The 100 NRIs – 2026: Surender S. Kandhari, Chairman and Founder, Al Dobowi Group
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.
Surender S. Kandhari has transformed the Al Dobowi Group into a renowned multinational industrial conglomerate since establishing the UAE’s first tyre showroom in 1976. What began as an exploratory visit to Dubai in 1975 evolved into a diversified enterprise delivering automotive and industrial solutions across five continents, employing over 2,000 people in more than 45 countries.
Under his stewardship, the Group has expanded beyond tyres into automotive batteries, auto parts, industrial rubber products, motor lubricants, and tyre retreading. Al Dobowi maintains strategic partnerships with global corporations such as Coca-Cola, Walmart, and DHL. It also serves as the official distributor for brands including Kumho Tire and Hankook Tire across the Middle East. Notably, the company has grown to become the largest battery manufacturer in the MENA region.
Beyond his commercial achievements, Kandhari is widely recognised for his philanthropic contributions, most prominently founding the Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Temple in Jebel Ali in 2012. An avid golfer, he is also a founding member of the Emirates Golf Club, where he previously served as Club Captain. His leadership and contributions have earned him recognition among influential Indian business leaders in the Middle East.
Al Dobowi, now a fourth-generation family business, continues to strengthen its global footprint across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The company fosters a culture of humility, professionalism, and inclusiveness, recognising its diverse workforce as its greatest asset and driving sustained growth through shared success.
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.
Surender S. Kandhari has transformed the Al Dobowi Group into a renowned multinational industrial conglomerate since establishing the UAE’s first tyre showroom in 1976. What began as an exploratory visit to Dubai in 1975 evolved into a diversified enterprise delivering automotive and industrial solutions across five continents, employing over 2,000 people in more than 45 countries.
Under his stewardship, the Group has expanded beyond tyres into automotive batteries, auto parts, industrial rubber products, motor lubricants, and tyre retreading. Al Dobowi maintains strategic partnerships with global corporations such as Coca-Cola, Walmart, and DHL. It also serves as the official distributor for brands including Kumho Tire and Hankook Tire across the Middle East. Notably, the company has grown to become the largest battery manufacturer in the MENA region.
