The 100 NRIs – 2026: M.A. Yusuff Ali, Chairman and Managing Director, LuLu Group
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This article forms part of The 100 NRIs, a special edition by Entrepreneur Middle East spotlighting the most influential non-resident Indians shaping business, innovation, and investment across the region.
The Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group ranks today among the top business personalities. The Group has diversified into many significant areas under his dynamic stewardship, with retail being the most prominent. M.A. Yusuff Ali chairs Abu Dhabi- headquartered LuLu Group International, a global retail conglomerate operating hundreds of hypermarkets and supermarkets across the GCC and internationally.
LuLu Group, with its workforce of over 75,000 is drawn from 46 different nations and operational bases extending over the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Turkey, Spain, Italy, the UK, the USA, and India. It is one of the most successful corporate entities of recent times, boasting a steadily ascending growth curve over the years. The Group achieves an annual turnover of US$8 billion globally.
A milestone achievement was realised in late 2024 with the US$1.72 billion IPO of LuLu Retail Holdings on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange – the largest in the UAE that year. Ali has served several terms on the Board of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including as Vice Chairman. His expansion strategy has played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s organised retail sector whilst supporting employment and food security.
Originally from a small village in Kerala, India, Ali relocated to Abu Dhabi in 1973 to join his uncle’s modest distribution business. Demonstrating entrepreneurial vision and strategic acumen, he transformed LuLu into a retail giant, expanding its footprint across multiple countries. Beyond retail, Ali holds a minority stake and serves on the board of Cochin International Airport, which is notable for its use of solar energy, exemplifying his commitment to sustainable development. His diversified portfolio also includes luxury assets such as the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Scotland and the Great Scotland Yard Hotel, the historic former headquarters of the UK Metropolitan Police. His leadership continues to influence the retail landscape in the Middle East whilst expanding his interests into hospitality and sustainable infrastructure.
Related: Entrepreneur Middle East Reveals “The 100 NRIs” List
This article forms part of The 100 NRIs, a special edition by Entrepreneur Middle East spotlighting the most influential non-resident Indians shaping business, innovation, and investment across the region.
The Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group ranks today among the top business personalities. The Group has diversified into many significant areas under his dynamic stewardship, with retail being the most prominent. M.A. Yusuff Ali chairs Abu Dhabi- headquartered LuLu Group International, a global retail conglomerate operating hundreds of hypermarkets and supermarkets across the GCC and internationally.
LuLu Group, with its workforce of over 75,000 is drawn from 46 different nations and operational bases extending over the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Turkey, Spain, Italy, the UK, the USA, and India. It is one of the most successful corporate entities of recent times, boasting a steadily ascending growth curve over the years. The Group achieves an annual turnover of US$8 billion globally.
