Yusuffali in 20 most influential people’s list

By SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS

DAMMAM: Indian businessman Yusuffali M.A., the owner of the popular Lulu supermarket chain, was listed on Monday by The Wall Street Journal as one of the 20 most influential people in the United Arab Emirates.

“He is one of the most respected expatriates from the UAE’s vast Indian community, the largest group of foreigners living in the country ... He made his name managing the Lulu food retail chain and was the first foreigner to be elected to the board of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industries,” wrote the prestigious US business newspaper in its March 15 global edition.

Among others in the list were Emaar Properties Chairman Mohamed Alabbar; Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. Chief Executive Yousef Al-Omair Yousef; Emirates Airline President Tim Clark; Dubai World Chief Restructuring Officer Aidan Birkett; National Bank of Abu Dhabi Group Chief Executive Michael Tomalin; Jumeirah Group Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless and Ras Al-Khaimah Investment Authority Chief Executive Khater Massad.

Yusuffali’s EMKE Group entered Saudi Arabia’s retail sector only recently with the opening of an SR140 million Lulu Supermarket in Alkhobar. It was the group’s 76th branch in the region. The chain accounts for nearly a third of the Gulf’s retail market share with a customer flow of 350,000 shoppers daily region-wide.

Yusuffali arrived in the UAE from the south Indian state of Kerala in 1973 to join his uncle’s small trading business in Abu Dhabi. Hard work, coupled with an uncanny knack for finding new businesses, led the young man to explore the wholesale food market in and around Abu Dhabi. Slowly he started importing famous frozen-food brands from Europe and distributing them to retailers and catering companies in the UAE. Soon the EMKE stores, as they were then known, became one of the top food importers and traders in the UAE. Business included cold stores, food processing and re-exporting to other markets as well.

However, the big break came in the early 1990s, ironically during the First Gulf War, when the group decided to step into the world of retailing with the launch of a supermarket in Abu Dhabi. Soon the economic scenario started to change, and it was boom time as he began spearheading an aggressive growth plan for the retail market. Never one to shy away from risk, Yusuffali did not waste any time in tapping potential markets — not only in the UAE but also in the neighboring countries of Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

In response to a question from Arab News about the secret behind his phenomenal success, Yusuffali just looked up and exclaimed: “It is all thanks to Allah.”

“I dedicate my success to 20,000-plus family members of my group who have always shown to the world the true meaning of honesty, dedication and hard work,” he said during Lulu Supermarket’s opening in Alkhobar.

Comments

ABDUL SHUKOOR

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al hamdu lillah, congatulation,
when i read these news tear my eyes for happiness,

JIJOO JORJ

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im realy proud 2 knw n feel dat gr8 man s our MD.
bst vishes .........2 him

TAWFEEQ ABDULKAREEM

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I am deeply touched by this great piece of story. It reconfirms the salient fact that it is an egg that hatches and paves way to a new chick. A lesson we all, particularly our youths should take home from this excellent piece is that we should not look at the nature of a job from the beginning. Pick up something even menial job and then with hard work, dedication and optimism sky is then bond to be the limit. Great piece indeed!!!

SAJU M.V (558475432)

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