Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, recently issued a resolution to form a new board of directors for the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI). The body will be chaired by Abdullah Mohamed Al-Mazrouei and prominent Indian businessman Yusuf Ali M.A. as the vice chairman.
ADCCI is the apex governing body of all businesses established in Abu Dhabi and functions as an effective bridge between the government and business sector. Each of the business establishments in Abu Dhabi, one of the wealthiest and most influential economic hubs in the region, has to be licensed by the ADCCI.
Ali, the chairman of retail giant LuLu Group, is the only Indian on the 29-member board, which is primarily made up of Emirati business owners and CEOs.
“This is truly a very humbling and proud moment in my life. My sincere gratitude to the visionary leadership of this great country; I will strive to do my best toward justifying the great responsibility entrusted upon me. My primary focus will be toward the growth of Abu Dhabi’s economy and the larger business community, especially in these challenging times,” Ali said.
Al-Nahyan recently honored Ali with the Abu Dhabi Award, the highest civilian honor for his almost five-decade long contributions in the fields of economic development and philanthropy. The LuLu chairman was the only Indian along with other 11 prominent personalities, which included nine UAE nationals, to receive the honor this year. The Abu Dhabi Awards — an initiative of the Abu Dhabi government — recognize and honor individuals who have selflessly dedicated themselves to support and contribute to the development of the emirate.
