M. A. Yusuff Ali

Yusuff Ali M. A. (full name Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader - see Keralan naming conventions) is a UAE-based Indian billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and managing director of LuLu Group International that owns the LuLu Hypermarket chain worldwide and LuLu International Shopping Mall. With an annual turnover of US$7.4 billion, LuLu Group International employs the largest number of Indians outside India. According to Forbes, Yusuff Ali was ranked the 21st wealthiest Indian and the 270th (as of 2018) richest in the world, with a personal wealth of $5.2 billion.[5][6] According to Forbes Middle East, Yusuff Ali was ranked No. 1 in Top 100 Indian business owners in the Arab World 2018.[7] In 2013, Yusuff Ali acquired 4.99% of the Thrissur-based Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB)[8][9] and increased his stake in the Aluva-based Federal Bank to 4.47%.[10] In 2016, Yusuff Ali purchased the Scotland Yard Building in London.[11] As of 2013 he held a 9.37% share in Cochin International Airport.[12] 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.[13][14][15] The Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre on Bolghatty Island is one of the largest convention centres in South Asia,[16] along with the third largest Grand Hyatt branded hotel[17] in the same campus.

Yusuff Ali
Yussuf Ali (left) awarded by the Crown Prince
Born
Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader

(1955-11-15) 15 November 1955
Nattika, Thrissur district, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationFounder & Managing Director of
  • Lulu Group International,
  • Y International[1][2] and
  • LuLu International Shopping Mall
Net worthUS$4.4 billion (January 2020)[3]
OfficeY Tower, Abu Dhabi[4]
Spouse(s)Married
Children3
RelativesShamsheer Vayalil (son in-law)
WebsiteWebsite

Early life

Yusuff Ali was born in Thrissur district on 15 November 1955. He completed his schooling from Nattika where he did his diploma in Business Management and Administration. After the 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 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 neighborhood 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.[18][19]

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 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 storages, 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. A bigger mall is currently under construction in Trivandrum, and once opened is expected to be India's largest shopping mall. The Group has a vast organizational structure of over 40,000 employees, representing 37 different nationalities, out of which more than 25,000 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 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 Trivandrum, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin and Trichur. Deloitte has ranked the Group as one of the fastest growing retailers in the world.[20][21][22][23][24]

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.[25][26] 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.[27] He also took initiative to sell and promote organic products grown by the special needs community in UAE through LuLu Hypermarkets[28][29] Yusuff Ali donated generously towards the Gujarat earthquake, Tsunami Relief Fund in Asia, and Typhoon and flood relief in other parts of the world. He also donated Rs 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 Calicut market fire as well.[30][31][32] Yusuff Ali has pledged to donate of Rs 50 million (Dh2.5 million) for the flood-hit south Indian state of Kerala in the event of the 2019 Kerala floods.[33]

Personal life

He is married, with three children, and lives in Abu Dhabi, UAE.[3] His elder daughter Sabeena is married to billionaire businessman Shamsheer Vayalil.[34][35] His second daughter Shafeena is married to Adeeb Ahamed who runs Lulu International Exchange and Twenty14 Holdings, the group's hospitality investments division.[36]

Recognition and awards
  • "Commander" title & St. Ephraim Medal by the Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church in 2004.
  • "Most Influential Asian Business Leader in the MENA region" award by Forbes ME in 2012.[37]
  • Was honoured with the archbishop Mar Gregorios award instituted by the alumni association of Mar Ivanios College, Amicos, for his contribution to the industrial sector.[38][39]
  • "Arab Business Leader of the Year 2012" during the third edition of the Global Arab Business Meeting held in Ras Al Khaimah.[40]
  • Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian CEO Awards held in February 2012.[41]
  • Conferred with the title of Padma Shri by Indian President Pratibha Patil in 2008[42]
  • "Business Man of the Year 2009-10" award instituted by the Kerala State Forum of Bankers' Clubs.[43]
  • Forbes MENA region most influential Asian Business Leader Award 2012.[44]
  • Swiss Ambassador's Award 2012 for outstanding efforts in promoting Swiss-UAE relations.[45]
  • Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2005; the highest Indian government award given to non-resident Indians.[46]
  • Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University [47]
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References
  1. "Welcome to Y International USA". Y International USA.
  2. ".:: Web Site Under Construction ::". yinternational.uk.com.
  3. "Forbes profile: M.A. Yusuff Ali". Forbes. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. "Lulu group moves". yusuffali.com. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. "Forbes News". Forbes. 2015.
  6. "Forbes Biionaires". Forbes. 2015.
  7. East, Forbes Middle. "Top 100 Indian Business Owners In The Arab World 2018". Forbes ME.
  8. "Yusuf Ali mops up 4.99% stake in Catholic Syrian Bank". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  9. "Billionaires 2013 Notable Newcomers". Forbes. 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  10. "NRI businessman MA Yousuf Ali picks up stake in Federal Bank". The Times of India. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  11. "Lulu Group front-runner to buy original Scotland Yard premises in London". The National.
  12. "Yusuff Ali lifts stake in Cochin International Airport | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  13. "Lulu Group makes $85m investment in East India Company". gulfnews.com.
  14. Yusuffali.com
  15. "Lulu launches into luxury sector with investment in UK's East India Company". The National.
  16. "The Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre! | RITZ". 2 May 2018.
  17. "Hyatt Newsroom - News Releases". Hyatt Newsroom.
  18. "LuLu named fastest-growing retailer by audit firm Deloitte". Saudi Gazette.com. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  19. "HRH the Crown Prince leads Bahrain business delegation to India". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  20. India, Press Trust of (3 February 2011). "Emke group to invest Rs 600 cr in Kerala". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  21. "Yusuff Ali lifts stake in Cochin International Airport". The Times of India. 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  22. "LuLu Mall together with LuLu Hypermarket opens in Kochi". International Supermarket News. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  23. "Spearheading a retail revolution". Gulf News. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  24. "Emke will invest Dh4.3b to expand retail chain". Gulf News. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  25. "Lulu Group teams up with Dubai Cares". gulftoday.ae. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  26. "Newspapers From Around the World". PressDisplay.com. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  27. "Funeral centre for Indians opens in Sharjah". Khaleej Times. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  28. "Organic vegetables grown by special needs community in UAE to be sold in Lulu hypermarkets". GulfNews.com. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  29. "People with special needs grow organic vegetables in 35-hectare farm". GulfNews.com. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  30. "Work begins on Dh1.6b SmartCity Kochi project". Gulf News. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  31. "Yousuf Ali comes out with flying colours". Gulf News. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  32. "Global Arab Business Meeting to be held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 9-10 December 2012". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  33. "UAE based Indian retail tycoon MA Yusuffali of Lulu Group pledges Rs 50 million for flood-hit Kerala". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  34. "Shamsheer Vayalil". Forbes.
  35. "Shamsheer and Shabeena Vayalil". GlassPockets.
  36. "Yusuff Ali: A mentor to his sons-in-law". Forbes.
  37. "LuLu head 'most influential Asian business leader'". Gulf Times. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  38. "M A Yousuf Ali: Mar Gregorios award to Yousuf Ali | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  39. "M A Yousuf Ali: M A Yousuf Ali receives Mar Gregorios award | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  40. "Global Arab Business Meeting". Horasis.
  41. "Yusuff Ali scoops top prize at Indian CEO Awards". Arabian Business. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  42. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  43. "Award for Emke group CEO". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  44. "Lulu group Chairman Yusuff Ali MA receives Forbes MENA region most influential Asian Business Leader Award". Business Standard. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  45. "Swiss Ambassador's Award recognises notable efforts". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  46. "Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Divas awards announced". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 5 January 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2005.
  47. "Middlesex University Dubai doctorate for LuLu chairman". Arab News. 20 November 2018.
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