The Charismatic boss of LULU Group Yusuff Ali MA has maintained his top position for the fifth time in a row at the Indian Power List which has been published by Arabian Business today. The Kerala born businessman runs the LULU Group, one of the largest company having strong presence in the middle east's retail sector.
One of the key reasons for being considered as the most powerful Indian in the Gulf is his close proximity with the various rulers and ruling family members of the GCC countries which he has used many a times to benefit the interests of India and Indians viz., Investments, bilateral relationships, setting up of Hindu crematorium or Christian churches. He has recently been elected as Director Board Member of Abu Dhabi Chamber third time in a row and is the first & only Indian till date to occupy such position in a foreign country.
Rising to second place this year is Dr Ravi Pillai, the chairman of the RP Group. The company is the largest employer of Indian expatriates in the GCC, with around 80,000 employees in total. Dr Pillai is currently focusing on expanding into the Dubai property, hospitality and education sectors. As a school boy in Kerala at the age of 14, Dr Ravi Pillai was forced to sell coconuts to his classmates just so he could pay for school books. Today he runs a conglomerate raking in $4bn a year and employs 80,000 direct staff.
In third place is IFFCO Group founder Feroz Allana, while top lawyer Ashish Mehta and NMC Group chairman BR Shetty round out the top five.
Altogether, 92 of the entries on the list are based in the UAE with the majority of those in Dubai. There is no Kuwait based Indian in the list.
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