's retail sector by rolling out LuLu Hypermarket. [30] [31]

LuLu Group International

LuLu Group International commenced its operations as a family business venture. After joining the business, Yusuff Ali diversified the business to include the import and distribution of frozen products from Europe and the United States. The products were available not only in Abu Dhabi but also in other Emirates. The business was soon expanded to include both food and non-food categories. The group also started cold storage, meat, and food processing plants, large-scale import and distribution to hotel groups, catering companies, and shipping services. By the 1980s, the group had a sizable share of the wholesale and retail food market in the UAE.

The group has grown into an international group with operations spread over three continents. The group's flagship retail chain of LuLu Hypermarkets and Supermarkets is currently rated as one of the major players in the Middle East retail sector with more than 100 stores in Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Apart from the hypermarkets, supermarkets and department stores, the group also owns several shopping malls, namely, Khalidiyah Mall, Al Raha Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Mushriff Mall, Madinat Zayed Mall, Mazyad Mall, Ramli Mall, RAK Mall, Al Foah Mall, Al Khor Mall, Riyadh Avenue Mall in Saudi Arabia and Oman Avenues Mall spread across the GCC states.

LuLu International Shopping Mall in Kochi, Kerala was opened on 10 March 2013. It is the group's first retail venture in India, and currently the largest shopping mall in India. LuLu International Shopping Mall in Thiruvananthapuram was opened in 2021. The Group has a vast organizational structure of over 65,000 employees, representing 42 different nationalities, out of which more than 30,000 are Indians. Retail business is the mainstay of the Group with operations in major Middle Eastern and African countries like UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Kenya, having Retail Sourcing and manufacturing bases located in the Far East, India, Africa and Guangzhou in China. Indian operations mainly include Food Processing, Export of Food & Non food products and convention center with bases in Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Lucknow and Thrissur. Deloitte has ranked the Group as one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world. [32] [33] [34] [35] [36]

Philanthropy

Yusuff Ali is very closely involved in many social, charitable and humanitarian activities both in India as well as in the Arab states of the Gulf. He has done various philanthropic activities across the globe. As part of its Global CSR policy, the LuLu Group joined hands with Dubai Cares and adopted schools in Gaza and Nepal. [37] [38] Yusuff Ali contributed and took initiative to open a multi-faith funeral centre for the Indian community in Sharjah that spread across 8.3 acres. [39] He also took initiative to sell and promote organic products grown by the special needs community in UAE through LuLu Hypermarkets [40] [41] Yusuff Ali donated to the Gujarat earthquake, Tsunami Relief Fund in Asia, and Typhoon and flood relief in other parts of the world. He also donated ₹ 9.5 crores for relief and rehabilitation of Kerala flood victims in August 2018. He is also actively involved in ensuring the social, economic and religious welfare of expatriate Indians in the Persian Gulf region. He played a major role in finding land for the Christian community in the region to build churches, and secure cremation grounds for the Hindu populace in the Gulf region. M. A. Yusuff Ali also extended help to Indians during the amnesty period in the Persian Gulf when hundreds of Indians lost their livelihood. He helped rehabilitate people who lost their livelihood in the Kozhikode market fire as well. [42] [43] [44] Yusuff Ali had pledged to donate Rs 50 million for the flood-hit south Indian state of Kerala in the event of the 2019 Kerala floods. [45]

Personal life

He is married, with three children, and lives in Abu Dhabi, UAE. [46] His elder daughter Shabeena is married to billionaire businessman Shamsheer Vayalil. [47] [48] His second daughter Shafeena is married to Adeeb Ahamed who runs Lulu International Exchange and Twenty14 Holdings, the group's hospitality investments division. [49] Youngest daughter Shifa is married to Sharoon Shamsudheen who is into successful IT businesses. [4]

On 11 April 2021 the helicopter in which M.A. Yusuff Ali, his wife and three others including the pilots crash landed in a swamp near Kochi, Kerala. Ali and his wife were uninjured and were taken to a nearby hospital for first aid. The private helicopter owned by the businessman had suffered a technical glitch due to adverse weather. [50]

Recognition and awards

Related Research Articles

Lulu may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy Alukkas</span> Indian businessman

Joy Alukkas is an Indian businessman from Kerala. He is the chairman and managing director of Joyalukkas Group. According to a 2023 Forbes report, he has a net worth of $4.4 billion.

Indians in the United Arab Emirates constitute the largest part of the population of the country. Over 3,860,000 Indian expats are estimated to be living in the United Arab Emirates, with over 38% of the country's total population and the fourth highest number of overseas Indians in the world, after the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. Indian contact with the emirates that now constitute the UAE dates back several centuries, as a result of trade and commerce between the emirates and India. The UAE has experienced a tremendous increase in the population of resident Indians who initially migrated to the country as a result of opportunities in petroleum. Now, Indians are key to the UAE's construction, retail, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and transport sectors. A sizeable minority of Indian migrants are involved in professional services and entrepreneurship. Relations between India and the UAE have traditionally been very friendly.

Majid Al Futtaim Holding is an Emirati holding company based in Dubai. The family-owned conglomerate owns and operates shopping malls, retail, and hotel establishments in the Middle East and North Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LuLu Group International</span> Emirati multinational conglomerate

LuLu Group International is a multinational conglomerate company that operates a chain of hypermarkets and retail companies, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 2000 by M. A. Yusuff Ali from Nattika in Kerala, India. The Group mainly operates "Lulu Hypermarket", a chain of hypermarkets that ranks among the top grocers in many of the markets it operates in. LuLu has over 65,000 employees of various nationalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. R. Shetty</span> Indian businessman

Dr Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, commonly known as B.R. Shetty, is an Indian-born businessman and former-billionaire, the founder and acquirer of a number of companies based in the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi–based NMC Health, Neopharma, BRS Ventures, and Finablr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lulu International Shopping Mall, Kochi</span> Shopping mall in Kochi, India

LuLu Mall, Kochi is a shopping mall located in Edappally, Kochi, Kerala. Spanning 17 acres (6.9 ha) with a total built up area of 0.73 million Sq ft. It contains around 280 outlets, including food courts, restaurants, family entertainment zones, a multiplex, ice skating rink, gaming arena, beauty parlors, a toy train joy ride and bowling alley. The mall was opened in March 2013 by then Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Oommen Chandy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lulu Convention Centre</span> Auditorium in Kerala, India

The Lulu International Convention Centre is located at Puzhakkal, in Thrissur city of Kerala state. The property is owned and managed by Yusuff Ali M.A. Chairman and managing director of Lulu Group International, which has extensive business in retail, hospitality, real estate etc. The 5,000-seat convention centre was built by EMKE Group of Industries. Some of the interior architecture was by Evolution Interior Architecture. The convention centre is spread across an area of 18 acres (73,000 m2) with a built-up area of 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2) and has been divided into both indoor hall and open-air auditorium, with dining facility for 2,000 guests at a time. The convention center has 5 venues for conferences, which can accommodate from 450 to 2,200 people. A 5-star Hotel is also present on the site. It features an amazing parking for 1800 cars and also has an exclusive Helipad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forum Thomsun Mall</span> Shopping mall in Kochi, India

Forum Kochi is a shopping mall located in Maradu in the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. The Mall is promoted by one of the India's largest realty firm, the Prestige Group. Spanning over 10 acres of land, the mall has a total built up area of 10,60,000 sq ft and total retail space of 6,47,000 sq ft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushrif Mall</span> Shopping mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Mushrif Mall is a three-level shopping mall that is located in the city of Abu Dhabi, on Rashid bin Saeed and Al Dhafra Streets. The mall houses Lulu Hypermarket, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables market, retail outlets, restaurants, cafeterias, coffee shops, entertainment and fun areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. N. C. Menon</span> Indian-Omani businessman (born 1948)

Puthan Naduvakkatt Chenthamaraksha Menon, also known as P. N. C. Menon is an Omani billionaire businessman born in Palakkad, Kerala. He is the founder and chairman of Sobha Ltd & Sobha LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shamsheer Vayalil</span> Indian physician, entrepreneur and philanthropist

Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath is an Indian radiologist and businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings. Through VPS Healthcare, his family office, he oversees an extensive investment portfolio including Burjeel Holdings, RPM, LifePharma, Lakeshore Hospital, Ziva, Keita, and Educare Institute. As of April 2023, Vayalil has a net worth of US$2.4 billion.

Oman Avenues Mall is one of the largest shopping malls in Oman. It is a division of renowned LuLu Group International based at Abu Dhabi. It was inaugurated in May 2015, under the patronage of M.A Yusuff Ali, MD, Lulu Group, along with other key members of the Lulu management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lulu International Shopping Mall, Thiruvananthapuram</span> Shopping mall in Kerala, India

Lulu Mall Thiruvananthapuram is a shopping mall located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India. With a total built up area of 2,000,000 sq ft (190,000 m2), it is one of the largest mall in India and biggest mall in Kerala. The shopping mall is located along the side of National Highway 66 at Aakkulam near Technopark the biggest IT park in Kerala. The mall has around 300 national and international brands and 12 anchor stores including a Lulu Hypermarket, largest indoor entertainment zone in the country, a multilevel car parking space for more than 3,800 cars. It also has a food court with a capacity for 2500 people serving various regional, international and specialty cuisines. The mall houses Kerala's only PVR Superplex having 12 screens, among them is the state's only IMAX screen by PVR cinemas. The property is owned and managed by M.A. Yusuff Ali, the chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International.

The Indian Islamic Center, Abu Dhabi is a socio-cultural and religious centre for the Indian community that resides in Abu Dhabi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adeeb Ahamed</span> Emirati-Indian billionaire businessman

Adeeb Ahamed is a UAE-based billionaire businessman of Indian origin from the state of Kerala. He is the managing director of LuLu Financial Holdings, Tablez, and Twenty14 Holdings. Adeeb is a member and sits on the advisory board of the World Economic Forum's South Asian Regional Strategy Group (RSG).He also holds advisory positions at various organizations, including the Al Maryah Community Bank in the UAE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lulu International Shopping Mall, Lucknow</span> Shopping mall in Uttar Pradesh, India

LuLu Mall, Lucknow is a shopping mall located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Spanning 45.9 acres (18.6 ha), it is one of the largest malls in India with a total built up area of 19 lakh square feet. It contains nearly 300 national and international brands and will feature a 6000 sq. m. The Mall is located within Sushant Golf City with a total development of 1,85,800 sq. m. The mixed-use development of Sushant Golf City has luxury housing, educational institutes, clubs, hospitals and a magnificent 18 hole golf course spread across 6.8 lakh sq.m. The mall was opened on 11 July 2022, by then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siddharth Balachandran</span> Indian entrepreneur and philanthropist (born 1976)

Siddharth Balachandran is an Indian-born UAE-based entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He is the executive chairman and CEO of Buimerc Corporation, an investment holding company headquartered in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In 2023, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) for his contributions in the field of business and community welfare by the President of India Droupadi Murmu, the highest Indian award for Non-resident Indian and Overseas Citizen of India.

Lulu Mall, Palakkad is a shopping mall located in Palakkad, Kerala, India. It is the third lulu mall in the state of Kerala, located on the Kochi-Salem national highway, around 9km away from city centre in Kannadi, spanning at 2 lakh sq.ft. The mall was inaugurated in December 2023 and houses shops for both domestic and international brands as well as a multi-cuisine food court among other amenities. The property is owned and managed by Abu Dhabi based LuLu Group International.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to Y International USA". Y International USA.
  2. ↑ ".:: Web Site Under Construction ::". yinternational.uk.com.
  3. ↑ "Lulu group moves". yusuffali.com. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Yusuff Ali: A mentor to his sons-in-law". Forbes India.
  5. 1 2 "PROFILE - M.A. Yusuff Ali". Forbes.
  6. 1 2 East, Forbes Middle. "Top 100 Indian Business Owners In The Arab World 2018". Forbes ME.
  7. ↑ "Forbes News". Forbes. 2015.
  8. ↑ "Forbes Biionaires". Forbes. 2015.
  9. ↑ Lulu, Thrissur. "Kerala tourism".
  10. ↑ "Yusuf Ali mops up 4.99% stake in Catholic Syrian Bank". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Billionaires 2013 Notable Newcomers". Forbes. 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "Yousaf Ali buys shares of Dhanlaxmi bank". Indian Express.
  13. ↑ "NRI businessman MA Yousuf Ali picks up stake in Federal Bank". The Times of India . 17 July 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Yusuffali buys over 2 per cent stake in South Indian Bank". Business Standard India. 21 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Lulu Group front-runner to buy original Scotland Yard premises in London". The National. 12 April 2015.
  16. ↑ "Yusuff Ali lifts stake in Cochin International Airport | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  17. ↑ "Lulu Group makes $85m investment in East India Company". gulfnews.com.
  18. ↑ "You are being redirected..." yusuffali.com.
  19. ↑ "Lulu launches into luxury sector with investment in UK's East India Company". The National. 9 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre! | RITZ". 2 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Hyatt Newsroom - News Releases". Hyatt Newsroom.
  22. ↑ Bureau, Indiaretailing (1 January 2019). "Lulu Group opens Y Mall at Thrissur".{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ↑ "Y Mall Shopping Mall in Thrissur". Y Mall.
  24. ↑ "Global mall inaugurated". Bangalore Mirror.
  25. 1 2 "Biggest mall in Capital to open in Dec". The New Indian Express.
  26. ↑ "Coimbatore gets LuLu's first hypermarket in Tamil Nadu". The Hindu.
  27. ↑ "LuLu Group launches its first hypermarket, mega mall in Hyderabad". The Indian Express.
  28. ↑ "India's 100 Richest". India’s 100 Richest. 9 October 2024.
  29. ↑ "Yusuff Ali visits school where he studied 51 years ago, spends quality time with friends".
  30. ↑ "LuLu named fastest-growing retailer by audit firm Deloitte". Saudi Gazette.com. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  31. ↑ "HRH the Crown Prince leads Bahrain business delegation to India". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  32. ↑ "Emke group to invest Rs 600 cr in Kerala". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  33. ↑ "Yusuff Ali lifts stake in Cochin International Airport". The Times of India . 2013. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  34. ↑ "LuLu Mall together with LuLu Hypermarket opens in Kochi". International Supermarket News. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  35. ↑ "Spearheading a retail revolution". Gulf News . Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  36. ↑ "Emke will invest Dh4.3b to expand retail chain". Gulf News . Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  37. ↑ "Lulu Group teams up with Dubai Cares". gulftoday.ae. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  38. ↑ "Newspapers From Around the World". PressDisplay.com. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  39. ↑ "Funeral centre for Indians opens in Sharjah". Khaleej Times. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  40. ↑ "Organic vegetables grown by special needs community in UAE to be sold in Lulu hypermarkets". GulfNews.com. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "People with special needs grow organic vegetables in 35-hectare farm". GulfNews.com. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "Work begins on Dh1.6b SmartCity Kochi project". Gulf News . Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  43. ↑ "Yousuf Ali comes out with flying colours". Gulf News . Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  44. ↑ "Global Arab Business Meeting to be held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 9-10 December 2012". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  45. ↑ "UAE based Indian retail tycoon MA Yusuffali of Lulu Group pledges Rs 50 million for flood-hit Kerala". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  46. ↑ "Forbes profile: M.A. Yusuff Ali". Forbes. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  47. ↑ "Shamsheer Vayalil". Forbes.
  48. ↑ "Shamsheer and Shabeena Vayalil". GlassPockets.
  49. ↑ "Yusuff Ali: A mentor to his sons-in-law". Forbes.
  50. ↑ "'Helicopter carrying M.A. Yusuff Ali crash landes'". The Hindu. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  51. ↑ "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Divas awards announced". The Hindu . Chennai, India. 5 January 2005. Archived from the original on 12 January 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2005.
  52. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  53. ↑ "Award for Emke group CEO". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  54. ↑ "Yusuff Ali scoops top prize at Indian CEO Awards". Arabian Business . Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  55. ↑ "Swiss Ambassador's Award recognises notable efforts". Khaleej Times . Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  56. ↑ "LuLu head 'most influential Asian business leader'". Gulf Times. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  57. ↑ "Global Arab Business Meeting". Horasis.
  58. ↑ "Mr. Yusuffali lays down foundation of Sports Complex at AMU". Two Circles . 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  59. ↑ "M A Yousuf Ali: Mar Gregorios award to Yousuf Ali | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  60. ↑ "M A Yousuf Ali: M A Yousuf Ali receives Mar Gregorios award | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  61. ↑ "Middlesex University Dubai doctorate for LuLu chairman". Arab News. 20 November 2018.
  62. ↑ "Mahatma Gandhi University honours T Padmanabhan, MA Yusuff Ali". Deccan Chronicle . 14 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  63. ↑ "'M.A. Yusuff Ali gets the highest civilian award of Abu Dhabi'". Times Of India. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  64. ↑ "M.A. Yusuff Ali - LuLu Group's journey into an Emirati multinational conglomerate company". Brandzwatch. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  65. ↑ Gokulan, Dhanusha. "Lulu Group head MA Yusuff Ali is the first recipient of Bahrain Golden Visa". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.